Harmful Effects Of Popcorn

The loud "pop" of corn kernels exploding and the distinctive smell of popping corn may entice you to pick up a bag of popcorn at the ball park or the movie theater. The Popcorn Board indicates that the explorer Cortes likely saw popcorn for the first time when he entered Mexico in 1519. Some methods of popping corn have few harmful effects, while other preparation methods may adversely affect your health.

Popping Methods

The three most common methods of popping popcorn include popping in oil, using an air popcorn popper and using a specially designed microwave bag that pops the corn in your microwave oven. Corn popped in air contains no added oil or chemicals, while popping in oil or lard adds fat calories. Microwave popcorn generally contains varying amounts of oil and chemical additives.

Lung Damage

In 2007, a man who popped popcorn two times a day using a microwave developed a rare lung disease. The disease, most often seen in food-service factory workers in plants that used the chemical diacetyl, can be fatal. Diacetyl, a "yellowish liquid" food manufacturers mix with other chemicals and food ingredients to give food a buttery flavor, is used in some microwave popcorns and other processed foods, according to TorHoerman Law LLC. Most microwave popcorn manufacturers no longer use the chemical; however, you should read the label of any microwave popcorn you purchase to verify the popcorn is diacetyl free.

Weight Control Difficulties

If you eat several bowls of buttered or popcorn popped in oil in addition to your normal caloric intake, you could find yourself gaining weight. A 2-cup serving of regular microwave popcorn has 128 calories, while 2 cups of stove-topped popcorn in oil have 110 calories. If you indulge in movie popcorn, you will likely consume over 1,000 calories per medium-sized serving, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Because it takes only an extra 250 calories each day for 14 days to gain 1 lb., you could easily gain weight by consuming too many calories from popcorn.

High Blood Pressure

Popcorn kernels alone contain no sodium, but 2 cups of microwave popcorn have 233 mg. Excessive sodium from popcorn can contribute to high blood pressure. If you add just 1 tsp. of salt to your home-popped popcorn, you add 2,300 mg of sodium. The average adult under 50 should have only 2,300 mg sodium for the entire day, and older adults, those with high blood pressure or people of African American descent need only 1,500 mg a day, according to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Avoid microwave or movie popcorn altogether, and pop your own in 1 tsp. of olive oil or use an air popper. Instead of salting the popped corn, sprinkle it with no-salt seasoning.