Overview

• Longevity researcher Dan Buettner has identified air-popped popcorn as the 'best snack to live to 100,' citing its high fibre, polyphenol content, affordability, and convenience.
• Popcorn's nutritional profile includes whole grains, low calories, complex carbohydrates, and antioxidants that may reduce cancer risk and support overall health.
• The American Heart Association reaffirms popcorn as a healthy snack option, with air-popped servings containing as few as 30 calories per cup and no artificial additives.
• Experts warn against cinema popcorn and some microwave varieties, which can be high in calories, sodium, and unhealthy oils, posing risks for hypertension and heart disease.
• Historical cases of 'popcorn lung' in factory workers linked to inhaling diacetyl, a chemical found in some buttery flavorings, underscore potential respiratory hazards of certain processed popcorn products.