Is popcorn healthy?

In its purest form, that is, when it's prepared by air-popping only, popcorn is a low-calorie snack rich in anti-oxidants. A bowl full of such popcorn has only 93 calories, a gram of fat and four grams of fiber.

On the other hand, popcorn fried in oil or covered in butter, such as is usually sold in the street, in movies theaters or supermarkets, is less healthy and higher in calories, CNN writes.

According to the research by the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington, a medium-sized popcorn package (20 cups) contains 1,200 calories, 980 milligrams of sodium and 60 grams of saturated fats, which is sufficient for three days.

Even if you were to eat only three cups, you'd still take in enough fat to last you half a day.

If you're buying prepared popcorn in a store, check the nutrition data, as the amounts of sodium and sugar vary in such products. Popcorn with various sweet or salty toppings can contain up to four spoonfuls of sugar per package.

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Center for Science in the Public Interest Washington