The Best Tasting (and Healthiest) Popcorn You Can Buy
For our Greatist-Approved Groceries series, we're narrowing down the tens of thousands of products out there to the ones we think are worth buying so you can get in and out of the store faster. (Past lists have included the best beef jerky, ice cream, and nut butter.) With the help of Elizabeth Jarrard, R.D., we came up with a set of standards to figure out what is best. Every item must: Contain only recognizable ingredients Have no artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners (stevia and monk fruit are OK) Never list sugar as the first ingredient Have a reasonable serving size Taste absolutely amazing Cost a reasonable price In addition, the popcorn selections below have no more than 200 mg of sodium and 5 grams of sugar per serving, avoid hydrogenated oils (which can increase risk of heart diesease, cancer, and diabetes), and ideally use only eight ingredients or less. As we're sure you've experienced, most "healthy" popcorns are still chock-full of ingredients you can’t pronounce, sky-high in sodium, or taste so bland you’d rather eat salted cardboard. Which is why you should try these options instead. Editor's note: Popcorn is listed in no particular order. Bagged This company may have started in a small Minnesota garage as a family project, but there's nothing tiny about the flavor it packs. Vegan, non-GMO, and made with only four ingredients, it's flavorful and just the right amount of sweet (without being bad for you). $4.49 for 5 ounces Don't let the name deter you: Sexy Pop is delightfully uncomplicated—like a good first date. Butterfly popcorn, sunflower oil, and sea salt is all it takes to transport you straight to the New England seaside. $4.25 for 4.5 ounces Kale-mania meets popcorn. This "munchable superfood" is the perfect blend of sweet and salty and Continue reading >>
Diabetes? Pick Popcorn Over Potato Chips
Move over, potato chips. Who doesn’t love a bowl of hot, crunchy popcorn? It’s one of my favorite snacks for several reasons: It’s a healthy whole grain. It’s fairly low in calories. It’s easy and quick to make. You can season it many different ways. Chips Versus Popcorn When you compare the nutritional values of popcorn to potato chips, popcorn comes out way ahead. A little 1-ounce bag of potato chips has 150 calories, 15 grams of carbs, 10 grams of fat, and 150 grams of sodium. One cup of air-popped popcorn has just 31 calories, 6 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fat, and 0 grams of sodium. Even when popped in oil, a cup of popcorn has only 55 calories. So dig in to three cups of popcorn. It’s a nutritious, satisfying snack with fewer than 100 calories. Make It Healthy Forget the bags of already-popped corn in the supermarket snack aisle. They often have extra fat and sodium. Some “light” microwavable popcorn products are fine, but it’s easy and cheaper to pop your own: Use the microwave oven. Place two tablespoons of popcorn in a brown paper bag. Fold the bag shut twice. Microwave for 2 to 3 minutes until the popping stops. Use the stove top. Heat two teaspoons canola oil in a heavy-bottomed pan on medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add two tablespoons of kernels. Cover the pot and shake gently for 2 to 3 minutes until the popping has slowed. Use a hot air popcorn popper. Just follow the machine’s instructions. You won’t need to use any oil to pop the corn. Season It Your Way Instead of melted butter, drizzle the popped corn with olive oil (my favorite healthy oil). A little oil helps seasonings stick to the popcorn. If you’re watching calories, skip the oil, or use an oil mister so a little goes a long way. Try these zesty seas Continue reading >>
Can Diabetics Eat Popcorn?
Popcorn is one of life's little snacking pleasures -- after all, who could imagine going to see a flick without stopping by the snack counter for a small bucket? While people with diabetes should try to avoid the highly salted and buttery versions, popcorn can still be safely incorporated into the diabetic diet. Popcorn has high fiber and a low glycemic load compared to many other snack foods, so as long as it is consumed in moderation it makes a healthy addition to the diabetic diet. Nutritional Content of Popcorn Like any whole grain source of carbohydrate, air-popped and unprocessed popcorn is an excellent source of nutrients for individuals with diabetes. Most "light" popcorns contain 80 to 100 calories and 3 grams of fiber per serving. Because it is made from corn, which is a whole grain, popcorn does not impact blood sugar levels as dramatically as other sugary snack foods. In fact, one serving of popcorn has a glycemic load that is 2 to 4 times lower than other snack foods, such as raisins, graham crackers, or potato chips. The Diabetic Portion Size of Popcorn According to the American Diabetes Association, one diabetic portion size of popcorn equals 3 cups of popped popcorn, or approximately 15 grams of carbohydrates. Because individuals with diabetes can consume between 15 and 30 grams of carbohydrate for snacks, no more than two servings or 6 cups of popcorn should be consumed at one time. Most individual, 1 ounce bags of microwave popcorn bags contain approximately 21 grams of carbohydrate, making these portions perfect for individuals with diabetes. Choosing the Right Popcorn Individuals with diabetes must be mindful of the type of popcorn they consume because many versions have added fats, sugars and salts. When selecting popcorn at the grocery store, indiv Continue reading >>
Can I Eat Popcorn If I Have Diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus (MEL-ih-tus), often referred to as diabetes, is characterized by high blood glucose (sugar) levels that result from the body’s inability to produce enough insulin and/or effectively utilize the insulin. Diabetes is a serious, life-long condition and the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism (the body's way of digesting food and converting it into energy). There are three forms of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that accounts for five- to 10-percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes may account for 90- to 95-percent of all diagnosed cases. The third type of diabetes occurs in pregnancy and is referred to as gestational diabetes. Left untreated, gestational diabetes can cause health issues for pregnant women and their babies. People with diabetes can take preventive steps to control this disease and decrease the risk of further complications. Continue reading >>
The Diabetes Diet
What's the best diet for diabetes? Whether you’re trying to prevent or control diabetes, your nutritional needs are virtually the same as everyone else, so no special foods are necessary. But you do need to pay attention to some of your food choices—most notably the carbohydrates you eat. While following a Mediterranean or other heart-healthy diet can help with this, the most important thing you can do is to lose a little weight. Losing just 5% to 10% of your total weight can help you lower your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. Losing weight and eating healthier can also have a profound effect on your mood, energy, and sense of wellbeing. Even if you’ve already developed diabetes, it’s not too late to make a positive change. By eating healthier, being more physically active, and losing weight, you can reduce your symptoms or even reverse diabetes. The bottom line is that you have more control over your health than you may think. The biggest risk for diabetes: belly fat Being overweight or obese is the biggest risk factor for type 2 diabetes. However, your risk is higher if you tend to carry your weight around your abdomen as opposed to your hips and thighs. A lot of belly fat surrounds the abdominal organs and liver and is closely linked to insulin resistance. You are at an increased risk of developing diabetes if you are: A woman with a waist circumference of 35 inches or more A man with a waist circumference of 40 inches or more Calories obtained from fructose (found in sugary beverages such as soda, energy and sports drinks, coffee drinks, and processed foods like doughnuts, muffins, cereal, candy and granola bars) are more likely to add weight around your abdomen. Cutting back on sugary foods can mean a slimmer waistline as well as a lowe Continue reading >>
7 Diabetes-friendly Snacks
Part 1 of 10 Snacks are a great way to keep your blood glucose levels stable, but sometimes it may seem that choosing what to snack on is easier said than done. Making smart food choices starts with understanding the fundamentals. For most people with diabetes, that means understanding the effects of carbohydrates on blood glucose levels. Carbohydrates break down into sugar, and when you eat large amounts of certain types of carbohydrates, blood glucose levels can spike. Part 2 of 10 The glycemic index (GI) measures how much a food containing carbohydrates raises your blood glucose level compared to the consumption of pure glucose. Pure glucose has a score of 100. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) identifies low-GI foods as those with a ranking of 55 or less. Low-GI foods include: 100 percent stone-ground whole wheat oatmeal legumes non-starchy vegetables Medium-GI foods have ratings between 56 and 69. Some examples are: whole wheat rye pita bread Eating mixed snacks can also help, since foods digest more slowly when they’re eaten together. Adding protein or healthy fats to a snack with carbohydrate can help increase fullness and decrease the risk of blood sugar spikes. Part 3 of 10 Counting the number of carbohydrates in your snacks and choosing foods using the glycemic index are both great ways to make smart snacking decisions. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says that a diabetes-friendly snack should contain 15–30 grams of carbohydrates. We’ve come up with a few healthy snack ideas that are great on-the-go and can help make managing your blood glucose level simple! Part 4 of 10 Store-bought trail mix can be boring, bland, and not so healthy — not to mention expensive. Save money (and your taste buds) by making your own! Ingredients*: 1 cup roaste Continue reading >>
5 Common Food Myths For People With Diabetes Debunked
There are many misconceptions that people with diabetes must follow a strict diet, when in reality they can eat anything a person without diabetes eats. Amy Campbell, MS, RD, LDN, CDE, nutritionist at Joslin Diabetes Center and co-author of 16 Myths of a "Diabetic Diet," debunks some common food myths for people with diabetes. 1. People with diabetes have to eat different foods from the rest of the family. People with diabetes can eat the same foods as the rest of their family. Current nutrition guidelines for diabetes are very flexible and offer many choices, allowing people with diabetes to fit in favorite or special-occasion foods. Everyone, whether they have diabetes or not, should eat a healthful diet that consists of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein foods, and heart-healthy fats. So, if you have diabetes, there's no need to cook separately from your family. 2. People with diabetes should never give in to food cravings. Almost everyone has food cravings at some point, and people with diabetes are no exception. It's not uncommon for people with diabetes to cut out all sweets or even cut way back on food portions in order to lose weight. In turn, your body often responds to these drastic changes by creating cravings. Nine times out of ten, your food choices in these situations tend to be high in fat and/or sugar, too. The best way to deal with food cravings is to try to prevent them by following a healthy eating plan that lets you occasionally fit sweets into your diabetes meal plan. If a craving does occur, let yourself have a small taste of whatever it is you want. By doing so, you can enjoy the flavor and avoid overeating later on. 3. People with diabetes shouldn't eat too many starchy foods, even if they contain fiber, because starch raises your blo Continue reading >>
5 Healthy Snacks For People With (or Without!) Diabetes
Yes, you can snack if you have diabetes When your stomach starts to rumble, you need a snack that can curb your hunger without blowing your blood sugar. Just like meals, snacks should be a combination of fat, protein, and carbohydrates. Aim for one that consists of 15 to 30 grams of carbohydrates and 100 to 200 calories (depending on your meal plan and medication). Here are five that typically get a seal of approval from diabetes educators and nutritionists. Whole-grain crackers, grapes, and cottage cheese Nutrient-rich whole grains like cracked wheat, whole wheat, rye, and quinoa can lower blood sugar and cholesterol. The cottage cheese adds protein to stabilize blood sugar, curb hunger pangs, and provide calcium for strong bones. Buy your favorite whole-grain crackers, and make sure that the first ingredient is whole-wheat flour or another whole grain, such as rye. (Even if the ingredient list says "wheat flour," it is not a whole-grain food unless it specifies "whole-wheat flour.") Arrange on a small plate 2 crackers, 1/4 cup nonfat cottage cheese, and 1/4 cup grapes. Serving size: 2 crackers, 1/4 cup cottage cheese, and 1/4 cup grapes. Nutritional information—Calories: 138, Total Carbohydrate: 21.2 g (7%), Dietary Fiber: 1.5 g (6%), Sugars 11.9 g Homemade popcorn Popcorn is high in fiber, and when made from scratch is an all-natural food without additives and artificial flavorings. Pour 1 tablespoon of mild-flavored oil such as canola into a heavy-bottomed medium-large pot. Cover the bottom of the pot with 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels spread in a thin layer. (If the kernels are too crowded, not all of them will pop.) Cover the pot and heat on medium, shaking the pot every minute or so until all of the kernels have popped. Take care not to cook too long, which could Continue reading >>
6 Facts About Popcorn And Diabetes (#good Or Bad ?)
Researches report that popcorn is rich of fitonutrient. It also contains polyphenol twice more than a portion of fruit. If we eat popcorn only during cinema time, it means we miss one of the healthiest seeds. We can eat 3 cups of popcorn for gaining 99 calorie and 4 gram fiber. Sponsors Link 6 Connections between Popcorn and Diabetes Patients: 1. Whole Grain. Inside of these whole seeds, there are parts called germ, bran and endosperm. The germ contains healthy oil, vitamin E, protein, a lot of vitamin B, and mineral. Meanwhile, the bran contains a lot of fiber, vitamin B, mineral, protein, and antioxidant. And in endosperm we can find flour content that is rich of protein and fiber. As popcorn is made of corn seeds. People who eat popcorn automatically consume 250% more whole seeds than people who do not eat popcorn. 2. Rich of Fiber. In popcorn contains 4 gram of diet fiber. These 4 gram of diet fiber can be gained in 4 cups of popcorn. Most popcorn is consumed more than 4 cups so that it can meet the 25 gram fiber intake in women and 38 gram fiber intake in men. The regular intake of fiber can decrease the risk of cardiovascular or heart disease. It also levels down the cholesterol in our blood and decrease the risk of suffering diabetes type 2 because it flows our blood flow well. 3. Polyphenols. There is high antioxidant found in popcorn. It is indeed higher than expected. The antioxidant in popcorn is in the form of polyphenols. It is in the corn skin that is not peeled when popcorn is cooked. Peeling skin corn when it is cooked becomes popcorn will reduce the benefit of polyphenols. The sufficient intake of polyphenols is beneficial to prevent our body from heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Polyphenols is powerful to prevent us from free radicals and reduce th Continue reading >>
The Gestational Diabetes Menu
Planning your gestational diabetes menu can be challenging. It can be less of a chore when you follow these simple guidelines. Learn to look at food with a different perspective. See the foods according to these categories. Protein Red meat, for example: Pork. Beef. Mutton. Poultry, for example: Chicken. Turkey. Duck. Legumes, like: Lentils. Beans, for example: Soya beans. Kidney beans. Butter beans. Bake beans. Eggs. Cheese. Nuts. Carbohydrates Starch. Rice. Grains. Cereals. Bread. Pasta. Spaghetti. Macaroni. Noodles. Vegetables. Potatoes. Corn. Vegetables for example: Green beans. Sweet potato. Lettuce. Fruit, for example: Peaches. Oranges. Apples. Kiwi. Plums. Dairy. Milk. Fat Poultry skins. Avocado. Nuts. Dairy: Milk. Butter. Cheese. Fiber All vegetables. All fruit. Grains. Nuts. It is impossible to show you every food available, get the information from the labels. Plan your meals for the gestational diabetes menu according to the categories above. You need the correct balance of protein, carbohydrates and fat. When planning your gestational diabetes menu, split the carbohydrates as starch, vegetables and fruit and dairy. Count the value of the food according to the ingredient that is the most common. For example, nuts contain fat, protein and fiber, but its main source is protein. Therefore, if you need some protein for a meal, then nuts will be a good choice. However, if you need to add some fat, then nuts would be the wrong choice. Avocados are a fruit, but count it as a fat on your gestational diabetes menu. Always have a protein when you eat carbohydrates. The required dietary fat will come naturally it is thus easy to have too much. Therefore, limit the amount of fat in your diet. Recommended Meal Sizes for the Gestational Diabetes Menu Breakfast. 2 Servings Continue reading >>
- Women in India with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Strategy (WINGS): Methodology and development of model of care for gestational diabetes mellitus (WINGS 4)
- Leeds diabetes clinical champion raises awareness of gestational diabetes for World Diabetes Day
- Gestational Diabetes: The Overlooked Form of Diabetes
Diabetes And Butter: Is Butter Good For Diabetes?
Despite the fact that health professionals for years have recommended reducing its intake, butter intake is still quite high, at 23 sticks per American per year. Its creamy delicious goodness just has not gone away. But is butter making a comeback in the nutrition science world? Is it really not as bad as we once thought? Although it was vilified in the 1980’s and 1990’s, has it been pardoned from its unhealthy label? History Butter has always been a staple in the American diet. In the 1920’s, Americans consumed approximately 72 sticks (18 pounds) of butter per year. The Great Depression hit and then World War II, with these events causing a steep decline in butter consumption with a concurrent rise in margarine use. Butter continued to decrease in the American diet throughout the 1950’s – 1980’s. At that point, the role of butter stayed fairly steady at around 20 sticks (5 pounds) per year. Rising intake just recently started in the 2010’s decade. Nutritional Content Butter is 100% fat, meaning all of the calories that butter provides are in the form of fat. One tablespoon of butter contains 102 calories, all from the 11 grams of total fat. Looking at the fat content more closely, that tablespoon of butter contains 7 grams of saturated fat and 3 grams of monounsaturated fat, as well as approximately 31 mg of cholesterol. Is Butter Recommended for Diabetics? For years, saturated fats in butter and other foods were discouraged because of the strong association with cardiovascular diseases. Eating a diet high in saturated fat raises blood lipids, increasing the likelihood that arteries will be occluded by the lipids and eventually lead to serious complications such as heart attack and stroke. This is a known scientifically proven fact. The American Heart Ass Continue reading >>
Top 10 Worst Foods For Diabetes
These foods can can cause blood sugar spikes or increase your risk of diabetes complications. Pretzels Pretzels have a healthy image, but a glance at the ingredients list reveals that their wholesome reputation is grossly undeserved. Nearly every brand is made from the same basic ingredients: white flour (wheat flour that’s been stripped of its nutrients and fiber), yeast, salt, and maybe some vegetable oil or corn syrup. It’s obvious from its subpar ingredient list that this popular snack is pretty much devoid of nutrition. Pretzels are baked, not fried like potato chips, which saves you a few calories, but the white, refined carbs do a number on your blood sugar and do little to satisfy your appetite. Skip the carb-fest and opt for a more balanced and filling snack that includes some protein to help steady your sugars. Great choices include a rice cake with reduced-fat cheese, a handful of pistachio nuts in the shell, or a nonfat Greek yogurt. Looking for tips on how to manage diabetes? Give these lifestyle changes a shot. Continue reading >>
14 Fantastically Healthy Foods For Diabetics
When you think of managing blood sugar, odds are you obsess over everything you can't have. While it's certainly important to limit no-no ingredients (like white, refined breads and pastas and fried, fatty, processed foods), it's just as crucial to pay attention to what you should eat. We suggest you start here. Numerous nutrition and diabetes experts singled out these power foods because 1) they're packed with the four healthy nutrients (fiber, omega-3s, calcium, and vitamin D) that make up our Diabetes DTOUR Diet, and 2) they're exceptionally versatile, so you can use them in recipes, as add-ons to meals, or stand-alone snacks. 1. Beans Beans have more to boast about than being high in fiber (plant compounds that help you feel full, steady blood sugar, and even lower cholesterol; a half cup of black beans delivers more than 7 grams). They're a not-too-shabby source of calcium, a mineral that research shows can help burn body fat. In ½ cup of white beans, you'll get almost 100 mg of calcium—about 10% of your daily intake. Beans also make an excellent protein source; unlike other proteins Americans commonly eat (such as red meat), beans are low in saturated fat—the kind that gunks up arteries and can lead to heart disease. How to eat them: Add them to salads, soups, chili, and more. There are so many different kinds of beans, you could conceivably have them every day for a week and not eat the same kind twice. 2. Dairy You're not going to find a better source of calcium and vitamin D—a potent diabetes-quelling combination—than in dairy foods like milk, cottage cheese, and yogurt. One study found that women who consumed more than 1,200 mg of calcium and more than 800 IU of vitamin D a day were 33% less likely to develop diabetes than those taking in less of both Continue reading >>
Is Popcorn Okay To Eat With Chronic Kidney Disease
Is Popcorn Okay to Eat with Chronic Kidney Disease When we go to a theater, usually we buy a bag of popcorn. It is one of the most enjoyable things to eating while watching. But can Chronic Kidney Disease patients eat popcorn? To know if popcorn is okay for CKD patients, we must know the nutrition in popcorn and whether it is good for CKD patients. Popcorn contains more antioxidants than the same amount of fruits and vegetables. Antioxidant is a kind of substance that can prevent the harmful effect of oxygen in our body. If there is too much oxygen in our body, the cells will accelerate aging. So taking in proper amount of antioxidants is good for our health. Besides, antioxidant is also a substance that helps capture and neutralize free radicals, then remove the damage of free radicals to human body. Popcorn contains fiber and is the only snack thats 100% whole grain. Fiber can lower the potassium sodium ratio in our blood hence lower blood pressure, so it is better for chronic kidney disease patients who have high blood pressure. Besides, fiber can accelerate the movement of intestinal tract and speed up feces excretion. In this condition, the time that toxins and wastes stay in our intestinal tract is shorten, and the stimulation to our intestinal tract is reduced. Popcorn contains some B vitamins and minerals such as manganese, magnesium, iron, and zinc. B vitamins can regulate proliferation and death of cells, so it is very beneficial to CKD patients. Not all kinds of popcorn are good for patients who have chronic kidney disease. There is a lot of sugar and cream in processed popcorn. It is not good for CKD patients who have diabetes. If you want to eat popcorn, make it by yourself. Remember not to eat too much. Eating too much in a single sitting can cause nausea Continue reading >>
10 Easy Snacks For Diabetes
Thinkstock Stay Fueled With These Diabetes Snacks Snacks aren't just an excuse to munch on something mid-day — they are an important part of a type 2 diabetes diet to help manage weight and control blood sugar. "Eating frequently throughout the day allows you to better regulate your appetite and avoid excess hunger, which can lead to overeating and elevated blood sugar levels," says Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDE, and author of The 2-Day Diabetes Diet. Palinski-Wade has three recommendations for good diabetes snacks: Stick to between 15 and 45 grams of carbohydrates per diabetes snack, choose 100 percent whole grains, and eat whole fruits instead of fruit juice. Also be sure you eat every 4 to 6 hours, suggests Jessica Crandall, RD, CDE, a national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. "If it's going to be a longer time before you eat a meal or if you feel your blood sugar dropping, eat a snack," she says. Continue reading >>
