Since everyone seems to be on a binge for off-the-wall stuff, I thought I would just throw in a note that was in one of my insurance monthly newsletters today.
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Popcorn, already known to be a good source of fiber, has higher levels of healthy antioxidants than some fruits and vegetables, according to new research. But no one is suggesting that anyone scrap fruits and vegetables in favor of popcorn. It's not yet clear how much of popcorn's healthy antioxidants get absorbed by the body. The researchers analyzed four commercial brands of popcorn, including two air-popped and two microwave varieties. They evaluated antioxidants known as polyphenols. These compounds are found in a wide variety of plants. Antioxidants undo the damage that can be done by unstable molecules known as ''free radicals." The antioxidants per serving of popcorn ranged from about 242-363 milligrams (mg). In comparison, they found that a serving of many fruits has about 160 mg of polyphenols. The next step in this research is to figure out how much of popcorn's polyphenols is absorbed into the body. In the meantime, popcorn remains a healthy, high-fibre snack - just hold the butter and oil!