Google wants to give a big stage to this food: popcorn. The corn snack is very popular and is not only in high demand at the cinema. That’s why today, in the Google search, you can find a sweet animation inviting you to an exciting game. But is the snack even healthy?
How does the Google Doodle game work?
If you go to the Google homepage today, you will see a colorful animation above the search field. Clicking on it reveals a game that awakens the survival spirit. In the game, you are a kernel of corn fighting for your survival. The character must run for its life in the game field to avoid being hit by salt grains or hot butter. If you get hit, you explode into popcorn and lose. “Popcorn is celebrated on September 25, because on this date in 2020, the largest popcorn machine ever built was presented in Thailand,” explains the “Googlewatchblog”.
Is popcorn healthy?
Popcorn is indeed a healthy snack that contains many antioxidants and fiber. However, as the “American Heart Association” explains, it depends on how the kernels are prepared. Air-popped and lightly seasoned popcorn is definitely healthier, as it is associated with a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, some cancers, and other health problems.
Particularly with cinema popcorn, caution is advised: “Popcorn at the cinema is very different from popcorn made at home,” explained Maya Vadiveloo, who works as an assistant professor at the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences at the University of Rhode Island. According to the expert, a cup of cinema popcorn can contain up to 1,090 calories and 2,650 milligrams of sodium.
“Even a small cinema popcorn has a lot of calories and contains a lot of salt,” Vadiveloo added. “Sodium is one of the main risk factors for high blood pressure and stroke in general, so it is something that concerns us regarding heart diseases.” However, if the snack is made primarily with measured amounts of heart-healthy oils such as canola or olive oil, it can still be healthy.
Stay away from microwave popcorn
Microwave popcorn is not necessarily the best choice for your movie night. It has had many chemical compounds like diacetyl in the past. These have been linked to a disease known as “popcorn lung.” The symptoms mainly include shortness of breath and wheezing. Diacetyl, which gives some microwave popcorn its buttery flavor, is found in cheese, butter, yogurt, and wine and is not harmful when swallowed; it only becomes dangerous when inhaled in large quantities.
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