People have been eating popcorn for centuries, since ancient times when Native Americans would harvest the seeds of poppable kernels and eat them.
Since then, it has become one of America’s favorite snacks with the popularity of microwave-popcorn being especially high. Many people enjoy it because they think it is healthier than regular movie theater popcorn which usually contains butter or oil as an ingredient.
Some studies claim that fat in the form of oils may actually be healthy for us, but most experts agree that too much sugar and starch can be harmful. Because of this, some recipes change the ingredients to use plain air popped corn instead!
However, what kind of salt you use and how salty your popcorn should be varies from person to person depending on whether you like more flavor or not. This article will talk about the differences between kettle and dry-popped popcorn along with some tips on how to make the best tasting ketchup style condiment.
It depends on the brand and the type of corn
While some brands add high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) to their kettle cooked snacks, the only sugar used in true kettle-cooked popcorn is pure coconut or cotton sugar.
This is sometimes called sweet white rice powder or white rice sugar. This is because it comes from the same source as regular table sugar, which is made from processed white rice. The difference is that white rice has more starch than glucose, so it takes longer for your body to break down the sugar. Therefore, you feel these sugars for slightly longer.
Many people agree that HFCS is a better choice over plain old sugar due to its lower glycemic index. That means it doesn’t cause too much of an increase in blood glucose levels like normal sugar does.
However, there are some studies that suggest children may be less likely to suffer food allergies if they eat lots of Popcorn with butter instead of with salt and/or flavored toppings.
Some brands contain high amounts of sugar
Recent studies show that some types of kettle corn are actually not so healthy. Companies may add large amounts of sugar to make up for the lack of flavor in the snack.
Some companies even use artificial sweeteners like aspartame which has been linked to health issues such as brain, liver, and heart damage.
Artificial sweeteners have also been linked to weight gain due to their possible effects on hormones. While there is no evidence that confirms this link just yet, more research is being done.
Many people complain about symptoms related to an allergy or intolerance to gluten. Since most people are exposed to glutsens when eating processed snacks with added sugars, it can be difficult to determine whether the problem comes from the popcorn or the toppings.
Some contain high amounts of salt
Many people love kettle corn, but is it really healthy to eat a lot of butter with sugar and salty flavorings? Most definitely not!
Kettles of sweet popcorn with butter and additional ingredients are very popular food items in America. Companies have designed many recipes for this snack including flavors such as chocolate, cinnamon, salted caramel, and others.
Many individuals consider these additions to be healthier alternatives to traditional movie theater snacks like salty potato chips or pretzels.
However, some variations can actually pose health risks due to the amount of fat they include. The average one-taste serving usually does not exceed 2 grams of fat, making most versions of kettle corn considered low in fat.
But some brands go way beyond that by adding up to eight times more fat per individual forkful! This can add up quickly if you are addicted to kettle corn.
Some types of kettle corn are even made with melted cheese which may contain unhealthy levels of trans fats. These are typically banned because they increase LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and reduce HDL (“good”) cholesterol.
It can contain artificial colors or flavors
Although some people consider kettle corn to be healthier than traditional popcorn, this claim is not true!
Many types of pretzel-style snacks have become increasingly popular in America over the past few years. One of these snacks is kettle corn, which has recently gone mainstream.
Kettle corns are similar to regular popped popcorn, except they’re cooked in an open pot of boiling water instead of a microwave or popper. This process gives them a slightly sweeter taste and richer texture.
There are several brands that produce kettle corn including Charlie’s Original, General Mills (Birds Eye), and Valley Products among others.
Although many people enjoy it, there are also concerns about kettle corn. Some say that it may be more expensive due to the higher production costs, but you get what you pay for.
It can contain partially hydrogenated oil
Although it may be marketed as a healthier alternative to traditional potato chips, kettle corn is not necessarily healthier than regular old-fashioned salty snacks. In fact, some types of kettle corn are even considered worse for you than plain popcorn!
Many brands market their toppings as healthier alternatives to sugar or butter, but they’re usually just slightly less sweet than your average bag of salted snack treats. The most common ingredients include coconut oil, olive oil, high fructose corn syrup, and/or cocoa powder. Many people believe that adding these fats to your diet is better for you, but this isn’t always the case.
It has been determined that although there aren’t many studies, those who eat too much fat may be exposed to higher levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and lower levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. Both of these conditions pose serious risks to your heart and circulatory system!
However, we should all treat ourselves to a small serving of kettle corn once in a while.
It can contain GMO ingredients
Many people love kettle corn, however, there are some concerns about how much sugar it contains and whether or not that extra butter flavor is better or worse for you. Unfortunately, most brands of kettle corn have to contain at least three sugars (including glucose, maltose, and sucrose) to use the term “corn” in their name.
The amount of sugar in your kettle corn will depend on what kind of starch they use to cook the corn and what type of sweetener they use to make the liquid used to stir and eat the popcorn. The average one-cup serving usually has around four tablespoons of melted fat and two to three tablespoons of sugar.
Some people argue that too much added sugar is harmful, so why should we add more to our diet? Some say that the dangers outweigh the benefits. This includes potential health problems such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
It can contain high amounts of sugar
Even though it may be marketed as “dessert style popcorn,” kettle corn is not necessarily healthier than traditional movie theater popped popcorn. In fact, some types of kettle corn are almost pure sugar!
Kettlesteak chips, for example, have over 10 grams of sugar per one-tablespoon serving! A typical person needs only about two tablespoons to eat all the way through a bag so this amount adds up quickly.
And since most people are eating these bags right away, there is no chance to burn off any of the sugar that has been absorbed. Repeated exposure can lead to obesity even if you aren’t actually experiencing a health crisis.
This isn’t to say that every bit of sugar in your diet has to make you sick or overweight. But we do recommend limiting your intake of added sugars because they are disproportionately linked to weight gain.
Sugars in our diets also play a role in chronic diseases like diabetes. Because of this, many national organizations suggest limiting your daily intake of carbs to less than 150 grams (just under five pounds) to reduce risk of disease.
That’s why it’s important to look out for alternative snacks like kettle corn that might sometimes include hidden packets of sugar.
It can contain high amounts of salt
As mentioned earlier, you do not need to limit your intake of salty foods during the summer! If you love kettle corn then definitely increase your serving size.
One popular way to make sure you are eating enough water is by drinking alcohol. By adding some flavor to the drink, you taste more of the water content. Unfortunately, most alcoholic beverages have butter or cream as an ingredient so they may be limiting your water intake slightly.
You could also try buying a bottle of water and mixing it with one cup of the flavored liquid (like sugar-free ketchup for example). The sugar in the ketchup will balance out the calories from the sweetened beverage, making it seem healthier.
And lastly, if you feel that your mouth is dry, add some more saliva to help rehydrate. You can use a piece of gum, sip some plain H2O, or just lick your lips.