It’s the weekend. You’re ready to go enjoy the latest blockbuster at your local theater. You smell the popcorn as you enter the theater. Ahhh! Nature’s treat.
Movies and popcorn go together like peanut butter and jelly.
But, if you’re becoming a health conscience consumer, you know that over 90% of all corn is genetically modified. That means you also probably know of many scientific studies that have proven GM corn is contributing to the obesity epidemic. Not to mention causing major problems with vital organs in the body.
And as awful as GMO popcorn is, it gets worse. Because the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) evaluated popcorn in movie theaters and found some horrific facts.
CSPI senior nutritionist Jayne Hurley was quoted as saying the theater chains like Regal and AMC “are our nominees for Best Supporting Actor in the Obesity Epidemic.”
A medium combo, which is to say a medium sized popcorn and a soda, was found to contain 1610 calories and 60 grams of saturated fat. Don’t forget the heart-stopping 1000mg of sodium…and the free refills!
But hey! I love popcorn! Especially while watching a movie. So I found a healthier alternative to those $12 cholesterol-filled combos at the theater.
It’s called…drum roll please….non-GMO popcorn.
I admit having snuck in a candy bar or two into the theater. Who wants to pay $4 for a candy bar? But sneaking in popcorn?….never. Until now that is.
GM corn is obviously a big concern, but even more important is how you cook it. Popcorn is usually cooked in oil, especially coconut oil. I don’t have anything against coconut oil, except when it’s used as an alternative to butter for popcorn.
Coconut oil got a bad rap in the 1990’s when CSPI called a press conference back in 1992 and pinned movie theater popcorn as having “more artery-clogging fat than bacon-and-eggs breakfast, a Big Mac and fries for lunch, and a steak dinner with all the trimmings – combined!”
The main source of this problem over two decades ago was that coconut oil was being used to replace the buttery topping. So not only was popcorn being cooked in the oil, it was being used as a fake buttery topping.
In 2009, CSPI did another study and found more of the same. Movie theater popcorn still contained high doses of artery clogging saturated fats.
To avoid this problem of deadly popped kernels, simply pop your own, non-GMO popcorn. And don’t be afraid of sneaking it in the theater. After all, if the theater doesn’t sell non-GMO popcorn that’s not soaked in artery clogging oil, then it’s up to you to provide yourself with a safe, salty, snack while you watch the movie.
A few good non GMO popcorns I recommend.
Great Northern Organic Popcorn
Don’t forgot to stay away from the oil. Use a hot air corn popper instead.
Good Luck!
Brett Allen
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Brett Allen is the author of the NO GMO Diet. In his tell-all book, he records his 21 day journey to lowering his blood pressure by nearly 40 points, and losing 19 pounds by simply eliminating GMOs from his diet.
Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/noGMOdiet
Sources:
http://www.cspinet.org/new/200911182.html
