I recently learned while interviewing Dr. Grace, that the omega 6 to omega 3 ratio in corn is as high as 80:1 depending on who you talk to and which site you read on the internet. By the way, if you’d like to listen to the interview click Natural Ways to Optimize Your Brain, Gut and Body.
Why does it matter? According to healthline.com, Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids are essential, and our body doesn’t produce them therefore, the only way to get them is through our diets. Omega-6s are said to cause inflammation while omega-3s are anti-inflammatory. Yes, some inflammation is necessary in our bodies. It is our body’s own built in defense mechanism to protect us from infections and injuries. Too much inflammation causes harm to our body and contributes to disease. Therefore, it is essential to eat foods that have a good balance or at least a higher in omega-3 than omega-6.
Popped corn is a whole unprocessed grain and is high in fiber. I buy it organic and non-GMO (non-genetically modified). It happens to be one of my favorite snacks and by now if you listened to the interview, you heard me swear off the stuff. Excessive inflammation is a problem for me, and the reason that I try to limit inflammation causing foods. But popcorn though! I have managed to only have some once in the last couple of months where I was eating it pretty much every Friday night during family movie time and some Sunday afternoons. Reducing or eliminating corn from my diet has been quite challenging. It is especially hard for me to eliminate in my family because we are a gluten-free household. Corn is gluten-free. Corn is everywhere and in everything. Tuesday night is taco night at my house --- corn. Guacamole with corn chips is a favorite snack at my house. We also enjoy enchiladas --- corn. Animal food in America is mostly corn based. So, if you are a meat eater chances are they were fed corn causing an indirect intake of, you guessed it, corn. You can easily see how you can overdo it and inadvertently negatively impact your health.
In closing, know what you are eating and how it impacts your health, good or bad. I am sure it goes without saying but microwave popcorn is very bad for you. The chemicals used in the process of making it are carcinogenic. However, you can microwave popcorn kernels in a brown paper bag. I’ve never made it this way before; I tend to not use microwaves in general (story for another time). I prepare my popcorn in a pot with a lid on the stove with ghee, coconut oil or avocado oil whichever is available in my kitchen. My recipe is to use 3 tablespoons of oil with a 1/3 cup of kernels. Another way, to make it is to use 3 tablespoons of kernels in an air popper. For flavor try topping it with cinnamon, nutritional yeast, cayenne pepper, or garlic powder. Popcorn takes on the flavor of whatever you sprinkle it with. Get creative and for your health, make it only an occasional treat!
Teresa
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