We all know that you’ll get a lovely smell that’ll fill your room while preparing the fresh popcorn using microwave. It’s not as good as we think, and there are numerous dangers involved in Microwave popcorn to our bodies. The flavor smell we get is a chemical named “Diacetyl,” which is a synthetic butter flavoring. Most of us need to know is microwave popcorn dangerous to our health?
As per the research from CDCP (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention), the chemical mixture of butter flavoring linked to various diseases. The most severe and common lung disease is “Popcorn Lung.” When consuming Diacetyl, it’s very harmless, but while heating with high temperature, it will vaporize & becomes toxic to our body. If you’re looking for other healthy options for making popcorn then no doubt commercial popcorn machine a good fit for you
Cancer & Microwave Popcorn
We are not aware; does microwave popcorn causes cancer or other diseases. The most important problem lies within the microwave-safe bag, which was used for housing the popcorn kernels. As per the Environmental Health Perspectives, a chemical named PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic) is added to the microwave-safe bag. This is a similar chemical already utilized in the PFOS (Perfluorooctane Sulfonate) and Teflon Non-stick coating products.
Moreover, the PFOA chemical has a link with various diseases. They are high blood pressure (during pregnancy), high cholesterol, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, testicular cancer, and kidney cancer. As per the Endrocrinological Journal’s investigation, the deeper impact of thyroid effect is connected due to a chemical suffers from “Hypothyroidism.”
Microwave Popcorn – Not Good for Health
This fairly and healthy food snack within its basic form is not a problem. After all, it is another natural whole grain. As per the discussion from the World’s Healthiest Food & non-profit site, it is fundamentally not super-healthy or bad for you. However, the hulls of popcorn are another rich source for preventing your cells from damage with its antioxidant “Polyphenols.” But, you may experience some inherent risks from consuming popcorns:
- The people who are suffering from gastrointestinal health conditions are advised to follow a low-fiber or low-residue diet.
- As per the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), the children below three years may experience the choking issues.
- Some people experience serious allergic conditions.
Based on the popcorn preparation methods, the health issues are related to the following ways:
- Cooking or preparing popcorn using the store-bought microwave-safe bags.
- I am preparing with unhealthy toppings after cooking.
The first risk of preparing popcorn is using the unwanted ingredients, sugary coatings (caramelized popcorn), oil drenching, butter, and table salt. The second risk is ingredients and coatings that are used within the convenient microwave-safe bags. Within the microwave-safe bags, you will get numerous additives along with popcorn. They may be doing serious or minor damage to your health or body.
Most of the U.S. people think that is microwave popcorn healthy for their diet. No, there are numerous chemicals added to the microwave-safe bag, which is more dangerous to our health. Many Americans have changed their culture and consuming nearly 80% of microwave popcorn across the globe. It is unique that microwave popcorn can cause various health issues and greater possibilities for us at risk.
Dangers of Microwave Popcorn – Important Reasons
Below are the reasons listed, for consuming microwave popcorn:
Preservatives – Most of popular Microwave popcorn brands will utilize toxic preservatives to cause various health problems. For example, a preservative named “Proply Gallate” which cause tumors disease in lab rats. Proply Gallate’s adverse effects have banned this food product in numerous countries. But still, the U.S. nation has to decide on it.
Perfluorooctanoic Acid – This is another worst chemical added within the microwave-safe bag. Perfluorooctanoic acid is also called Carcinogen, which will cause a lab rat’s adverse effects and development.
Popcorn Lung – As per the research from CDCP (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention), the chemical mixture of butter flavoring is directly linked with various diseases. The most severe and common lung disease is referred to as “Bronchiolitis Obliterans” or “Popcorn lung.” This irreversible disease may cause breathing trouble with airflow restriction, scarring, and even lung inflammation. In extreme cases, they can develop and cause a life-threatening problem. According to the report, many workers in the popcorn factories are still suffering from the “Popcorn Lung” disease.
It is yet to reveal that Popcorn lung disease evolve from popcorn factories as well. However, it is not only the workers who are a risk for suffering Popcorn lung. While heating the microwave-safe bag, it will vaporize a chemical “Diacetyl,” and breathing consumption of this chemical will cause Popcorn lung disease. A person raised a lawsuit against various microwave companies for causing Popcorn lung disease from breath consumption and won the lawsuit.
Artificial Butter Flavoring (Toxic) – Most of us are not aware of how microwave popcorn is bad for you or your health? Many brands of popcorn are utilizing an artificial butter flavoring within their microwave popcorn. Diacetyl is a chemical that can cause lung & respiratory problems or even cause brain damage.
GMOs – As per the report, the actual popcorn we use is not listed as a GMO. It could be a different corn strain and not a modified genetically. The ingredients that are used within the microwave-safe bag could often be GMO-derived. Many microwave popcorn brands will include common GMO ingredients, soy lecithin, soy oil, or even corn oil.
How to avoid using Microwave-safe Bags
If you prefer to use microwave popcorn regularly, then you need to follow the below process:
- It is advisable to purchase organic popcorn not included with any pesticide residues (conventionally and commonly grown corn).
- Before opening the microwave-safe bag, let it cool down (after cooking or preparation). This process will remove the additive chemicals that cause the risk of Popcorn lung disease.
It is also possible to prepare healthy popcorn by not utilizing the store-bought microwave-safe bags. You can consider by following the below-mentioned healthy alternatives:
- Use the traditional popcorn techniques by preparing on your stovetop or with a popcorn machine. Make use of some modicum salt, coconut oil, or olive oil (healthier oil) to prepare the popcorn instead of using any secret ingredients. Each cup will take only 30 calories.
- Make use of a brown paper lunch bag for preparing the homemade microwave popcorn.
You can follow alternatives mentioned above to prepare healthy microwave popcorn for your family treat.