Is microwave popcorn bad?
In addition to fat and salt, microwave popcorn carries several harmful components.
It is a little more practical, has a very characteristic smell and may even look like it, but it is not the same as the conventional one. We're talking about the increasingly popular microwave popcorn. Many wonder if microwave popcorn is bad for you. It's easy to see that this type of popcorn has a lot of salt and a lot of fat, but what few people know is that for its production several procedures are necessary, such as the addition of synthetic substances and preparation of a specific package that can withstand high temperatures.
Let's start with the concern about microwave popcorn packaging. The packaging of most industrialized ready-to-eat foods is special to prevent the absorption of water and fat. To make this possible, they take components that are harmful to health, such as perfluorinated agents, which are considered persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and can remain in the environment for a long time before being degraded. Research shows that perfluorinates, when discarded into the environment, are concentrated in animals such as eagles, bears, fish, weasels and marine mammals (learn more about water pollution and the effects of harmful chemicals on aquatic animals).
Certain types of perfluorides that had long carbon chains were gradually banned from domestic trade in the United States as of 2011. In 2005, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified long-chain perfluorides. carbon dioxide as probably carcinogenic to humans.
So that the microwave popcorn fat does not pass to the outside of the package, these agents act as waterproofing agents. Perfluorinated agents are risk factors for prostate cancer, heart, liver, thyroid and immune system problems, stroke, diabetes, fetal malformation and hormonal changes.
other problems
In addition to the problem present in microwave popcorn packaging, there are other issues that deserve attention: the type of fat and the type of flavoring that are added to the popcorn during the manufacturing process.
The fat added to most microwave popcorn goes by the name olestra. This type of fat has no cholesterol and contains zero calories and is used to completely replace traditional fat (which raises cholesterol levels like trans fat). It is added to ready-to-eat snacks or snacks that need heating, such as microwave popcorn.
But, after all, is that bad? The problem of olestra ingestion is related to the reduction in the absorption of vitamins and carotenoids present in food. Due to a reaction that olestra triggers in our body, vitamins A, D, E and K and carotenoids are degraded and cannot be absorbed in sufficient quantities by the body.
The most common flavoring that is added to microwave popcorn is known as diacetyl. This substance gives the "cheese flavor", "butter flavor", "cheddar flavor" to microwave popcorn. Frequent inhalation of diacetyl is related to triggering respiratory diseases such as bronchitis and asthma, and there are studies that associate the consumption of products with diacetyl with the development of degenerative Alzheimer's disease.
Other problems related to the consumption of industrialized microwave popcorn involve the excess of sodium and trans fat in these products. According to the Brazilian Institute for Consumer Protection (IDEC), microwave popcorn brands tested had sodium and trans fat levels higher than those allowed by Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) and by the WHO (World Health Organization) . Read more about trans fat, the villain on our plate).
Alternatives
In Brazil, it is mandatory to indicate the existence of olestra fat in foods. In case you can't resist a microwave popcorn, there are brands that don't use this type of fat.
The best alternative is to resort to good old popcorn (Creole) corn, avoiding transgenic corn (understand more about the topic in the article: "Transgenic corn: what it is and what are its risks"). Use small amounts of oil and salt and make your popcorn without olestra, diacetyl, trans fat and excess sodium. It's healthier for you and the environment.
In addition to the pot, you can also make normal popcorn in the microwave - this is the only way to eat "microwave popcorn" that doesn't hurt.
