If you think popcorn is gluten-free, you’d be quite right, but it’s not always a certainty, as some may know. Is popcorn gluten free? Many think so. After all, corn is a gluten-free cereal, but this snack can stop being considered gluten-free if prepared on an industrial level. The culprit of this fact is not some particular processing of corn.
Is popcorn gluten free?
Some toppings and toppings containing gluten, which can end up on the spicier popcorn, are being blamed. This problem becomes concrete when popcorns are not left natural, gluten-free. It should be seasoned with particular ingredients.
Fortunately, they are more prevalent in the US than in Europe, but it is always best to keep an eye on the label when buying packaged popcorn. All those condiments that try to mimic the taste of meat require particular attention. They are often reproduced with seitan, a muscle of wheat, very rich in gluten.
Another ingredient that can be used is modified starch, which can be made from wheat, thus containing gluten. This compound is mostly found in popcorn flavored with BBQ or buffalo sauce, so we Europeans should be safe enough.
Nutritional properties of popcorn
- Its high content of dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals stand out.
- They are a food rich in vitamin E.
- They provide a high amount of fiber (10 g per 100 grams).
- It contains minerals (iron, calcium, potassium, zinc, magnesium and phosphorus) and vitamins A, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12, C, D and K.
Benefits of eating popcorn
Popcorn lowers cholesterol and blood sugar.
The most significant are the following:
Avoid constipation
Since popcorn is a whole grain with high fiber content, it prevents constipation. Also, it supports the intestinal tract and maintains the health of the digestive system in general.
Reduce blood sugar levels
Thanks to their high amount of fiber, they regulate the presence of blood sugar and insulin levels. For this reason, it is a food, used in the diet of diabetes patients.
Prevent aging
Many studies support the high amount of antioxidants that popcorn contains. For this reason, they help eliminate free radicals, fight the signs of aging (wrinkles, etc.), reduce the risk of contracting serious diseases such as cancer and prevent degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
They help lower cholesterol
As they are very rich in fiber, they help us reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels and reduce cardiovascular disease risk.
They contain few calories
A bowl of popcorn provides only about 30 to 45 calories. In this case, to make them light, you have to naturally cook them at home without butter and control the amount of salt added to them.
It is very important to know that microwave popcorn. They are sold in establishments contain many more calories and fat than homemade ones.
How to know that your popcorn is gluten-free?
Gluten refers to a group of proteins found in grains, including gliadin in wheat, hordein in barley, secalin in the rye, avenin in oats, orizenin in rice, and zein in corn. When people with celiac disease (CD) eat specific gluten forms, their bodies raise an autoimmune response known as a CD. Although the gluten in wheat, barley, and rye triggers this reaction, corn’s zein protein is safe for people with CD.
When people with CD eat foods that contain prohibited forms of gluten, their bodies identify those proteins as foreign objects and mount an attack on them. The attack damages the villi, small finger-like bumps found in the small intestine. Also, it prevents them from absorbing essential nutrients for life. Since gluten in corn does not elicit this autoimmune response. People with celiac disease can eat corn and many foods made from corn, according to the Celiac Sprue Association (CSA).
Expert perspective
The CSA specifically identifies plain popcorn as a gluten-free snack that is safe for patients with celiac disease.
Prohibited ingredients
Although popcorn is a safe food for a gluten-free diet, it may be flavored with ingredients that contain gluten. For example, caramel can be made from barley malt, which contains gluten. Look out for popcorn flavored with malt, malt syrup, barley malt, barley extract, rice syrup, or brown rice syrup.
Safe Ingredients
People with celiac disease can safely eat popcorn flavored with butter, salt, honey, butter-free syrup, molasses, marshmallows, walnuts, coconut, or pure cocoa, the Celiac Sprue Association.
Finally,
Is popcorn gluten free? Yes, plain popcorn is gluten-free, dangerous contamination can occur during cooking or serving it at home. Keep popcorn containers on separate shelves from gluten-free foods. Clean surfaces carefully after use and serve gluten-free popcorn in a separate bowl from gluten-containing snacks.
