• Eating popcorn is one of the healthiest snack habits you can have
• High-fibre popcorn can help manage hunger and keep you fuller for longer
• Popcorn is naturally gluten-free

To celebrate our partnership with the nation’s most-loved quizzer Anne Hegerty, we have launched a special edition Sweet & Salty Manuka Honey Popcorn. The perfect snack to settle down with to watch your all-time favourite quiz show!

Freshly-popped corn is one of the most satisfying snacks around, and instantly evokes that movie night excitement with each bite. And if you’re concerned about the health qualities of popcorn, worry no more, eating popcorn is one of the healthiest snack habits you can have. Popcorn is filled with fibre and even antioxidants, yes antioxidants!

According to a 2019 analysis in the journal Antioxidants, popcorn is loaded with polyphenols, compounds found in plants that act as antioxidants. Polyphenols are more highly concentrated, especially in the hulls (the hard shells that get stuck in your teeth).

Popcorn has gained in popularity over recent years as it's a low-calorie food, but if you’re going to the cinema just be mindful that a large bucket of salted popcorn contains around 1,400 calories and over 5g of salt! [1] A healthy portion size of popcorn is around 25-30g. While some popcorn can be enjoyed as a low-calorie snack, portion size is key to keep calories in check.  

Popcorn is made from maize (corn) kernels that puff up and expand when exposed to heat. Popcorn is mostly made up of carbohydrate. It's high in fibre, making it a good snack option. It does contain some vitamins and minerals such as iron, zinc, magnesium and some B vitamins but not in large quantities, and it is traditionally low in calories. Manuka Doctor Sweet & Salty Manuka Honey Popcorn is only 149 calories per serving (30g).

Another health benefit of popcorn is its high satiety. Because of popcorn's high fibre content, its low calorie count and its low energy density, popcorn is considered to be a food that can aid in weight loss. High-fibre foods take more time to digest than non-fibrous foods, so they can help manage hunger and keep you fuller for longer. [2,3] Snacking on popcorn in between meals can make you less tempted by sweets and fatty foods. Just don’t load up on butter and toffee.  

Popcorn itself is gluten-free, but always check the label on any pre-made or pre-flavoured popcorn that nothing extra has been added if you are avoiding gluten. Manuka Doctor Sweet & Salty Manuka Honey Popcorn is naturally gluten free.

And if you want an extra boost of Manuka as a topping, the handy 100 MGO Squeezable Manuka Honey is the perfect addition!