Is Popcorn Bad For Diabetics?

Popcorn is a whole grain rich in fiber and can help regulate blood sugar levels. But is popcorn bad for diabetics? The answer may surprise you. While popcorn can be high in carbs, it can still be a part of a diabetic-friendly diet when consumed in moderation.

Diabetics are wondering if it is safe for them to eat popcorn; fortunately, popcorn is good for everyone, including diabetics. However, for someone with diabetes to eat popcorn, he or she needs to do so in moderation.

Popcorn is a whole-grain snack, and since it has fiber, it will take time to release sugar in the body. This is because popcorn has a lower glycemic index than most snacks, so it would be ideal for people with blood sugar concerns.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease that affects the way your body processes food to create energy. Diabetes causes your blood sugar levels to remain abnormally high. This occurs because your body does not produce enough insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels, or the body cannot use the insulin that it produces efficiently.

There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. The first type of diabetes is insulin-dependent diabetes. Type 1 diabetes happens mostly in children, and this is because the pancreas does not make enough insulin. While with Type 2, the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or resists insulin.

Most diabetics avoid sweet foods, and that is why they are reluctant to take popcorn. So, people suffering from diabetes are wondering whether popcorn is healthy for them. Below is the nutritional value of popcorn.

Popcorn Nutritional Value

Popcorn is a low-calorie snack, even though some people put butter and other things on it. When you eat air-pop popcorn, the nutritional value is more than the rest. A cup of the popcorn has approximately 30 calories. The fiber content is about 3 to 6. grams per cup. It is really rich in fiber.

Now, let us turn to the amount of protein. In fact, popcorn does not contain very much protein, approximately 1 to 3 grams of protein for a cup size. Here is the breakdown:

• Calories: Air-popped: 30
• Carbohydrates: 6 grams per 1 cup serving
• Fiber: 3.6 grams
• Protein: 3 grams
• Fat: 1.1 grams
• Glycemic Index: Air-popped popcorn: GI of 55

Is popcorn bad for diabetics?

Popcorn is very safe for diabetics, but it should be eaten in moderation, especially if it is prepared with sugar or butter. Popcorn is a healthy snack; however, it is vital that anyone suffering from diabetes avoid caramel and kettle corn because sugar is added to it.

In addition, someone who is diabetic should not eat popcorn excessively. Too much popcorn may lead to an increase in blood sugar levels. Diabetics should be more conscious about the GI of the foods that they take.

Popcorn has a relatively low GI; this means it is less likely to cause a rapid rise in blood sugar levels compared to foods with a high GI value.

For a diabetic-friendly snack, adding herbs and spices like cinnamon or chili to popcorn instead of salt or butter is better. These seasonings can make foods tasty without affecting the extra calories or sugars in food.

Type of Popcorn

You eat popcorn, but are you aware that popcorns are not the same? There are different types of popcorn, and they come in different kernels. They include:

• Yellow popcorn,
• White popcorn,
• Mushroom popcorn
• Butterfly popcorn

Mushroom popcorn is round and packed, this makes it easy to coat. Also, it stays crispy, once you coat it very well. Butterfly popcorn, on the other hand, differs in shape from regular popcorn, where it has ‘wings’ once the popcorn is ready for consumption, and it has a light, crunchy texture ideal for a buttery or any other seasoning.

The type of kernel you choose to use in your popcorn also determines the appearance as well as taste of the popcorn. Yellow corns are larger and possess a slightly sweetish, nutty taste, whereas the white corns are small and tender in texture.

When it comes to choosing popcorn healthy for people with diabetes, air-popped popcorn is the most suitable. Air-popped popcorn is light on the human system, and our systems do not react to it as we have seen with regular popcorn, causing a steep rise in blood sugar levels.

In addition, there is no added butter or sweetening agents, so when a diabetic patient chews it, the blood sugar level remains constant. Take note that microwave popcorn is different from air-popped popcorn. Although it is easy to prepare, it has high calories from unhealthy fats and other dangerous additives, which are not suitable for any diabetic person.

The thing about microwave popcorn is that you can decide what you put into the popcorn since you’re popping your corn in the microwave.

Regardless of the type of kernel, how your popcorn is popped can also have an impact on the end product. It is advisable to just be careful with the portions and not add too much salt or sugar to the popcorn.

Health Benefits of Popcorn for Diabetics

People who have diabetes can eat popcorn. Not only does popcorn taste nice, but the nutritional value of popcorn is also healthy for diabetics. In our introduction, you can see that popcorn is not bad for diabetics. However, diabetic patients need to take fewer calories than they would normally do to avoid a buildup of fat and cholesterol.

Because of the low-calorie content, popcorn is safe for people who have diabetes. In addition, the fiber content in it is important because it ensures that sugars from foods do not spike in the bloodstream.

Just because corn is a carbohydrate does not mean that a diabetic patient should avoid popcorn. Whole grains are healthy carbs that diabetics can eat. Unlike refined grain products, people suffering from diabetes need it.

The nutritional value of whole grains is high and can enable diabetes patients to regulate their blood sugar levels well. In addition to a lower incidence of type 2 diabetes, popcorn is also good for diabetics, the reason being that it is a whole grain.

However, if one takes popcorn in large volumes, it causes high levels of blood sugar. This may lead to high blood glucose, commonly referred to as hyperglycemia, and is dangerous for people with diabetes.

In addition, too much of it is not good, especially if it contains a lot of saturated fats and salt, which are in many types of popcorn. When a diabetic person eats too much popcorn, the person may experience any of the following signs:

• Increased thirst: If the diabetic person takes too much popcorn, it can cause the person to get more thirsty than normal; this is due to dehydration.
• Frequent urination: High blood sugar causes the kidneys to try to filter the excess glucose out of the blood so that it can be passed in the urine more often.
• Fatigue: Too much popcorn is bad because it quickly gives a diabetic person a burst of energy but soon causes him or her to be tired and sleepy.
• Blurred vision: Glycemic of sugar often leads to such effects as fuzzy vision or difficulty focusing on an object.
• Nausea or vomiting: Eating large quantity of popcorn can cause discomfort in the tummy and make the person feel like vomiting.

Read also: Can Too Many Treats Give Cat Diabetes?

FAQs

Q. Is popcorn bad for diabetics?

A: No popcorn is not bad for diabetics; however, it is no longer healthy when salt, sugar, or other additives are added. Why popcorn is good is because it is whole grain and it is rich in fiber. The fiber in popcorn ensures that blood sugar levels are well controlled.

Q: How can diabetics enjoy popcorn without causing spikes in blood sugar?

A: People with diabetes can eat popcorn, however, the quantity and type of popcorn they eat matters. Air-popped popcorn is the recommended one for someone who is diabetic. It has a small amount of fat and sodium in it. When a diabetic patient eats air-popped popcorn in moderation, it doesn’t affect the blood sugar levels.

Q: Can having too much popcorn be an issue for diabetics?

A: Yes. Anyone suffering from diabetes should not eat popcorn daily. No matter how low the calorie content in popcorn is, if taken daily,  it may cause sudden increases in blood sugar levels and can lead to weight gain. This is why anyone diagnosed with diabetes should ensure they take small servings of popcorn and select healthy popcorn varieties.

Q: Are there any alternatives to traditional popcorn for diabetics?

Diabetics should always seek advice from their doctor for advice on what they should eat. They should also take note of their blood sugar level. It is important that a diabetic person checks his or her blood sugar level after eating popcorn, to know if there is any increase.

So, if you are asking is popcorn bad for diabetics? The answer is no. However, for a diabetic person to eat popcorn, it is important to choose the air-popped popcorn or use low-calorie seasoning. Also, you can add some herbs and spices instead of adding sugar or butter.