Here’s another reason to enjoy popcorn at the movies, in your own entertainment room at home, or wherever you may be: you’re enjoying something that fights toxins in your body really well! According to a new research, popcorn and cereals contain phenol antioxidants, thought to protect against heart disease and cancer.  So if you want to get those antioxidants full blast, you might as well replace your usual fried hotdogs and bacon with healthy cereals for breakfast.

The study was presented to the American Chemical Society (ACS), and was led by Dr Joe Vinson, of the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania.  Previously, it was thought that the benefits of whole-grain snack foods (such as popcorn and breakfast cereals) were limited to the extra fiber they provide.

Dr Vinson said this:

“But recently, polyphenols emerged as potentially more important. Breakfast cereals, pasta, crackers, and salty snacks constitute more than 66% of whole-grain intake in the US diet. This is the first study to examine total phenol antioxidants in breakfast cereals and snacks.”

The research mentioned how healthy popcorn could be, but mind that it did not make any mention of added salt and sugar.  Just a bit of spices or seasonings to ordinary air-popped corn will still make it a healthier option compared to oily chips and sugary desserts.  As for breakfast cereals, make sure that you buy the oat-based ones, which are higher in antioxidants compared to other types which are made of half-cereal and half-sugar.  It pays to read the label.