Popcorn is a whole grain packed with fiber and carbs. Carbohydrates make tryptophan, an amino acid important for sleep, more available to the brain. A study found that food such as popcorn and nuts provided a longer sleep duration than food such as burgers and pizza.
Popcorn is an excellent low-calorie, high-quality carbohydrate made from fiber-rich whole grains. And, as long as you aren't dousing it with butter and salt, it's healthy too! All that makes it a fabulous choice for a midnight snack. Air-popped is best.
Popcorn: Popcorn is a complex carb, so it contains serotonin, which is a hormone that helps you relax. It's a great snack to munch on in the evenings because you can have a lot of it (3 cups popped) for only 100 calories if you skip dousing it in butter.
For many people, the ideal nighttime snack may consist of a simple 150-calorie option that is high in nutrients. One study showed that consuming a low-calorie carbohydrate or protein. View Source snack 30 minutes before sleep helped boost metabolism in the morning.
When it's air-popped and lightly seasoned, popcorn is an efficiently healthy snack. That's because it is a whole grain, and high-fiber whole grains have been linked to a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, some cancers and other health problems.
“If you are hungry, you should eat something, regardless of the time of day,” says Aimee Takamura, registered dietitian and director of wellness and sustainability at Restaurant Associates. “The act of eating late at night does not affect metabolism or lead to many of the adverse effects you may have heard of.
POPPING TIMES VARY FROM 2 TO 4 MINUTES (1 to 2 minutes for Mini Bags). For best results, stop microwave when popping slows to 2 to 3 seconds between pops. Overcooking may cause scorching. Bag is HOT!
Besides the movie theater, another common time people crave popcorn is late at night. If you find yourself craving popcorn late at night, it might be because you're bored. When we're bored, we often turn to food for comfort or entertainment.
Popcorn is a strange craving but it's normal for some. If you have a random hankering for popcorn, you may need to think about your cortisone levels. Stressed out people tend to crave popcorn, and you can alleviate it with a big bowl of the good stuff. Also, reducing your stress levels is a must.
Air-popped popcorn is the healthiest type.
Without a doubt, air-popped popcorn is the best type to nosh on. “It's low in calories, about 90 calories a cup and is fast and easy to make,” says Cohen.
Carbohydrate-rich snacks may be best, experts say, because these foods likely increase the level of sleep-inducing tryptophan in the blood. Protein, on the other hand, is more difficult to digest (although you can get away with a small piece of cheese or a dab of peanut butter).
A study published in the International Journal of Obesity showed that people who eat late at night have a higher body mass index (BMI).
Drinking water before bed like lemonade contains polyphenols that help to get rid of accumulated fat. Grape juice contains resveratrol, which converts white fat to brown, which is easier to burn. Apple juice, ginger tea or strawberry juice are also effective choices.
It's low in fat, calories, sugar, and sodium.
As long as you stick the to the appropriate serving size, which is about one cup, plain popcorn is a much better choice than junk food, such as potato chips and cheese crackers. And even if you eat three times the serving size, you'll still clock in at only 96 calories.
In addition to being high in fiber, popcorn also contains phenolic acids, a type of antioxidant. In addition, popcorn is a whole grain, an important food group that may reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension in humans. Whole grains are known to offer many health benefits to humans.
Tryptophan triggers the brain's sleep process: Tryptophan is an amino acid known to promote sleep. View Source within the brain. Turkey contains high levels of tryptophan, so it is famously blamed for sleepiness after Thanksgiving dinner. Other foods with tryptophan include milk, bananas, oats, and chocolate.