How Long Does it Take you to Digest Popcorn? | Popcorn Discomforts & Tips on how to Avoid it

It takes 18 to 24 hours for the popcorn to digest. You can get bloated, dizzy, and have indigestion if you eat too much popcorn. You can prevent these problems by drinking enough water and getting freshly made popcorn.

Popcorn is often regarded as the ultimate snack food. If you’re like me, then you love popcorn! Something about it makes your mouth water and lips tingle. But did you know that it takes longer than 10 hours to digest popcorn? Yeah, It takes a bit of time for all of that goodness taken inside that cinema to get digested.

In this post, I will explain exactly how long it takes for popcorn to digest. However, I would like first to discuss the nutrient in popcorn as well as the benefits and side effects of eating popcorn.

Nutrients in Popcorn.

Popcorn has the following nutrients:

• Fiber
• Vitamin B
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Copper
• Zinc
• Manganese

Benefits of popcorn

• Decreases weight.

Per 3-cup serving, this low-calorie snack has fewer than 100 calories. Because popcorn’s fibrous, indigestible husk takes longer to chew, your body can sense when you are full and won’t overeat. Popcorn’s high insoluble fiber content causes it to stay in your stomach for a while, keeping you full between meals.

• Help reduce the risk of certain diseases.

Moreover, the high fiber content helps lower your chances of developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and diverticular disease.

• Popcorn lessens depression

Niacin, the vitamin B3 found in popcorn, has been investigated for its ability to help relieve depression naturally, making it a “comfort food” in the truest meaning of the word.

• Popcorn promotes normal bone function.

Phosphorus, a mineral found in popcorn, supports proper bone growth and development and the operation of several cell types in the body. Another mineral that supports strong bones is manganese, also included in popcorn.

Side effects of eating popcorn

As said, indigestion is one of the main reasons why most people will reconsider consuming popcorn. Popcorn digestion is partially hindered by this entire grain’s insoluble outer layer.

As a result, it never fully digests over time and contributes to feces. The following circumstances are experienced by the majority of humans when it travels down the alimentary canal.

• Diarrhea

After consuming popcorn, some people may begin passing loose stools. When you have diarrhea after eating popcorn, stop eating it immediately.

You might not want to become dehydrated as a result of eating popcorn because diarrhea is a common cause of dehydration.

• Diabetes

Eating high amounts of popcorn can lead to blood sugar problems because it contains high sugar and calories, contributing to weight gain over time. In addition, consuming large amounts of popcorn can cause insulin resistance, which means your body doesn’t normally respond to insulin.

• Poor digestion

Constipation is one of the common side effects of eating too much fiber, particularly if you don’t like consuming many high-fiber meals. Popcorn consumption may cause constipation. Popcorn fiber, rather than the food itself, causes constipation. I’ll elaborate.

Food fiber is indigestible. Our digestive system lacks the enzymes required to break it down properly. When we suddenly increase our fiber intake, our gut doesn’t have enough time to process too much fiber, which might result in constipation.

Now that we know the nutrients in popcorn, its benefits, and its side effects, we will be looking at why popcorn takes so long to get digested.

Why does it take long for the popcorn to digest?

Although soluble and insoluble fiber is present in foods high in fiber, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, they are frequently present in variable amounts. Popcorn contains insoluble fiber, which passes through the digestive tract largely unchanged.

Popcorn’s insoluble fiber moves through your digestive system, moving food along, boosting fecal volume, and maintaining regularity. However, fiber is a component of plant foods that you can eat but won’t digest easily.

Who should not eat popcorn?

Although popcorn is high in fiber and not easily digestible, people are at higher risk of constipation if they take it. This set of people should avoid eating popcorn as much as they can:

• Children less than 4 years old
• People with diabetes or high blood pressure
• Men with prostate cancer.
• People with high cholesterol

Tips for making popcorn digest faster

1. Eat the popcorn immediately after making it.
2. Eat less popcorn at a time.
3. Choose air-popped, not microwave-popped, popcorn to maximize digestion.
4. Eat popcorn while it’s still warm and moist, but not hot!
5. Don’t eat too much at one time (the more you eat, the slower your digestive system can break it down).
6. Drink water before and after eating popcorn

Now you know all about popcorn and digestion. Before you go, I want to share some tips on making good popcorn.

Additional tip

Cook in a small pot

When making popcorn at home, it’s best to use a small pot. The reason for this is that when you’re using a low-sided pot, you’ll be able to keep your popcorn kernels in the heat longer without them burning.

This also means that when you add oil and salt to your bowl of freshly popped corn, it will all mix nicely and evenly.

Use high-quality oil.

High-quality oil will ensure that your popcorn doesn’t burn before it’s done cooking. You should always use an oil with a high smoke point (around 350°F). If you use an oil with a lower smoke point (above 340°F), it will start to burn early, and your popcorn will end up tasting burnt or charred!

FAQ

Why does consuming popcorn make my stomach hurt?

Due to its high insoluble fiber content, popcorn may make some IBS sufferers feel bloated, distended, and pretentious. If this pain persists, it could be preferable to go for soluble fiber-rich meals such as psyllium, grains, fruits, and grapefruit.

Which food requires the most time to digest?

Even while we sleep, the digestive process continues. Bacon, steak, sheep, whole milk, hard cheese, and nuts take the longest to digest. Your body needs an average of 5 hours to digest these meals.

What is the best time of the day to eat popcorn?

Magnesium is an excellent sleep aid; therefore, eating magnesium-rich foods like popcorn at night is a terrific idea. Additionally, fiber and polyphenols included in popcorn will aid in the elimination of waste from your body. It will also aid in preventing midnight cravings if you eat it at night.