Safe Swap: Popcorn
I grew up in a microwave-free home… so microwave popcorn was a foreign concept to me.
Then when I met my hubs… he would have 1-2 bags of microwave popcorn a day. I always found it ironic that he would mention gut pain and digestive issues shortly after… but it wasn’t until chiropractic school that it all “clicked” for him and he went cold turkey on the microwave popcorn.
Let’s take a closer look at why ditching this is ideal for your optimal health…
📌 It’s microwaved. To learn more about why getting rid of that all together is a good idea, check this out: http://livingwellspinecenter.com/blog/3-2-1-beeeeeeeep
📌 The bags are lined with perfluorinated compounds (PFCs). When heated, the PFCs break down into perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). This is the same compound that Teflon is created with, and the EPA recognizes perfluorooctanoic acid as being likely carcinogenic
📌 Additionally, studies have linked PFOA to infertility and kidney cancer.
📌 Diacetyl, a chemical used to give microwave popcorn its buttery flavor and aroma, is linked to severe and irreversible lung damage when inhaled in large amounts.
📌 Some brands continue to use the preservative called Propyl Gallate, which is being banned in other countries for causing stomach issues, respiratory distress, and skin conditions
📌 TBHQ (Tertiary Butylhydroquinone) is often found in microwave popcorn, and is created from butane. Butane is a toxic gas, and even in very small amounts has been linked to hyperactivity, asthma, neurological distress, and even stomach cancer in laboratory animals.
📌 Artificial flavors can be spotted on almost every box and brand – yes, even those that say “real butter” on the front
📌 According to HealthLine, as a result of substantial research, food manufacturers voluntarily stopped using PFOA in their product bags in 2011. Five years later, the FDA went even further, banning the use of three other PFCs in food packaging. That means the popcorn you buy today shouldn’t contain these chemicals. However, since the FDA’s review, dozens of new packaging chemicals have been introduced. According to the Environmental Working Group, little is known about the safety of these chemicals… why would we keep risking this when homemade is so simple?
The GOOD news (as always here in LWM) is that there are much safer, super tasty options!
- 1/4 Cup Sprouted Organic Kernels (we get ours from Thrive Market)
- A few teaspoons organic oil of choice (we’ve used olive, coconut, avocado)
1.) Heat them together in the bottom of a pot to high heat
2.) Cover the pot with a lid and let the popping go wild until they space out to less than one per second
3.) Remove from heat and transfer to a heat safe bowl and top with… - Organic red palm oil
- Organic butter
- Organic Ghee
- Homemade caramel
- Nutritional yeast
- Pink Salt
- Hemp Seeds
- Whatever makes your heart happy
Happy popping, Mamas! 🍿
♡ To snag your toxin-free masterlist: http://eepurl.com/g8Ml81
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