Why on earth would microwave popcorn be harmful? It’s just popped corn, right?

Sadly, it’s a lot more than that.

If you pop pure, organic corn kernels in your air popper, it tastes incredibly different from microwaved varieties. You can choose options with cheese or butter flavours, or sour cream and onion, or even dill pickle. However, you would never find a trace of cheese or butter, or onions or dill herb in the ingredients, as the flavours are created by chemicals in the lab!

The oils used are genetically modified and the corn is doused in pesticides while it is growing.

Added to that are preservatives, MSG, artificial colours and a host of other toxic additives.

Vani Hari, The Food Babe, investigated Microwave Popcorn and she created this amazing graphic to summarize the various harmful ingredients:

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What is TBHQ to preserve freshness?

Vani reported that “TBHQ is a chemical made from butane (a very toxic gas) and can only be used at a rate of 0.02 percent of the total oil in a product. Why is there a limit to this? Maybe because eating only 1 gram of this toxic preservative has been shown to cause all sorts of issues, from ADHD in children, to asthma, allergies and dermatitis to dizziness and even has caused stomach cancer in laboratory animals.”1

Additionally, Vani also tells us that the bag is lined with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which is the same chemical that is found in teflon pots and pans. It has been linked to infertility and cancer.

In an interview with Fox News, Dr. Oz explains that the smell is actually a chemical called diacetyl, a synthetic butter flavouring added to the product. People who work in the factories developed a problem called “popcorn lung” from inhaling the gases with the diacetyl in it. Dr. Oz said even people who make microwaved popcorn frequently can develop lung problems.”2

The Solution? Make your own!

Air poppers are inexpensive and you can purchase organic popping corn at your local health food store. You can add various toppings to keep it interesting… extra virgin olive oil, cayenne pepper, a bit of maple syrup, dill flakes, or organic dark chocolate chips! Be creative and enjoy your non-toxic popcorn!

With Sources from:

1 – http://foodbabe.com/2013/11/12/microwave-popcorn/

2 – http://insider.foxnews.com/2014/04/28/dr-oz-reveals-hidden-dangers-microwave-popcorn

Jo-Anne Richardson, Registered Holistic Nutritionist & Energy Medicine Practitioner

Jo-Anne works with Fournier Homeopathic & Integrative Health to provide online education for clients and patients. Her interest in healthy, joyful living is demonstrated in her writing, coaching and teaching. Her goal is to improve the health of her community by empowering you with knowledge, support and new ideas.

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