What's the harm of eating popcorn?

Popcorn is a favorite snack for many people. Especially when watching movies, many people buy popcorn. Popcorn tastes sweet and delicious, and sometimes you can eat a lot without eating it. However, although popcorn is delicious, eating too much is harmful to your health. What's the harm of eating popcorn? What are the hazards of eating popcorn?

1, the harm of eating popcorn

Popcorn is a kind of multi-fiber food, which can promote digestion function and can be used as a beneficial supplement to a high-fat and high-protein diet. Some beauticians say that eating popcorn in your mouth can exercise facial muscles, thus reducing wrinkles on your face. Some dentists also think that eating popcorn after meals can clean teeth.

However, many workers in microwave popcorn seasoning workshops in the United States suffer from rare lung diseases, which is also considered to be related to the gas emitted by their exposure to cream popcorn.

According to the survey report released by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, medical staff found that some people will suffer from lung diseases after eating popcorn for a long time. This kind of lung disease, like some workers working in popcorn factory, is commonly known as "popcorn lung". The main symptoms are dyspnea and asthma, which can be life-threatening in severe cases.

The report believes that the main reason for "popcorn lung" may be the use of an additive called diacetyl in popcorn production. This chemical can cause bronchial diseases. According to media reports, four American companies that produce this kind of popcorn have indicated that they will improve the production technology of popcorn and no longer use diacetyl. A survey released by Dutch researchers at the end of August also showed that long-term exposure to diacetyl may increase the risk of bronchiolitis obliterans.

Experts believe that there is no conclusion that the gas produced by heating bagged popcorn will cause cancer, but excessive diacetyl is very likely to induce many diseases such as cancer. If you are often exposed to gas containing excessive diacetyl, your body will be damaged. At present, when consumers use microwave ovens to heat popcorn at home, it is best to stay away from the heating area for at least two meters. It is best to open the packaging bag after heating and put it in a ventilated place to blow the smell before eating.

However, the experts unanimously affirmed that the popcorn produced by street popcorn machines has a very high lead content. Street "converter" popcorn contains lead. When heated at high pressure, a certain amount of lead in the pot will melt, and some lead will be converted into steam and lead smoke, which will pollute the raw materials, especially at the most "explosive" moment, and lead will be more easily adsorbed on loose rice flowers. When lead is absorbed by human body, it will do harm to nervous system, hematopoietic system and digestive system, easily lead to chronic lead poisoning, and also lead to children's loss of appetite, diarrhea, irritability, purple gums, decreased resistance and slow growth and development. Children's ability to detoxify lead is weak, so parents should not let their children eat popcorn often.

2. The influence of children eating popcorn

(1) lead poisoning

Popcorn will be mixed with some lead in the production process. Children who eat more popcorn may lead to lead poisoning, affect their digestive system and nervous system, and lead to anemia, poor memory or mental decline.

(2) the risk of inducing cancer

Popcorn may contain aflatoxin, diacetyl and saccharin, which may cause cancer. If you eat a lot of popcorn for a long time, it may increase the risk of cancer. Children especially like sweets, and popcorn should be controlled as little as possible.

(3) Affect appetite

There is a lot of starch in popcorn. Children eating more popcorn may reduce their appetite and affect the intake of various nutrients in dinner. In severe cases, there will be nutritional imbalance.

④ Affect the growth of teeth.

Popcorn is usually sweetened with syrup. Children will consume a lot of sugar after eating popcorn. Such eating habits will affect oral cleaning and tooth development, and there will be problems such as dental caries and even tooth decay.

(5) obesity

The main component of popcorn is starch, and some syrup will be added. Children eating popcorn for a long time may lead to obesity. The obesity problem of growing children is not conducive to growth and development.