Is popcorn considered keto?

Once you figure out how many daily carbs your body can take in to remain in ketosis, you can divvy up your allotment however you like, but popcorn can easily fit in a ketogenic eating plan. “For all intents and purposes, it is a keto-friendly food,” says Rissetto.

goodhousekeeping.com - Is Popcorn Keto? Nutritionists Explain How to Work It Into a Low-Carb Diet

Can you have cottage cheese on egg fast?

Note: Cottage cheese — a favorite among many dieters — is not recommended for a keto egg fast. It's relatively low in fat but high in protein and...

Last updated Jul 15, 2020

What can I use as a creamer on a ketogenic diet?

Left Coast Keto Coffee Creamer. Grasso Foods Organic High Fat Coffee Creamer. Califia Farms Unsweetened Better Half Coffee Creamer. Laird Superfood...

Last updated May 9, 2019

Promotion

The ketogenic diet is currently one of the most popular low-carb eating plans, but as with any strict diet, it can be tricky to figure out what foods (especially snacks!) fit into the plan. When it comes to healthy and delicious snacks, popcorn is a staple. In fact, Americans eat an average of 45 quarts of popcorn annually, according to the Popcorn Board (an organization that consists of popcorn companies). So if you’re trying to follow a keto diet, you’re probably wondering if popcorn is a keto-friendly food — so we spoke with nutritionists to find out everything you need to know.

What is popcorn, and is it healthy?

First, the basics: Popcorn is a specific type of maize called zea mays everta. After the ears of corn are harvested, they’re dried out and then the kernels are removed. However, a small bit of moisture remains in the hard kernel so when the kernel is heated, the moisture vaporizes and pressure builds within until it eventually “pops” and expands into the fluffy, yummy snack we all love. Because the kernel remains attached (albeit in pieces) to the soft flesh, popcorn is technically a whole-grain snack. When eaten plain, it’s low in sugar and fat and contains some fiber — so overall it’s considered a healthy snack.

Popcorn nutrition

Here are the nutrition facts for 1 cup of plain air-popped popcorn:

Calories: 31

31 Total fat: 0.4g

0.4g Cholesterol: 0mg

0mg Sodium: 0.6mg

0.6mg Total carbohydrate: 6.2g

6.2g Fiber : 1.2g

: 1.2g Total sugar: 0.1g

0.1g Protein: 1g

Keto diet overview

The ketogenic diet originated in the 1920s as a treatment approach for children with epilepsy, but it has risen in popularity in recent years as a way to lose weight. The general goal of a keto diet is to primarily eat fats and protein while limiting your intake of carbohydrates to a very small amount. “Carbohydrates are normally stored in the liver and muscles to be used for energy between meals,” explains Lisa Andrews, M.Ed., R.D., owner of Sound Bites Nutrition in Cincinnati, Ohio. “But in the absence of carbohydrates, the body is forced to break down fat into ketones for calories/energy.” When ketones accumulate in your blood, that’s a state known as "ketosis." The numbers vary for every individual, but most people trying to stay in ketosis allow carbohydrates to make up only 5 to 10% of their daily calories. “This is much lower than the U.S. Dietary Guidelines, which advise between 45 to 65% of total calories coming from carbs,” says Andrews. Essentially, when you start a keto diet, you usually aim for around 20 grams of carbohydrates per day, according to Rissetto, and then you can adjust your intake to see what your upper limit is — usually around 50 grams. “You can tell if you are in ketosis by using keto sticks to check for ketones in your urine,” explains Andrews. “A ketone breath analyzer is also available to check for ketosis.” “The thing is, though, that your body, in the absence of carbohydrates, will make carbohydrates,” says Vanessa Rissetto, M.S., R.D., co-founder of the nutrition coaching platform Culina Health. “The liver will do that — it's called gluconeogenesis. So you're not going to go one day of not eating carbs and automatically be in ketosis. It happens over time because your body is used to using carbs.” That means you have to stick with the diet for a decent amount of time to lose weight (and if you go off the diet, there’s a chance you’ll regain any pounds you dropped). Of course, carefully evaluating everything you eat can be tiring over time. “It's really not fun — the mental aspect of it is really tough to do,” says Rissetto.

Should you drink a lot of water on keto?

For the human body to turn fat into ketones, it needs plenty of water, as this process doesn't just occur in the digestive tract—the body's stores...

Last updated Dec 29, 2019

Can you cook store bought cookie dough in an air fryer?

Open the package of cookie dough and separate the chunks. Place the pieces of dough in the air fryer basket about 2 inches apart in an even layer....

Last updated Sep 25, 2018

Promotion

On top of that, even though you may lose weight, there are long-term health issues to consider with the keto diet. “Excessive carbs from refined foods — sweets, chips, snack foods, fast food — are not the best for overall health, but a keto diet lacks variety and can be low in fiber, which also raises the risk for certain diseases including heart disease and cancer,” Andrews points out. The best thing you can do is talk to your doctor and/or a nutritionist first to see if a keto diet is right for you.

Is popcorn keto?

Back to the snack in question: The answer is yes, you can eat popcorn on a keto diet — but there are a few things to keep in mind. Once you figure out how many daily carbs your body can take in to remain in ketosis, you can divvy up your allotment however you like, but popcorn can easily fit in a ketogenic eating plan. “For all intents and purposes, it is a keto-friendly food,” says Rissetto. “It's going to fill you up, it's not high on the carb count and it has a little bit of fiber.” The key is not to go overboard — 1 cup of air-popped popcorn has only 6 grams of carbs, but if you eat 3 cups, that’s 18 grams and likely more than half of your daily carbs. “The issues starts to happen when you start adding different things to it,” Rissetto says. Savory things like butter, Parmesan cheese, seasonings or a tiny bit of hot sauce are within the limits of the diet according to Rissetto, but sugar, caramel and chocolate are probably not. You also have to think about how your popcorn is prepared. “Air-popped popcorn is the most nutritious because it has the least amount of fluff — chemicals, food coloring, salt, fat — added to it via processing,” says Andrews. On the other hand, she says, traditional microwave popcorn contains a fair amount of hydrogenated oils (unless it’s labeled 94% fat-free) and sodium, as well as diacetyl, a buttery-flavored chemical that’s been linked with lung disease in employees at popcorn-processing plants. “Movie-style popcorn, contains — an ingredient containing salt, artificial butter flavor, Yellow #5 and Yellow #6. It also contains hydrogenated soybean oil meant to mimic butter,” she adds. Editor's note: Weight loss, health and body image are complex subjects — before deciding to go on a diet, we invite you to gain a broader perspective by reading our exploration into the hazards of diet culture.

What kicked me out of keto?

Consuming too many carbs can kick your body out of ketosis — and it takes several days to 1 week to get back into it. In the meantime, your weight...

Last updated Mar 6, 2019

How do you do Keto and not be hungry?

One of the keys to not feeling hungry on keto is to eat more nutrient dense foods. Foods high in all nutrients including fats, proteins, vitamins,...

Last updated Jun 18, 2020

Promotion

Keto-friendly snacks

If you’re looking for more snacks to eat on a keto diet, consider these suggestions from Andrews: Celery sticks, radishes, bell pepper strips or mushrooms with guacamole or full-fat cream cheese

Hard-boiled or scrambled eggs

Kale chips or roasted Brussels sprouts

A small portion of nuts or seeds

String cheese or cheese cubes

Parmesan or other cheese crisps

Tuna salad in wrapped in lettuce

Ham and cheese wrapped in lettuce

Grilled chicken or shrimp kababs

Shrimp (without cocktail sauce)

Meatballs made without breadcrumbs or other grains

Bacon or pork rinds

Meat “sticks” such as jerky or biltong

Kaitlyn Phoenix Senior Editor Kaitlyn Phoenix is a senior editor in the Hearst Health Newsroom, where she reports, writes and edits research-backed health content for Good Housekeeping, Prevention and Woman's Day. She has more than 10 years of experience talking to top medical professionals and poring over studies to figure out the science of how our bodies work. Beyond that, Kaitlyn turns what she learns into engaging and easy-to-read stories about medical conditions, nutrition, exercise, sleep and mental health. She also holds a B.S. in magazine journalism from Syracuse University.

goodhousekeeping.com - Is Popcorn Keto? Nutritionists Explain How to Work It Into a Low-Carb Diet

Are Subway healthy?

Well, the subway is not very healthy for weight loss, but you can eat it as your cheat meal. Also, as subway serves everything as per your choice,...

Last updated Nov 29, 2022

Why can't you use butter in an air fryer?

Butter will burn in an air fryer with a hot air temperature of around 176°C or 350°F. We all know butter can melt easily, even at room temperature....

Last updated Aug 11, 2021

Promotion

Can you reach ketosis in 24 hours?

Bottom Line. It's possible to get into ketosis in 24 hours by taking strict actions such as fasting and high intensity exercising. It's important...

Last updated Jun 7, 2019

Promotion

How do I kickstart keto again?

In fact, nutritionists say these seven tips can help get you back into ketosis in no time. Let go of a perfectionist mind-set. ... Have a game...

Last updated Oct 20, 2018