It takes about 18 to 24 hours for the popcorn to get out of your system. If you consume too much popcorn, you may experience indigestion, bloating, and diarrhea. To avoid these issues you can take sufficient water daily and eat foods rich in fiber daily. Therefore, you should get freshly made popcorn to avoid such discomfort.
We all enjoy popcorn, especially during movies. The tradition has cut across the world, and we also have popcorn as a snack.
My children expect me to bring in some popcorn every time I go shopping. We have also adopted making them at home for some fun time with the family.
In America alone, popcorn happens to be the most loved snack across all age sets. I bet you might have similar traditions when it comes to popcorns too.
But while eating that popcorn, have you ever stopped to think how much time it might take to get digested?
Not once or twice have I thought about this and even cut down my popcorn intake. But how long does it take to digest popcorn?
This article will look at this popcorn issue in detail to determine if we might be risking eating them daily.
How does popcorn get digested?
Digestion refers to the breakdown of food particles into smaller particles that the body may effectively absorb.
This process starts in the mouth and continues in the stomach. For popcorns, the digestion begins in the mouth.
This digestion happens because popcorn has fiber as the main content. Unfortunately, the fiber also proves insoluble, which explains why most people find that popcorn becomes hard to digest.
So, is popcorn hard to digest?
Because the fiber does not dissolve, we may say that popcorn becomes hard to digest.
However, other soluble fibers get easy to digest and break down. In return, they help guide waste down the digestive tract, and that’s why your doctor always recommends fiber in your diet.
But popcorn doesn’t qualify to help during digestion. Since it proves hard to digest, it also causes stomach disruptions in the digestion process.
The outer covering forms the insoluble fiber. It should, however, not limit you from eating popcorn.
The popcorn also contains other essential nutrients, and the other parts except the hard, insoluble fiber make digested easily.
Doctors suggest that you eat popcorn from fresh kernels. This way, the outer covering will be fresh, and the entire digestion process won’t be as tough as many may think.
Since popcorn makes a whole grain food source, it contains many essential nutrients and minerals.
This low-calorie snack gets thought hard to digest but thinking about it; the benefits outweigh the negativities.
If you consume it alongside other soluble fiber foods, it will be easy to move the insoluble outer layer alongside other waste material without complications.
What are some of the nutrients contained in popcorn?
If you take three cups of popcorn daily, you will supply your body with:
- 35 mg Magnesium
- 86 mg Phosphorus
- 7 micro-grams Folate
The body needs up to 420 milligrams of Magnesium, 400 micro-grams of Folate, and up to 700 milligrams of Phosphorus for daily functioning.
Popcorn, therefore, helps a great deal in delivering these important nutrients to the body. So, don’t fear much about the digestion part unless it brings you severe discomfort.
What are some of the discomforts associated with eating popcorn?
We have stated indigestion as part of the reason most people will rethink eating popcorn.
The insoluble outer part of this whole-grain contributes to slowed digestion of popcorn.
As a result, it never gets digested in the long run and adds to the fecal matter. As it moves down the alimentary canal, most people suffer from the following conditions.
1. Bloating
This scenario happens to a few people who take popcorn.
Bloating means your stomach has too much gas to feel tight and full. It causes an uncomfortable feeling, especially if you just had something to eat.
If you feel bloated after eating popcorns, it might indicate that the popcorns caused the bloating.
2. Diarrhea
Some people may start passing loose stool after eating popcorn. If diarrhea happens whenever you eat popcorn, it serves as a sign for you to stop eating popcorn.
Diarrhea easily leads to dehydration, and you might not want to get dehydrated due to eating popcorn.
3. Poor digestion
If you experience poor digestion due to popcorn ingestion, you may experience bloating, diarrhea, and stool that doesn’t look like your regular stool.
However, it will often disappear, and your stool gets back to normal.
Tips on how to avoid these issues after eating popcorn
- Ensure that you eat popcorns from fresh corn
- Eat a balanced diet after consuming popcorn
- Take sufficient water during the day
- Ensure you take food rich in fiber regularly
If symptoms get severe, you should see a doctor.
How long does it take popcorn to get out of your system?
Have you had bloating, diarrhea, or indigestion after eating popcorns and wondering how long it will take for the popcorns to get out of your system?
Don’t worry, because the nightmare will soon end. It takes 18 to 24 hours for the popcorn to get out of your system.
You might be experiencing discomfort within six hours of eating popcorn. After a few more hours, you might be feeling better again.
If the symptoms prolong and get severer, you might consider seeing your doctor for professional advice.
FAQs
Can popcorn show up in poop?
Yes, the hard popcorn cove consists of insoluble fiber.
You might see it in poop because it doesn’t get digested by the stomach acids and enzymes.
What popcorn is easiest to digest?
The soft white part of the popcorn digests easily to release nutrients required by the body.
As the hard outer cover remains, this gets fully digested and absorbed into the body.
Is it okay to eat popcorn every night?
If popcorn doesn’t cause digestion problems, you might as well eat it every night.
But since it takes up to 24 hours to get rid of the popcorn, you might consider waiting that long before consuming more.
What happens if I eat too much popcorn?
The hard outer cover might be too much for your stomach to deal with.
This too much consumption might cause digestion problems, diarrhea, or bloating. You should eat a limited amount of popcorn.
As the saying goes, too much of everything becomes poison.
Conclusion
If you love eating popcorn, don’t fear that it may be harmful to your health. You may keep eating without worry if you don’t notice any tummy issues after eating popcorn.
Popcorn provides nutritional value to the body and serves as the best snack when you need to pass the time.
