New study says snacks have “surprisingly large” amounts of healthy antioxidant
Researchers have found that polyphenols, an antioxidant renowned for its healthy properties, are in snack foods like popcorn and many breakfast cereals. The study found that whole grain products have comparable antioxidants per gram to fruits and vegetables. Whole grain cereals with wheat, with corn, oats and rice have the most antioxidants. For snacks, popcorn has the most. “Early researchers thought the fibre was the active ingredient for these benefits in whole grains, the reason why they may reduce the risk of cancer and coronary heart disease,” says Joe Vinson, Ph.D., who headed the study. “But recently, polyphenols emerged as potentially more important.”