How safe is it to have popcorn during pregnancy?

Popcorn is one of the penultimate snacks in the history of the world. Thousands of years of human agricultural practices and plant domestication went in to giving us the popcorn we love today. Eating popcorn is one of the best things you can do for your health (so long as you avoid too many extra additives) as it is only really one step away from eating a vegetable. If you are pregnant, you will definitely find yourself in need of some good snacks someday, because one thing pregnancy is sure to do is, increase your cravings.

Nutritional Value of Popcorn

There is not much to worry about if your increased cravings lead to an increase in popcorn consumption. Popcorn is one of the healthiest snacks out there, nutrition wise. As a whole grain, it has large concentration of zinc and other essential vitamins and minerals.

Health Benefits of Popcorn

All of the vitamins and minerals contained in popcorn results in some pretty fantastic health benefits that will make you appreciate the wonderful snack even more.

1. Aids in Digestion
   Popcorn has a significant amount of fiber that comes from the bran. It also has a significant number of vitamins and minerals that help to improve your digestion. Consuming popcorn can also alleviate constipation, which is a regularly occurring problem during pregnancy.
2. High in Protein
   Believe it or not, popcorn actually has a lot of protein in it. Your developing child needs protein to build new cells and muscle tissue.
3. Prevents Premature Delivery
   One of the scariest things during your pregnancy is having a premature delivery due to the associated health problems. The selenium content in popcorn reduces some of the complications associated with labor and helps to ensure a timely delivery.