A longevity expert has recommended a simple snack which costs less than a meal deal. Hailed as 'cheap' and something that "everyone can afford", the expert said it's also "delicious".
Dan Buettner is an expert on the Blue Zones. These are geographic areas with lower rates of chronic diseases and longer life expectancy. The expert revealed the secret to a longer life, saying that eating popcorn could help you live to 100.
In a TikTok video, the 64-year-old National Geographic Fellow and best-selling author shared: "Let me tell you about the best snack that you can eat tolive to 100, but you can also afford. Popcorn.
"Air-popped popcorn. It's very high in fibre, it's very high in complex carbohydrates.
"It even has more polyphenols than a lot of vegetables. People didn't realise that.
"Everybody can afford it. It is easy to make. It's easy to store. And what's the most important? It's delicious."
You can currently buy a large bag of corn kernels for £2.25 from Morrisons. And the bag is a whopping 1kg. You may be able to find it cheaper at your local store.
Backing up these claims, experts at BBC's Good Food also state that "corn is a whole-grain and as such, high in fibre".
It adds: "Whole-grains have been linked to a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. Most of us don’t eat enough fibre, which is important to support digestive health and to help slow the rate of digestion and absorption."
Just as Buettner said, it is also "a good source of polyphenols, which are plant compounds with protective, antioxidant properties that have been linked to better blood circulation and digestive health, as well as a potentially lower risk of certain cancers".
Due to its high fibre and low calorie content, it's perfect for people looking to manage their weight. But don't go diving into the popcorn just yet.
When prepared by air-popping and enjoyed plain or seasoned with herbs and spices such as cinnamon or paprika, popcorn makes for a nutritious snack option. However, the health benefits diminish rapidly once oil or butter is introduced during cooking, or when additional ingredients like sugar are added.
A 30g bag of microwavable buttered popcorn, for instance, contains more than 10% of your recommended daily salt intake whilst also significantly boosting your saturated fat consumption, the BBC team reports.
Another snack that Dan claims will help you live longer is beans. In fact, he claims that the number one longevity food in the world is beans and could help you live for an extra four years.
He said: "It's the cornerstone of every blue zone diet in the world, and we know that eating just one cup of cooked beans is associated with four extra years of life expectancy."
But what makes beans so beneficial? The Netflix host and co-producer of the 3x Emmy award-winning: Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones revealed: "It's a great source of complex carbohydrates.
"It's a great source of fibre, most Americans don't get enough fibre, and with a protein-obsessed country, it's a great source of healthy protein."
