Old fashioned "theatre" popcorn

The human touch is a powerful tool we have at our disposal. Yet many people spend days, weeks, months and even years without physical human contact. We may think that's just fine, but it has a detrimental effect on ones health.

We've all heard that newborn babies thrive when they are held in their early lives. There have been numerous studies to document the differences between babies who are held and babies who aren't. Not surprisingly, babies who are held fair much better than their counterparts.  They gain more weight, grow faster and are better able to fight off disease.

But what about adults? Do we really need physical contact? Based on the results of the studies that I've read, the resounding answer is YES!

The benefits of hugs are numerous. Now I'm not referring to a quick 3 second hug, but per the studies,  benefits are experienced after at least 20 seconds of physical contact. Hugs increase your oxytocin levels, this is the love hormone that gives us the "warm and fuzzy" feeling when being with a loved one.  Per the study in the journal, Nature Communications, Oxytocin actually declines with age which in turn leads to the deterioration of muscle mass as we age. Increasing oxytocin therefore has anti-aging properties, it reduces cortisol and blood pressure, improves sleep patterns and also has anti-inflammatory benefits. Hugs also increase your serotonin and dopamine levels which provide an overall sense of well being and happiness, reduce stress and cortisol levels and improve your immune system.

So get out there and hug someone! Better yet, why not snuggle up on the couch with them and share a bowl of popcorn!

Popcorn is by far my favorite snack. Just the thought of eating popcorn makes me smile.  I wonder if it increases my dopamine levels?! Maybe it does or doesn't, but I certainly find it comforting, crunchy, and delicious!  It's the one snack that I never get sick of. I can honestly eat it every day of the week and I won't tire of it. Now I don't eat it every day of the week ... but I absolutely can!

The popcorn I'm referring to is not any old popcorn but specifically stovetop.  It takes less than 5 minutes to make - so a bit longer than microwave popcorn but I would choose it over microwave popcorn any day! In my books, this recipe trumps microwave popcorn in both flavor and health - with a little bit of research, you'll find they've identified some possible health risks with microwave popcorn namely the leaching of carcinogenic packaging material.

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Old fashioned "theatre" popcorn

Yield: 4

Author: Lara

Prep time: 1 MinCook time: 5 MinTotal time: 6 Min

A delicious old fashioned popcorn recipe that will take less than 5 minutes of your time. Great snack idea for home or to pack for kids lunches.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup of certified organic popcorn kernels
• 1 1/2 tbsp. coconut oil
• 1 tsp. sea salt

Instructions

1. melt coconut oil in large stainless steel pot
2. add popcorn to melted oil and stir until all kernels are covered with oil
3. add sea salt and stir until salt is evenly distributed
4. once the first kernel begins to pop cover the pot but leave a small pocket for steam to be released (this will make for a crunchier popcorn)
5. once the popping slows down, lift the pot from the heat and continue to hold over the heat until the popping ceases
6. remove from the heat and remove the lid
7. place in a bowl and enjoy!

Notes:

 

Calories

137

Fat (grams)

6.2

Fiber (grams)

3.5

Protein (grams)

3.1

Sodium (milligrams)

583

Created using The Recipes Generator