6 surprising and healthy ways to flavour your popcorn

Best HealthUpdated: Feb. 27, 2013

Move over, butter and salt. Here are six healthy, mouth-watering ways to ramp up the flavour on this simple-to-make snack

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Margarita Popcorn

Sprinkle 8 cups of freshly popped popcorn with 1 ½ teaspoon each of salt, chili powder and grated lime zest. For an extra kick, add ½ cup of finely crumbled blue and yellow tortilla chips.

Chili powder is made from chili peppers. Research shows hot chili peppers actually protect the stomach lining and may prevent the gastric damage associated with anti-inflammatory painkillers. They are high in nutrients such as calcium plus vitamins A and C, and there’s some evidence that hot chilies can reduce cardiovascular disease risk.

Lime is a citrus-fruit, which means it’s loaded with vitamin C and disease-fighting antioxidants

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Mother Earth Popcorn

Sprinkle 8 cups of freshly popped popcorn with 1 ½ teaspoon each of black truffle powder, salt, pepper, and parmesan cheese.

Pepper contains high levels of manganese, an important antioxidant; vitamin K, which is needed for blood to clot normally; and iron.

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Calcutta Corn

Sprinkle 8 cups of freshly popped popcorn with 1 ½ teaspoon each of salt, curry, cumin, garlic powder, and coriander powder.

Garlic has many healing properties – most importantly, it shows particular evidence that it can decrease the risk of stomach and colorectal cancer.

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Kickin’ Corn

Sprinkle 8 cups of freshly popped popcorn with 1 ½ teaspoon each of salt, pepper, chili powder, and red cayenne pepper.

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Cajun Corn

Sprinkle 8 cups of freshly popped popcorn with 1 ½ teaspoon each of salt, paprika, cayenne pepper, onion powder and garlic powder.

Paprika is high in antioxidants, including betacarotene, capsanthin, quercetin and luteolin.

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Le Popcorn

Sprinkle 8 cups of freshly popped popcorn with 1 ½ teaspoon each of salt and Herbs de Provence.

Rosemary has been shown to boost brain power. Thyme is a very good source of vitamins A and C, as well as iron and dietary fibre. Sage has a long history of treating ailments of aging such as memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease. It can also soothe indigestion and kill bacteria.

Originally Published: February 22, 2013