9. Microwave Popcorn
Popcorn might seem healthier than crisps, when you’re grabbing a lunchtime snack – but if it’s microwave popped, it could actually be poisoning you and contributing to your tiredness.
Microwave popcorn bags are often lined with an incredibly toxic chemical called perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), which studies show has a harmful impact on human health. PFOS can cause fatigue, memory issues, poor concentration and even cancer!
The bad news just gets worse, as the artificial butter flavouring that tastes so yummy is actually down to diacetyl, which causes bronchiolitis, or “popcorn lung”. PFOS has also been linked to a big decrease in energy metabolism, as well as a sluggish thyroid too – so that daily popcorn treat could result in you experiencing a permanently altered metabolism. If you’ve been enjoying this snack for lunch but have noticed you’ve started to experience regular afternoon slumps, it might be a sign that it’s time to stop!
Though popcorn does have antioxidant effects, the health risks of microwave popcorn counteracts the benefits. If you want to avoid afternoon energy dips and stay healthy, then microwave popcorn is really not something that you should choose for lunch.
