The Dark Side of Popcorn: A Tale of Excessive Consumption and Irreversible Health Effects

Popcorn has become a part of our lives and a custom at the cinemas. While your eyes are fixed on the movie you are seeing or constantly stealing glances from the partner you went to see the movie together, popcorn does a great job of keeping the mouth busy. We are all conversant with the risks associated with eating out and that associated with consuming junk foods in excess, but one snack we often do not usually have problems with is Popcorn.

While popcorn has become a part of our movie and entertainment culture, it is good that we know that it is possible for it to cause health issues and in today's post, I will be discussing how a man's excessive affection for popcorn led him to develop lung disease that was irreversible. First let me state that if you want to learn about the health effect of your current diet habit or routine, then you should speak to a licensed dietician.

When you are going to eat popcorn, or when you eat popcorn it is more than the popcorn. While you enjoy the delicious taste of the snack, you also enjoy the sweet smell of melted butter and salt. This ritual was the beginning of the the problem for Wayne Watson who enjoyed popcorn too much than normal. He ate 2 bags of popcorn a day for 10 years, and if we were to calculate this, it would be 7300 bags of popcorns, and if we are going to be adding leap years to the calculation, the it would be 7305 and he also enjoyed the aroma of the popcorn.

While he had been eating this for years, he didn't develop any issue until 2007 at the age of 53, that he noticed that he was having respiratory issues. When he went to the hospital, he was diagnosed with Obliterative bronchiotis. This condition is found predominantly in factory workers who work in the food industry who have been exposed for a very long time to Diacetyl, which is the chemical that gives the butter-like and other flavors to food products.

Obliterative bronchiotis is not reversible and it affects the bronchioles which are the smallest airways in the lungs. This chemical damages the bronchioles leading to inflammation of the tissues and scarring which the blocks it. When this happens affected patient can experience dry cough, fatigue, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

Wayne Watson isn't the first person to suffer from Obliterative bronchiotis. In the year 2000, 8 people from Jasper Missouri had difficulty breathing and they suffered from Obliterative bronchiotis. They were all factory worker who worked in a microwave popcorn factory. Less I forget, Obliterative bronchiotis has another name which is popcorn lung and the culprit is Diacetyl, which is the buttery flavor added to the popcorn. 4 of the 8 patients in the hospital needed lung transplant so as to survive.

Microwaved popcorn is safe to eat if not eaten in excess but in excess it can be fatal. Medical practitioners saw that the level of Diacetyl found in Watson's home was similar to the quantity found in factories. With this, Wayne Watson became the first non popcorn factory worker to develop popcorn lungs.

The story of Wayne Watson serves as a poignant reminder of the unseen dangers that may lurk in seemingly innocent habits. While popcorn remains a beloved treat, moderation and awareness are essential to safeguard against unexpected health consequences. The aroma of melted butter and the joy of movie nights should be enjoyed responsibly, emphasizing the importance of understanding the potential risks associated with our dietary choices.

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Post Reference

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^{https://www.webmd.com/lung/copd/10-faqs-about-living-with-copd
https://healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/J_M/Junk-food
https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/9551/bronchiolitis-obliterans
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/diacetyl
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/flavorings/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/06/AR2007090600348.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-19657878
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-oct-05-mn-53618-story.html
https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/midwest/2007/08/09/82547.htm
https://www.ncausa.org/Industry-Resources/Diacetyl-and-Workplace-Safety
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=184.1278&SearchTerm=diacetyl}

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Image Reference

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^{Image 1|| Flickr|| [Vaporizers Direct] Popcorn Lung
Image 2 || Wikimedia Commons || Lobus venae azygos}