New research has found that popcorn is much more than simply a tasty accompaniment for the cinema – it is the latest superfood.

In the first study of its kind, US scientists found that popcorn, and many whole grain breakfast cereals, contain the same amount of healthy antioxidants as fruit and vegetables.

Dr Joe Vinson, from University of Scranton, Pennsylvania, who headed the new study, revealed that these popular snack foods contain a "surprisingly large" amount of the natural plant antioxidants polyphenols, which are thought to help combat heart disease and cancer – claiming a cup of popcorn has as many of the health boosting chemicals as an apple.

However, popcorn has recently been criticised for the large amount of salt present, so choose the low-fat and low-salt varieties for the healthier option.