How Many Calories Are In A Pack Of Ramen Noodles?

Nutrition Facts
Amount Per 1 serving (43 g)

Calories 188

I used to regularly consume ramen noodles without seasoning. But eventually, I realized the issue with ramen noodles goes much deeper than the seasoning packet. I reasoned that it’s at least lower in sodium that way, and hey—it’s cheap and tasty!

Ramen noodles without the seasoning packet are still unhealthy. They frequently have extra salt and vegetable oil added, making them higher in calories, fat, and sodium than regular noodles. Additionally, they frequently contain TBHQ, a contentious preservative that has been linked to tumors and paralysis in animal studies.

I’ll break down a number of aspects of ramen nutrition (without the seasoning) below. We’ll look at ingredients, calories, sodium, TBHQ, and more. I’ll also provide useful advice for healthier noodle dishes.

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How long would it take you to burn off the 375 calories in a dry serving of Maruchan Chicken Flavor Ramen Noodle Soup?

Are Ramen Noodles Worse Than Regular Noodles?

Compared to regular noodles, instant ramen noodles have more vegetable oil, salt, and TBHQ. Even without the seasoning packet, this makes ramen noodles less healthy than regular noodles.

Of course, the specific comparison will depend on the brands you select. But first, let’s contrast popular ramen brands with ordinary noodles:

Ramen vs Regular Noodles: Ingredients.

Noodles Ingredients
Maruchan Ramen Enriched Wheat Flour (wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Vegetable Oil (contains One Or More Of The Following: Canola, Cottonseed, Palm) Preserved By TBHQ, Contains Less Than 1% Of: Salt, Soy Sauce (water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt), Potassium Carbonate, Sodium (mono, Hexameta, And/or Tripoly) Phosphate, Sodium Carbonate, Turmeric.
Barilla Spaghetti Semolina (Wheat), Durum Wheat Flour. Vitamins/Minerals: Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Iron (Ferrous Sulfate), Vitamin B1 (Thiamine Mononitrate), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Folic Acid.

I see at least three problems with the ramen:

  • The ramen noodles contain vegetable oil. Vegetable oils are highly processed. Many of them add excess inflammatory omega-6 fat to your diet. Regular noodles are free of added oil, but Maruchan ramen is not.
  • The ramen noodles contain TBHQ. This is a controversial preservative paired with the vegetable oil in ramen noodles. It is FDA approved in small quantities, but some people have reported “vision disturbances” linked to TBHQ. Animal studies have also shown side effects like tumors, liver enlargement, convulsions, and paralysis. (source)
  • The ramen noodles contain added salt. Ramen actually has salt in the noodle itself—not just the seasoning packet. This means the plain noodles still add to your daily sodium intake. Actually, there are multiple sodium-rich ingredients, including soy sauce, in the noodles themselves.
  • Compared to instant ramen, regular noodles might taste a little bland. However, the additional flavor in ramen noodles comes at a nutritional price.

    Granted, regular noodles are not the healthiest food, either. Most noodles are made of processed wheat, which gives them a high glycemic index and few nutrients.

    The healthiest choice would be to add some nutritious seasonings or sauce to some of the below-mentioned healthy substitutes.

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    Therefore, it’s best to limit your consumption of instant ramen noodles and avoid using them as a regular meal replacement.

    Instant ramen noodles, like many processed foods, include flavor enhancers and preservatives that may be harmful to your health.

    Plus, some people exposed to TBHQ have experienced vision disturbances, and test-tube studies have shown that this preservative can damage DNA (10).

    While TBHQ is considered safe in very small doses, animal studies have shown that chronic exposure to TBHQ may lead to neurological damage, increase the risk of lymphoma and cause liver enlargement (9).

    Regular instant noodle consumption has also been associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, a group of symptoms including excess abdominal fat, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and abnormal blood lipid levels (14).

    FAQ

    How many calories is a full pack of ramen?

    Ramen noodles have only 188 calories per serving (43 grams), but most people eat the entire package, which contains two servings and 371 calories.

    Is ramen okay for weight loss?

    Even though instant ramen is a cheap and convenient option for a meal, it is not the best one if you’re trying to lose weight. This is due to the fact that it is low in fiber and protein and high in calories, fat, sodium, and carbohydrates. The following list outlines all the reasons why eating ramen noodles does not promote weight loss.

    How many calories are in a Maruchan ramen Pack?

    Maruchan also provides tasty ethnic food-flavored products and Ramen with less sodium. Maruchan Chicken Flavor Ramen Noodle Soup. Calories190Calories from Fat70.

    How many calories is one pack of beef ramen?

    375 Calories
    Fat 13.8 g
    Carbs 51.4 g
    Fiber 2 g
    Protein 9.9 g

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