The Intake of Instant Noodles Could Be Linked to Poor Diet Quality
According to certain studies, consuming instant noodles frequently may be linked to a diet that is not very healthy overall.
In one study, the diets of people who ate instant noodles and people who didn’t
The consumers of instant noodles did have higher intakes of a few specific micronutrients, but their intakes of protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, niacin, and vitamin A were significantly lower.
Additionally, the study found that instant noodle consumers had an increased intake of sodium and calories compared to the non-instant noodle consumers (11).
Additionally, eating instant noodles can raise your chance of developing metabolic syndrome, which raises your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.
A 2014 study looked at the diets of 10,711 adults. It found that eating instant noodles at least twice per week increased the risk of metabolic syndrome in women (19).
Another study examined 3,450 young adults’ vitamin D status and how it related to dietary and lifestyle factors.
Intake of instant noodles was associated with decreased levels of vitamin D. It was also associated with obesity, a sedentary lifestyle and intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (20).
They Are Low in Calories, but Also Low in Fiber and Protein
Instant noodles have fewer calories per serving than some other pasta varieties, at 188 (2)
A serving of pre-packaged lasagna, for example, contains 377 calories, while a serving of canned spaghetti and meatballs has 257 calories (3, 4).
Eating instant noodles may help you lose weight because they are lower in calories.
However, a lot of people consume the entire pack of noodles in one sitting, which amounts to two servings.
It’s also vital to remember that instant noodles are low in protein and fiber, so they might not be the greatest choice for losing weight.
Protein has been shown to increase feelings of fullness and decrease hunger, making it a useful tool in weight management (5, 6).
Fiber, on the other hand, moves slowly through the digestive tract, helping to promote feelings of fullness while enhancing weight loss (7, 8).
With only 4 grams of protein and 1 gram of fiber per serving, a serving of instant noodles likely won’t make much of a dent in your hunger or fullness levels. So despite being low in calories, it may not benefit your waistline (2).
What Are Instant Noodles?
One kind of pre-cooked noodle is instant noodles, which are typically offered in single packets, cups, and bowls.
The noodles’ usual ingredients are flour, salt, and palm oil. Typically, the flavoring packets include monosodium glutamate (MSG), seasoning, and salt.
After the noodles have been made in the factory, they are steamed, dried and packaged (1).
A block of dried noodles and a packet of flavoring and/or seasoning oil are included in each package. Before eating, customers boil or soak the block of noodles in hot water with flavoring.
Popular brands of instant noodles include:
- Top Ramen
- Cup Noodles
- Maruchan
- Mr. Noodles
- Sapporo Ichiban
- Kabuto Noodles
