Is eating instant noodles for breakfast harmful? - VnExpress International (2024)

November 7, 2023 | 03:00 pm PT

I love instant noodles, but many say they are not good for health because they contains huge amounts of fats, carbohydrates, and salt. Is this true? (Nhu, 26, Hanoi)

Answer:

Instant noodles provide calories, and totally avoiding eating it for breakfast is not any expert's advice, though it is true that they may be harmful for health if eaten too much.

For example, you should not eat them daily. The ideal frequency is between two to three times a week only.

They should not be consumed solely, since the dish itself lacks certain key nutrition groups such as protein and fiber, leaving a risk of having malnutrition if consumed in the long term.

Is eating instant noodles for breakfast harmful? - VnExpress International (1)

Eating instant noodles solely in the long term may lead to malnutrition. Photo illustration by Freepik

However, you can easily solve these problems by having instant noodles with other dishes, for example, meat, eggs, seafood, and vegetables to provide your body with more protein and fiber, making a breakfast with sufficient nutritional value.

Keep in mind that you should not add fat since there is already a significant amount in instant noodles.

Just like any other types of foods, instant noodles cannot cause damage to your health if consumed in suitable amounts and correctly.

Dr. Tu Ngu

General Secretary of the Vietnam Nutrition Association

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Is eating instant noodles for breakfast harmful? - VnExpress International (2024)

FAQs

Is eating instant noodles for breakfast harmful? - VnExpress International? ›

Just like any other types of foods, instant noodles cannot cause damage to your health if consumed in suitable amounts and correctly.

Is it okay to eat instant noodles for breakfast? ›

Instant noodles can also provide you with protein. The protein in instant noodles will support bodily function. It increases the development of the body's muscles and repairs damaged cells. Additionally, protein can increase your energy, making this item a potential morning choice.

How unhealthy are instant noodles? ›

Though instant ramen noodles provide iron, B vitamins and manganese, they lack fiber, protein and other crucial vitamins and minerals. Additionally, their MSG, TBHQ and high sodium contents may negatively affect health, such as by increasing your risk of heart disease, stomach cancer and metabolic syndrome.

Are instant noodles bad for your stomach? ›

For example, consuming multiple servings of instant noodles in one day can cause stomach discomfort and irregular bowel movements. Instant noodles may have a negative impact on mental health because they are high in sodium, which can disrupt the balance of chemicals in the brain.

How unhealthy is buldak ramen? ›

This high salt content in the product, called Buldak ramen, raises the risk of crystals forming in the kidneys, which can then develop into stones that damage the organs and trigger infections. If untreated, kidney infections can spread to the bloodstream, known as septicemia.

Do Japanese people eat ramen for breakfast? ›

Do the Japanese Eat Ramen For Breakfast? Some Japanese people eat ramen for breakfast, while many don't. Breakfast ramen is particularly popular in two parts of Japan: Kitakata city – Forget about breakfast ramen; Kitakata is famous for ramen of all kinds.

Is it OK to eat 1 instant noodles everyday? ›

While instant ramen is not bad for you, it isn't recommended as a single food daily or multiple times per day on its own due to its high-sodium flavoring packet or broth. Adding additional toppings, such as protein and vegetables, to the wheat noodle and broth base can increase its nutrition profile.

What are the healthiest instant noodles? ›

The Best Instant Noodles for Healthy Instant Soup
  • Vite Ramen. The main selling point of Vite Ramen is that these instant noodles have all the nutrition necessary for a human. ...
  • One Culture Foods. ...
  • Immi. ...
  • Noma Lim. ...
  • Mike's Mighty Good. ...
  • Nissin All-In Instant Noodles. ...
  • House Foods. ...
  • Oh So Tasty.

What are the side effects of eating instant noodles every day? ›

THE BAD SIDE OF INSTANT NOODLES

Eating instant noodles might not be a good idea for health-conscious people because it contains monosodium glutamate (MSG), a food additive associated with weight gain, brain health issues, headaches, nausea, and high blood pressure.

How to eat instant noodles healthy? ›

How to 'Healthify' Your Instant Noodles
  1. EAT 'RAINBOW' FOR EXTRA VITAMINS. ...
  2. ADD EXTRA TEXTURES, INSTEAD OF EXTRA SODIUM. ...
  3. CHOP OR SPIRALISE VEGGIES FOR ADDED SWEETNES WITHOUT ADDITIONAL SWEET SAUCES. ...
  4. INCORPORATED MORE PARTS OF THE FOOD PYRAMID. ...
  5. ADD STEAMED VEGGIES INSTEAD OF STIR-FRIED, RAW OR BOILED. ...
  6. ADD A HIGH-FIBRE TOPPING.
Oct 25, 2023

Does instant noodle cause inflammation? ›

Regular instant noodles are a processed food that can be difficult to digest, especially for people with digestive issues. Additionally, some of the additives found in regular instant noodles, such as preservatives and coloring, can cause irritation in the gastrointestinal tract and even inflammation.

Why do I feel bad after eating instant noodles? ›

You will retain more water when you eat them.

After eating Instant Noodles you will not only feel bloated, but also lethargic. This is because of the water your body retains after you eat them. You can also gain temporary weight.

What to drink after eating noodles? ›

Water is a good choice to drink after eating noodles. It helps to hydrate and aid in digestion. However, you can also choose other beverages like tea, soup, or any non-alcoholic drink that complements the flavor of the noodles.

Why is Buldak banned? ›

Mexican officials explained that Samyang Foods' Buldak product misled customers by labeling the product as “hot chicken flavor ramen.” The packaging claimed to use chicken meat, but only artificial chicken flavors and chicken-flavored powders are used, they said. “It's deceptive marketing.

Why do Koreans eat so much instant noodles? ›

But recently, a study in Korea proved how unhealthy eating a lot of instant noodles is. 💢That was the first key to its success, it was the ideal dish to feed simple working people, who had little time to stop and eat. They are also very complete recipes, nutritionally speaking, and there are options for all tastes.

What is the unhealthiest part of instant ramen? ›

The culprit is the highly processed ingredients like saturated fat and high sodium. They contribute to high blood sugar, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

What is the best time to eat noodles? ›

Eating a heavy meal, including noodles, before bedtime is generally not recommended as it can interfere with digestion and disturb sleep. However, if you choose to eat noodles at night, it is best to choose light and low-fat varieties such as rice noodles, soba noodles or udon noodles.

Do Koreans eat ramen for breakfast? ›

As we already mentioned, Koreans sure do love ramyun! Koreans also bring instant noodles with them when they travel within Korea. A classic itinerary is to stay a night at a pension, where they will cook samgyeopsal for dinner, and have ramyun noodles for breakfast the next day!

Is it OK to eat instant noodles dry? ›

Is it bad to eat ramen noodles raw? If you're talking about the pre-packaged ramen noodles that you get in stores, no, there's nothing wrong with that. They've been fully cooked, by frying. That's what makes them so crunchy (and stable: the frying cooks out all of the water).

Can you eat overnight instant noodles? ›

Eating right before you go to bed is not recommended. Instant noodles is carbohydrates which turns into sugar. This can cause weight gain.

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