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 it okay to eat instant noodles for breakfast? ›

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.

How unhealthy are instant noodles? ›

Ramen is not inherently unhealthy, but the flavor packet provided in instant ramen does contain high amounts of sodium. Diets high in sodium are associated with an increased risk of developing high blood pressure, a leading cause of stroke and heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What are the consequences of eating instant noodles everyday? ›

What are the side effects of eating instant noodles every day? The study revealed that eating excess instant noodles cannot only cause obesity but also lead to metabolic ailments such as diabetes, high blood pressure, hypertension, heart problems, and so on.

Are instant noodles bad for your stomach? ›

Ramen stresses your digestive tract.

Even after two hours, your stomach cannot break down highly processed noodles, interrupting normal digestion. Ramen is preserved with Tertiary-butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ), a hard to digest petroleum-based product also found in lacquers and pesticide products.

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.

Can you eat maruchan for breakfast? ›

Directions: Bring chicken broth to boil, add ramen noodles cook for 3 minutes. Pour noodles and broth in a medium sized soup bowl.

Is it OK to eat 2 instant noodles a day? ›

The Bottom Line. In moderation, including instant noodles in your diet likely won't come with any negative health effects. However, they are low in nutrients, so don't use them as a staple in your diet. What's more, frequent consumption is linked to poor diet quality and an increased risk of metabolic syndrome.

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.

Why do Asians love instant noodles? ›

The top reason why Asian consumers are fond of instant noodles are its rich and long-lasting 'umami' flavor which appeal to their taste buds. Some of the latest instant noodle flavors include salted egg and miso flavors which are extensions to the rich Asian flavors.

Will I gain weight if I eat instant noodles everyday? ›

Weight gain, obesity. Type 2 diabetes Heart disease Tooth decay Along with that, one study found that an energy imbalance of 50-100 kilocalories per day could be enough to cause gradual weight gain in most people. So eating a lot of instant noodles and ultra-processed foods can make you gain weight.

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

Which noodles are safe to eat? ›

6 Healthy Noodles You Should Be Eating, According to a Dietitian
  • Whole-Wheat Pasta.
  • Chickpea Pasta.
  • Veggie Noodles.
  • Red Lentil Pasta.
  • Soba Noodles.
  • White Pasta.
Jul 13, 2023

Does instant noodle cause inflammation? ›

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.

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.

Are ramen noodles bad for your gut? ›

In conclusion, the increased ramen was associated with decreased gut bacterial diversity accompanying a perturbation of Dorea through the dietary nutrients, gut microbiota, and blood chemistry, while the methodological limitations existed in a cross-sectional study.

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!

Can I eat instant noodles every night? ›

Instant noodles are made from refined flour, which lacks essential nutrients such as fiber, protein, and healthy fats. This means that they do not provide adequate nutrition, and consuming them regularly can lead to deficiencies. While they may be filling in the short term, they are not a sustainable source of energy.

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