Instant noodles are one of the commonly consumed meals across the globe. People love them because of their affordable price tags. They are also easy to prepare. People on different platforms are debating if instant noodles are bad for the body or not. They are perceived to contain high sodium levels and few nutrients.
What are instant Noodles?
These are types of noodles and are usually precooked. You simply need to soak your noodles in hot water and give them time. Salt, flour and palm oil are the main ingredients found in instant noodles. Monosodium glutamate, seasoning and salt are the ingredients inside the flavoring packet. Instant noodles are easy to prepare because of how they have been made. All instant noodles undergo steaming and drying before being packaged. There are different instant noodles brands to choose from.
The nutrition facts about Instant Noodles
Despite being different Instant Noodles brands, the composition of these meals are almost the same. Instant Noodles contain low amounts of protein, fiber and calories. However, they contain high amounts of sodium, carbs and fat. Low amounts of thiamine, iron, riboflavin and niacin are also found in Instant Noodles.
Some Instant Noodle companies have gone an extra mile and introduced healthy Instant Noodles. Most of these healthy noodles either have low sodium or have been made using whole grains.
Instant Noodles have low amounts of Protein, Fiber and Calories
The amount of calories in Instant noodles is lower when compared to that on other types of pasta. People who frequently eat Instant noodles are likely to lose weight. However, this can be attained if you limit the amount of Instant Noodles you feed on. Protein and fiber can be used to limit the amounts of food you eat on each sitting. These two nutrients are very low in Instant Noodles. Therefore, some people might have problem limiting the amounts of food they eat.
The low amounts of protein found in this type of noodles cannot decrease hunger or make you feel full most part of the day. Similarly, the low fiber amounts in Instant Noodles cannot promote fullness by slowing down the digestion process. Therefore, you might find it difficult if you want to use Instant Noodles to lose weight.
The different Micronutrients in Instant Noodles
Our body needs different kinds of nutrients to properly function. Instant noodles contain some of these nutrients such as folate, manganese, Vitamin B and Iron. Iron reduces the risk of developing anemia. Vitamin B reduces the risk of developing different infections. Manganese helps reduce inflammation and improve overall health of bones. There are instances where wheat flour has been used on Instant Noodles. Wheat flour is capable of improving micronutrients absorption rate. You are likely to increase the absorption rate of riboflavin and thiamine if you eat noodles made from Instant Noodles.
MSG in Instant Noodles
MSG stands for monosodium glutamate. It is a common additive in most processed meals. It is also found in instant noodles and is used to enhance the flavor of this pasta. This additive has faced controversies over the years. It has for a long time been linked with weight gain, nausea, severe headaches and even blood pressure. More research has revealed that monosodium glutamate has a negative impact on the brain. It can cause swelling of brain cells which can result into death if taken in huge amounts. Controversies still emerge regarding the effect of monosodium glutamate on the brain. Some people are sensitive to MSG additive. Such people should limit their intake of this additive or they can experience some symptoms such as numbness, muscle tightness, headaches and tingling.
Regular Instant Noodles intake is linked to Poor Diet quality
Different kinds of research have linked instant noodles intake to poor diet quality if it becomes a habit. Frequent consumption of instant noodles is linked to a decrease in some nutrients such as Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin C, calcium, protein, Vitamin A, niacin, Iron and phosphorous. Intake of sodium in the body would significantly increase.
People who frequently take this pasta are at a high risk of metabolic syndrome. This condition increases the possibility of developing stroke, diabetes or heart condition. Obesity is another condition that has been widely linked with frequent consumption of Instant Noodles.
High amounts of Sodium
It is estimated that each serving of this type of pasta has 861mg of sodium. This amount doubles if you consume entire package. The high amounts of sodium on Instant noodles poses serious effects on salt sensitive people. They might up developing high blood pressure. The high amounts of sodium in instant noodles were also linked to cardiovascular conditions. You should limit your intake on this pasta if you want to avoid high amounts of sodium.
Choosing Healthy Instant Noodles
As seen earlier, there are different types of instant noodles. Choose instant noodles made from whole grains. Whole grains are more likely to increase the fiber you consume thus making you feel full for a few hours. Consider Low sodium noodles. This can help you reduce your sodium intake. You can also check out the ingredients.
Bottom line
Instant noodles don’t pose any risk if taken with moderation. Don’t develop a habit of making them a stable meal. This is because of the low amounts of nutrients it contains. Try your best and go for healthy noodles for healthy benefits.
