5 Reasons Why It Is Dangerous To Eat Instant Noodles

Instant noodles or more commonly known as ramen is a popular food not only in the United States but also in many countries around the world, of course including Nigeria.

Instant noodles are widely available as
cup noodles in the U.S. with popular brands that include Nissin Top Ramen, Sapporo Ichiban, and Maruchan Ramen. Other brands are and also available in many Asian stores.

Instant noodles are popular snack foods among children and adult. Sometimes, they also serve as a convenient mealtime food especially while travelling. But while instant noodles can satisfy your hunger, there are some important facts that you should know about this food.

And these health facts should serve as the top reasons why you should avoid consuming instant noodles and feeding them to your children.

1. Instant noodles contain substances that reduce the body’s nutrient absorption ability.
One of the health risks of instant noodles is that it reduces the body’s ability to absorb other nutrients from healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables. This food has a negative effect in the digestion process. If you are consuming instant noodles and then eat healthy foods later on, your body may not fully absorb the nutrients of the healthy foods because the instant noodles that you eat can affect your digestion even after several hours of eating.

2. Instant noodles are high in sodium content.
Another health risk of instant noodles is that they are normally high in sodium content which increases your risk of developing kidney stones and other kidney problems. The average amount of sodium in instant noodle cups is above 800 mg while according to the US RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance), the maximum sodium intake per day should only be 2,400 mg. If you consume one cup of instant noodles, you are already consuming almost half of your daily intake of sodium.

3. Instant noodles are high in MSG.
A cup of instant noodles is also high in MSG or monosodium glutamate. There are people who are allergic to MSG or who get a burning sensation, headache, or chest pain after consuming instant noodles. MSG consumption is also link to other diseases including cancer.

4. Instant noodles contain propylene glycol.
Instant noodles also contain anti-freeze such as propylene glycol as humectants which help prevent noodles from drying. This ingredient brings about some of the health risks of instant noodles which include liver, heart and kidney problems, and a weakened immune system.

5. Instant noodles contain cancer-causing substances.
Instant noodles are packed with preservatives, anti-freeze and other ingredients that may cause cancer. Additionally, they are also packaged in cups which contain plasticizers and dioxin which are cancer-causing substances that may leach to the noodles once they are poured with hot water to cook the noodles.

Aside from containing substances which can pose some risks to your health, instant noodles are also low in nutritional value. They are not the best food to feed to your family.

If you avoid consuming instant noodles, you can also avoid suffering from the health risks of instant noodles.

It is always good to think twice about what you feed your family especially your children. Don’t feed them with instant noodles which have low nutritional value and may give you numerous health risks.