Is Instant Ramen Good for You?
By Chris Brown
The quintessential staple of the budget-conscious diet, dried instant ramen noodles are inexpensive, tasty, and speedy to cook. But what instant ramen brings in convenience, it lacks in nutritional value and health quality ... or so we've been led to believe. Most people agree that ramen isn't the greatest meal choice, but do we ever ask the question, how bad is it really? After all, like many college students it powered me with enough brain-boosting energy to pass courses in Ancient Greek History, and Paleopathology. With a little research, it turns out that ramen may not be as bad for us as we have been led to believe.
Instant Ramen's Bad Rap
The main arguments against the ramen lie primarily in its nutrition content, or lack thereof. The primary negatives of a high-ramen diet are that it is:
- High in sodium
- Low nutritional value
- May contain unhealthy preservatives like monosodium glutamate (MSG) and tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ)
Ramen may also suffer from a bias due to its extended shelf-life. I mean, something that lasts that long simply cannot be good for you, right? However, the process of freeze drying does not necessarily make a product unhealthy.
The Healthy Side of Instant Ramen
Despite its drawbacks, instant ramen has many upsides as a quick meal replacement.
- Low in sugar - While ramen is relatively high in sodium, ramen differs from many sauce-drenched, easy-to-cook meals in that it does not contain sugar. While sugar is a known carcinogen with inflammation-inducing bodily impacts, sodium is a crucial component in powering the brain. The type of brainpower that is especially important when cramming for a college test.
- Highly adaptable - While ramen itself isn't a huge nutrient source, it is an excellent base for creative nutritious expression. Because it doesn't bring a strong, overwhelming flavor, a variety of healthy ingredients can be added to ramen to create delicious and relatively healthy meals. My college go-to was supplementing ramen with two eggs, leeks, and a dash of sriracha sauce, which increased the meal's protein, vitamin content, and tastiness significantly.
- Isn't nutrient-void - While you may think of ramen as a blank, calorie-dense slate, it actually contains some nutrient value itself. In fact, a serving of chicken-flavored instant ramen contains a measurable Reference Daily Intake (RDI) of various vitamins and minerals crucial for late-night study. These include iron (9-percent RDI), manganese (10-percent RDI), thiamine/Vitamin B1 (16-percent RDI), riboflavin/Vitamin B2 (6-percent RDI), niacin/Vitamin B3 (9-percent RDI) and five grams of protein.
- Relatively light in calories - The serving of chicken-flavored ramen mentioned above contains 188 calories. When you consider that a single glazed donut can have almost double that amount, the calorie count is not too egregious for a filling, carb-rich meal.
Next time you are rushed to make dinner or just feeling lazy, don't feel too guilty about starting your meal with an instant ramen packet. As long as you supplement it with nutritious add-ons and vary the rest of your diet, ramen can often be a smart health choice. It seems there may be some truth to ramen as the fuel for a passing grade after all.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Glen Ellyn, Ill.