Top 9 Tips for Safely Eating Instant Noodles to Protect Your Health

It’s true that some noodle brands create a broth that tastes really delicious. However, don’t be tempted to drink all the soup—it can be dangerous to your health. The broth in instant noodles contains high levels of salt and oil, which, if consumed in excess, can lead to swelling and kidney damage.

Experts recommend that you focus on eating just the noodles and avoid drinking the broth, as the amount of salt in it exceeds safe limits. If you must consume both noodles and soup, consider using only about one-third of the seasoning packet’s salt.

Although instant noodles are convenient, saving time and money, consuming too many can negatively impact your health. Nutrition experts recommend that each person should not eat more than 2 packets of noodles per week to maintain optimal health. If you find yourself 'addicted' to instant noodles and can't quit, the best solution is to stop buying them—you'll no longer have to worry!

Overconsumption of instant noodles, especially replacing meals with them, can lead to nutritional imbalances and harm your health. Symptoms like skin breakouts, mouth ulcers, and internal heat are common side effects of eating noodles too often.

Furthermore, regularly eating excessive amounts of instant noodles can disrupt stomach function, causing bloating, stomach pain, and digestive discomfort. Instant noodles often contain high levels of oil, flavor enhancers, and additives, which can dull your sense of taste and put extra pressure on your digestive system.

Instead of saving time by placing the noodle block into a bowl, adding hot water, covering it, and waiting for it to cook, it’s better to boil the noodles, drain the water, and then cook it again with fresh water. This method helps reduce the amount of fat and harmful nutrients that might have leached into the noodles during the first boiling process. For vegetables and meat, they should be cooked separately before being added to the noodles.

The usual way to cook noodles is to boil water, add the noodles and seasoning packets, then cook for a few minutes before serving. However, this method is completely WRONG and can be harmful to your health.

The main ingredient in the seasoning packet is monosodium glutamate (MSG), which, when boiled, can alter its molecular structure into a harmful substance. Additionally, after frying, the noodles are coated with oil that can take your body 4 to 5 days to fully digest.

Here is the correct way to cook instant noodles. Although it takes a bit more time, it’s worth doing:

• Blanch the noodle block in boiling water.
• Once the noodles start to separate, remove them and discard the water (this removes the fried oil coating from the noodles).
• Boil fresh water, add the noodles back in, and turn off the heat immediately to avoid overcooking.
• Once the heat is off, while the water is still hot, add the seasoning and mix well. Use only half or two-thirds of the seasoning packet to avoid making the noodles too salty.

Eating instant noodles less than 2 hours before bed can lead to a large amount of noodles accumulating in your body, which is then converted into saturated fats, causing rapid weight gain. These fats are especially harmful to your health, particularly your cardiovascular system.

If you often feel hungry at night, it’s better to keep quick-to-digest, healthy snacks on hand, such as milk, bananas, eggs, almonds, or vegetables, so you can avoid noodles and keep your body healthier.

Before packaging and reaching consumers, instant noodles are pre-fried in oil, meaning they're already cooked and technically safe to eat raw. Due to their crispy texture and delicious taste, they are a favorite for many. However, because they've been fried in oil, they contain high amounts of fat that are difficult for the body to digest.

Instant noodles are considered a low-nutrient food, and cooking them doesn’t necessarily make them more digestible or enhance their nutritional value. But eating them raw is even worse. Therefore, it’s safer to cook them before eating.

When you open a packet of instant noodles, you'll typically find three main ingredients: the noodle block, the seasoning packet, and the sauce (if included). Unfortunately, these ingredients don't provide much nutritional value. Even though the package may label the noodles as 'beef' or 'chicken', they still lack meaningful nutrients. However, you can make your instant noodles more appealing and nutritious by adding some fresh meat, like beef, pork, or shrimp. Additionally, adding vegetables will help boost the fiber and vitamin content, turning your bowl of noodles into a much more balanced meal.

To avoid nutrient deficiencies from excessive instant noodle consumption, it's a good idea to add vegetables or protein-rich foods to improve flavor and nutritional content. You can crack an egg into your bowl or add slices of fresh beef and some greens for an interesting twist. Aiming for 25-30 grams of protein per bowl—whether from beef, pork, or shrimp—is recommended. Adding plenty of greens will also help reduce excess fats in the dish.

While the seasoning packet is often considered the 'soul' of instant noodles, the oils and fats inside can be harmful to heart health. Instead, you can season your noodles with your favorite ingredients and adjust the flavors to suit your taste.

Even if you're someone who loves salty food, it's recommended to use the salt packet sparingly. Instant noodle seasoning packets typically contain high levels of MSG and salt, both of which are harmful in excess. Consuming too much can lead to high blood pressure, kidney failure, or even strokes. To avoid these issues, you can easily reduce the risk by following a few simple tips. For example, instead of using the entire salt packet, try using only half and add just the right amount of boiling water. If you accidentally add too much salt, you can balance it by adding more water, but don't make the mistake of drinking all the soup!

Also, some people have a habit of adding the seasoning to the noodles and then pouring hot water over it. This method can actually be harmful, as the hot water causes the MSG to break down into a toxic substance. The safest way to season your noodles is to wait until the water cools slightly, or until the noodles are nearly cooked, before adding the seasoning.

Many types of instant noodles are pre-fried to maintain their crispness and texture. As a result, when preparing noodles, it's important to wait before adding the seasoning packet. Instead, discard the first batch of water to reduce harmful effects from the oils and salts used during the frying process.

Some instant noodles have a waxy or greasy coating on the noodles, which can be harmful. To avoid this, you should rinse the noodles in boiling water first, then transfer them to a clean bowl. This step helps 'wash off' the unhealthy oils and waxy residue. In fact, scientists have shown that you need to boil the noodles at least 4-5 times to fully remove the harmful oil coating. Although this method might seem inconvenient, it significantly reduces the risk of liver disease, cancer, and heart problems associated with eating too much instant noodles.

Note: When the noodles have expanded, discard the water immediately to prevent the noodles from becoming soggy and unappetizing.