When it comes to food additives, people often get scared, thinking they are substances that are harmful to health. In fact, this is a misconception. Food additives are strictly tested by the state and proven to be harmless to the human body.
Recently, a Weibo post by CCTV.com has drawn public attention. When reposted by other news websites, the post was given a rather "shocking" title: "Don't Eat Instant Noodles, They Are Poisonous." Just how toxic are they, really?
Eating instant noodles alone can be dull. People have tried different pairings, with eggs, vegetables, and ham seeming to be the most common choices.
Fan Zhihong, an associate professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety at the College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering at China Agricultural University, says that pairing instant noodles with vegetables is very reasonable. Instant noodles are low in protein, so pairing them with eggs is also a good option. However, pairing instant noodles with ham sausage is not a wise choice. Both instant noodles and ham sausage contain a large amount of sodium. If eaten together, the sodium intake can become severely excessive. Regular consumption can easily lead to high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and can also make one more susceptible to colds and accelerate the loss of bone calcium. When pairing with eggs, it is best to avoid fried eggs, as instant noodles themselves are very high in oil, and one should try to avoid consuming even more oil.
Instant noodles, of course, come with seasoning packets. Most people choose to use all three packets. However, the sauce packet that comes with instant noodles contains a large amount of oil, and the powder packet contains a large amount of salt. Fan Zhihong states that the amount of oil and salt in one pack of instant noodles is the total daily requirement for the human body. Therefore, it is best to use only 1/3 of the packets when adding them; if the flavor is too bland, use at most 1/2. The soup is also best not to be drunk, as this can greatly reduce the intake of salt and oil. If you are concerned about the oil in the noodle cake, you can first rinse it with hot water, discard the water, and then add more hot water and the seasoning packets.