In August 1958, the world's first bag of instant noodles appeared in Japan. After more than half a century of development, instant noodles, which are convenient, quick, have varied flavors, and are inexpensive, have become popular worldwide. The British Independent newspaper called instant noodles a world-changing invention, and the Japanese consider it one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century. But as more and more people fell in love with instant noodles and often used them to replace three meals a day, their health hazards also surfaced. A recent study published by the British Daily Mail stated that frequently eating instant noodles increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke, and this is not the first "accusation" against instant noodles. More and more studies confirm that instant noodles are harmful to health, making people "love and hate them."
When it comes to people's love for instant noodles, the following data is sufficient to explain the problem. Data from the World Instant Noodles Association shows that in 2011, 98.2 billion packs of instant noodles were consumed globally. Among them, China consumed 42.47 billion packs, accounting for 43.2% of the global total, ranking first. Indonesia followed with 15.53 billion packs, ranking second, and Japan consumed 5.51 billion packs, ranking third. After that came Vietnam (4.9 billion), the United States (4.03 billion), and South Korea (3.59 billion). In 2012, global instant noodle consumption increased by 2.7% compared to 2011, reaching 101.4 billion packs, exceeding 100 billion packs for the first time, equivalent to 6 billion people eating instant noodles at least once a month. China (40 billion), Indonesia (14.1 billion), and Japan (5.4 billion) still ranked in the top three.
Why are instant noodles so popular? After interviewing many office workers and college students, journalists summarized 4 points: first, they are convenient to buy and eat, taking only two or three minutes to get into your mouth; second, the preparation method is simple; third, there is a wide variety of options, so even if you have picky tastes, you can find one you like, and they are filling with both soup and noodles; fourth, they are cheap, which can save on living expenses.
Although instant noodles bring convenience, many people are indeed worried about their unhealthiness, which mainly manifests in two aspects: first, high oil content. After looking at the food label of a certain brand of fried braised beef-flavored instant noodles, a reporter found that in a 129-gram pack, the 105-gram noodle cake contains 20 grams of fat, and the 24-gram seasoning packet contains 11.7 grams of fat. We consulted experts on this. Chen Xiafei, chief nutritionist at Huadong Hospital in Shanghai, pointed out that the "fat" listed here is actually oil, which means that eating a bag of instant noodles, including the soup, would consume 31.7 grams of oil. The Chinese Dietary Guidelines recommend that daily cooking oil should be controlled to 25-30 grams per person. In other words, eating one pack of instant noodles exceeds the daily oil limit. Second, high salt content. The combined salt content in the noodle cake and seasoning packet of instant noodles is 1.8 times the recommended amount (no more than 6 grams per person per day), and the sodium intake is far exceeding the standard. Just these two points are enough to pose a threat to health, which is also the main reason why instant noodles are questioned. For this reason, our newspaper summarizes the 5 hazards of instant noodles based on various studies.
It can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, etc. This recent study published by the British Daily Mail found that people who eat two or more packs of instant noodles a week will pose health risks, easily leading to abnormalities in the cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic systems, especially high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, and women are more vulnerable.
It causes obesity. Fan Zhihong, an associate professor at the College of Food Science at China Agricultural University, pointed out that since instant noodles are a staple food, frequent consumption will inevitably lead to excessive intake of carbohydrates and fat, leading to obesity and causing obesity-related diseases such as diabetes and hyperlipidemia.
It causes malnutrition. According to a survey by nutritionists, among people who eat instant noodles for a long time, 60% suffer from malnutrition, 54% have iron-deficiency anemia, 23% have riboflavin deficiency, 16% lack zinc, and 2% suffer from various eye diseases due to vitamin A deficiency.
It affects bone development. A pack of instant noodles contains more than 20 additives, among which phosphates are more common. The European Food Safety Authority has assessed that excessive intake of phosphates in the human body can prevent the body from fully utilizing calcium, easily causing fractures, tooth loss, and bone deformation.
It accelerates aging. To extend the shelf life, instant noodles need to be fried. The oxidized oil after frying will produce lipids peroxide, which not only reduces the quality of the food but also accelerates human aging. Therefore, if you find the noodle cake has changed color or has a rancid smell, do not eat it.
Thus, the claim that instant noodles are unhealthy has a scientific basis. However, as an emergency food, it is impossible to ban people from eating them. Experts remind that if you pay attention to the method, instant noodles can also be eaten relatively healthily.
Try to cook them. Brendan, a gastrointestinal expert at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, USA, found through experiments that the human body digests instant noodles less easily than fresh noodles, which is related to the chemical additives in them. Therefore, it is recommended to cook instant noodles as much as possible, as cooked noodles absorb more water and are easier on the digestive system.
Drain the first soaking water. Chen Xiafei said that if you are worried about the oil in the noodle cake, you can first soak it in hot water and then discard the water.
Use only half of the seasoning packets. If you add all the seasoning packets from a pack of instant noodles to one bag, it is easy to exceed the recommended salt intake. Chen Xiafei pointed out that when cooking a pack of noodles, it is best to add no more than half of all the sauce and powder packets (except for the vegetable packet), and use as little as possible.
Pair with vegetables and eggs. Ma Guansheng, deputy director of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that instant noodles contain less protein and vitamins. You can add some vegetables, such as spinach or tomatoes, and an egg or soy product to make the meal more nutritious.
Ham sausage is not a good partner. I don't know when it started, but ham sausage has become a good partner for instant noodles. But Fan Zhihong reminds that this combination is even more harmful to health. Both are high in salt and oil. If eaten together, the body's salt intake will be seriously excessive. Frequent consumption can easily lead to colds, high blood pressure, and accelerate bone calcium loss.