Is eating noodles bad for your health?

Excessive consumption of noodles can be harmful to your health, as they normally contain large amounts of sodium, fat and preservatives in their composition.

Furthermore, each package of noodles, as a rule, contains twice the amount of salt recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), which is 4 g per day. This amount is mainly found in the flavor packets that come with the noodles packaging.

As it is a quick food to prepare, it also contains additives, artificial colors and toxins, such as monosodium glutamate, which can harm health in the long term. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer made from sugar cane and can be found on the label as yeast extract, hydrolyzed vegetable protein or E621.

Main health consequences

Frequent consumption of instant noodles can lead to several health changes over time, such as:

• Increased blood pressure;
• Increased risk of heart problems due to changes in cholesterol levels, especially an increase in bad cholesterol, LDL;
• Increased stomach acidity, which can result in gastritis and gastroesophageal reflux;
• Increased weight due to a large amount of fat;
• Development of metabolic syndrome;
• Long-term kidney problems.

Therefore, it is recommended to avoid consuming this type of food as much as possible, opting for healthier foods and, if possible, prepared with little salt, such as fresh salads and cooked vegetables.

To impart some flavor, the use of fine herbs and spices is recommended, which are not harmful to your health and are pleasant to the taste. Check out which aromatic herbs replace salt and how to use them.

Nutritional composition

The following table shows the nutritional composition for every 100 grams of instant noodles:

How to make healthy pasta quickly

For those who are in a hurry and need a quick meal, a good option is to prepare traditional pasta, like spaghetti, which is ready in less than 10 minutes.

Ingredients

• 1 serving of pasta for 2 people
• 1 liter of water
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 ripe tomatoes
• 1 spoon of olive oil
• Oregano and salt to taste
• Grated parmesan cheese for sprinkling

Preparation mode

Place the water in a pan and bring to a boil. When it boils, add the pasta and leave until cooked. In another pan, sauté the garlic with the olive oil and when it is golden, add the cut tomatoes, bay leaf and seasonings. After the pasta is completely cooked, drain the water and add the sauce and grated cheese.

To add nutritional value to this meal, accompany it with a green leaf salad and grated carrot.