How Many Calories Are Present In Ramen?
Ramen is a very tasty food that is low in fat and cholesterol. However, if you eat too much of it, you’ll probably gain weight. One bowl of ramen has only 500 to 600 calories, which isn’t bad at all.
You may not realize it, but there are four basic types of healthier ramen available today. Each of these types has a different flavor and nutritional value.
Miso ramen is made with miso paste instead of soy sauce. It’s a great choice for vegetarians.
Tonkotsu ramen is made with pork bone stock. It’s rich in protein and calcium.
Shoyu’s favorite ramen is made using shoyu (soy sauce), mirin (sweet rice wine), and katsuobushi (bonito flakes). It’s light and flavorful.
Shio ramen uses shio (salt) instead of soy sauce. Like tonkatsu proper ramen, it’s also rich in protein and calcium, but it doesn’t taste quite as salty.
Keep in mind that the suggested daily intake of 2,000 to 2,500 calories per day. Eating too much ramen won’t give you any health benefits.
Nutritional Information
Most instant ramen with noodles is relatively low in calories, but they’re lacking in important vitamins and minerals.
For example, one serving of chicken-flavored instant ramen noodles has:
- Calories: 188
- Carbs: 27 grams
- Total fat: 7 grams
- Protein: 5 grams
- Fiber: 1 gram
- Sodium: 891 mg
- Thiamine: 16% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI)
- Folate: 13% of the RDI
- Manganese: 10% of the RDI
- Iron: 9% of the RDI
- Niacin: 9% of the RDI
- Riboflavin: 6% of the RDI
Protein
Traditional instant Ramen pasta noodles are a great source of protein. You’ll find 15 grams of protein in every serving. Ramen noodles are made primarily from wheat flour, water, and salt. They are low in fat and cholesterol, making them a healthy choice for those watching their weight.
A study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that eating 25 grams of protein daily may reduce the risk of heart disease by 23%.
Carbohydrates
You might not think that ramen noodles have enough carbs to count toward your daily carb intake, but they do. Ramen noodles have 75 to 108 grams of carbohydrates, which is equivalent to 1/3 cup of cooked pasta.
That means that if you eat two bowls of ramen Japanese noodles at lunchtime, you’ll only consume 3/4 cup of pasta. You won’t feel bloated after eating ramen fresh noodles, and you’ll still meet your recommended carbohydrate allowance for the day.
So, next time you’re craving ramen noodles, try adding a side salad instead. It’ll satisfy your hunger without filling you up.
Fat
Ramen noodles are high in sodium, so if you eat a lot of them, you should watch out for health problems. However, they’re low in saturated fats, so they won’t cause heart disease.
You’ll find about 7 to 17 grams of fat in one bowl of Ramen handmade noodles. That’s less than half of the recommended daily intake of fat. Additionally, half of the total fat in ramen noodles is saturated.
So, you can enjoy eating ramen without worrying about gaining weight.
Vitamins
A healthy diet should include plenty of fruits and veggies, but if you’re eating a version of ramen noodles every day, you might be missing out on some essential nutrients.
There are some vegetables in ramen, including seaweed, spinach, green onion, etc., but there aren’t enough of them in a bowl of ramen.
There are some vitamins in ramen, but they come from meat and flour rather than vegetables.
However, a portion of ramen noodles lacks certain vitamins, especially those that are fat-soluble. These vitamins include vitamins A, D, E, and K.
Are Instant Noodles Good For You?
Instant noodles are cheap and quick to cook, making them ideal for busy families. However, they can be high in sodium and fat, which makes them unhealthy.
Though they’re affordable and convenient, instant noodles should not replace nutritious meals. Instead, they should be used as a side dish or snack.
Instant noodles are made primarily from wheat flour, salt content, water, and seasoning. They usually come in two varieties: white and brown. White noodles tend to be lower in sodium and cholesterol, while brown noodles are higher in sodium and cholesterol.
They Lack Key Nutrients
Instant plain ramen noodles are delicious and convenient, but they lack key nutrients. They are high in sodium, low in fiber and protein, and very low in iron.
Sodium is essential for maintaining healthy blood pressure levels. Sodium helps regulate fluid balance, muscle contraction, nerve impulse transmission, heart rhythm, hormone secretion, and kidney function.
Fiber is necessary for digestive health. Fiber aids digestion by helping move food through the intestines without causing cramping or diarrhea. Fiber also keeps cholesterol levels in check and promotes regular bowel movements.
Iron is needed for energy production and oxygen transport throughout the body. Iron deficiency causes fatigue and weakness, especially during periods of increased physical activity.
Instant ramen noodles may taste great, but they’re not worth eating if you’re trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy diet.
They Are Loaded With Sodium
Instant ramen noodles are loaded with sodium. One serving contains 1,760 milligrams of sodium or 88 percent of the recommended daily allowance of 2 grams.
Consuming just one package of ramen noodles per day makes it very hard to stay within the recommended limit of 2 grams of sodium per day.
Instant ramen noodles contain a lot of sodium because they are made using salty ingredients like soy sauce, MSG, and monosodium glutamate. These ingredients add flavor packet and texture to the noodles, but they also contribute to the overall sodium content of the product.
You should avoid eating instant ramen noodles if you are trying to reduce your sodium intake. You can find healthier alternatives at your local grocery store.
Contains TBHQ And MSG
Instant ramen noodles are not only unhealthy, but they also contain preservatives like tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), which have been linked to neurological damage, increased risk of lymphoma, and liver enlargement.
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is another ingredient found in instant ramen noodles that have been linked to headaches, nausea, high BP, weakness, muscle tightening, and flushing of the face.
Though these ingredients have been linked with adverse health effects in large quantities, the small amounts found within food products are unlikely to pose any harm.
However, if you find yourself feeling ill after eating instant ramen noodles, try switching to a healthier alternative, like rice noodles.
Should You Stop Consuming Ramen?
A study of 6,440 Koreans found that those who regularly eat instant noodles had lower intakes (i.e., fewer amounts) of protein, phosphorus, vitamin B12, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese, folate, vitamin D, riboflavin, thiamin, niacin, and pantothenic acid, compared to those who never ate instant noodles.
Plus, those who frequently ate ramen noodles consumed significantly fewer vegetables and fruits, nuts, seeds, and meat.
Regular instant noodle consumption has been associated with an increased incidence of metabolic syndrome, a condition characterized by excess abdominal fat, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, low HDL (“good”) cholesterol, high triglycerides, and insulin resistance.
After you have understood the basics of ramen noodles, it’s best to limit your intake and not use instant noodles as a meal replacement regularly.
How To Make It Healthier?
Instant ramen noodles are a great way to eat carbohydrates at lunchtime without spending a lot of money. However, if you want to make it healthier, there are plenty of other options. You can easily switch out instant ramen noodles for brown rice, oatmeal, potatoes, or any other carb option that suits your needs.
Brown rice is a great alternative to instant ramen noodles since it provides a slow release of energy. Oats are another excellent choice because they are high in fiber and low in blood sugar. Potatoes are also a great option since they are filling and nutritious.
You can also mix and match different types of carbs to find the right combination for you. For example, you might try adding brown rice to your instant ramen noodle bowl instead of white rice. Or, you might try making your instant ramen noodles with potato flakes instead of regular pasta.
While instant favorite ramen noodles are inexpensive, there are many other affordable carb options out there that are equally delicious. Try switching up your favorite carb sources to find the ones that work best for you!
Nutrition Facts Of Other Instant Ramen Brands
Instant noodles aren’t necessarily bad for you – but they’re not good for you either. At least one study suggests that regular consumption of instant noodles may be linked to a higher chance of developing metabolic syndrome.
Even though some instant ramens aren’t exactly healthy, there are still a few good ones out there. Look at the nutritional facts for the top instant ramen noodle brands to get an idea of which one might be best for you.
1. Nissin
Nissin is known for making delicious fresh ramen noodles. But did you know that one cup of Nissin’s Cup Noodles (dry) contains only 100 calories? That’s less than half the calorie count of most other brands of ramen noodles.
- Calories: 290
- Net carbs: 39 grams
- Protein: 6 grams
- Dietary fiber: 2 grams
- Sodium: 1160 milligrams
2. Nongshim
Nongshim is known for its delicious ramen noodles. These noodles come in a wide range of flavors, shapes, and sizes. You’ll find them at grocery stores across America, but if you’d rather buy them online, you can order them directly from Nongshim’s website.
Each package of Nongshim noodles comes with nutrition facts printed on the label. Here’s a look at the nutritional profile of one Shin Cup of Noodle Soup:
- Calories: 360
- Net carbs: 44 grams
- Protein: 6 grams
- Fiber: 3 grams
- Sodium: 1310 milligrams
3. Maruchan
Maruchan makes a variety of instant ramen noodles. One of its most popular varieties is called Chicken Flavor Ramen. Here’s the nutrition info for a full block of Chicken Flavor Ramen:
- Calories: 380
- Net carbs: 50 grams
- Protein: 8 grams
- Fiber: Less than 2 grams
- Sodium: 1660 milligrams
3. immi
Immi Ramen. Compared to other ramen brands, immi instant ramen noodles are at least five times more nutritious. They also have twice the fiber and about 30-40 percent less sodium.
- Net carbs: 9 grams
- Protein: 40 grams
- Fiber: 6 grams
- Sodium: 850 milligrams
Hey'all I'm Amy, a born foodie and diagnosed with celiac disease 7 years ago. I refused to cave into tasteless, boring gulten free food and create my own!
On my blog you'll find info & cool facts along with recipes, all on gluten free foods!