Struggling college students worship instant ramen noodles, but many wonder if a diet that heavily relies on the processed noodles can be detrimental to your health.
In an attempt to figure out what happens after consuming a pack of Cup Noodles, Braden Kuo of Massachusetts General Hospital decided to study the digestion process that goes down after you slurp down instant ramen noodles. Using a “smart” pill embedded with a camera (also called an “M2A,” which stands for Mouth to Anus), Dr. Kuo was able to monitor the digestion process of subjects that ate processed instant ramen versus those that ate fresh noodles.
After only two hours, Dr. Kuo discovered that the body was having difficulties breaking down the instant noodles, while the fresh noodles immediately began to break down.
The study was able to conclude that the body was not able to process the high sodium and high fat noodles as well as the fresh ramen.
Additionally, a study done by Baylor University in 2014 found that those who consumed processed instant noodles were at a higher risk of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome, a common condition in woman due to hormone and metabolic levels, can increase blood pressure, blood sugar levels, body fat, and overall increase a person’s risk for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Although Kuo’s study could not conclude that a pack of instant ramen is harmful to your health, Dr. Kuo still warns that the noodles should only be consumed in moderation. He believes there needs to be further research on the impacts processed food has on our health due to its high sodium and fat content. But in the meantime, the results from his study will not stop him from consuming ramen noodles. He tells WCVB that he still eats ramen, but only in moderation.