Healthy noodles - myth or fact? 

Who would not love to try out more noodle types and pastas? Healthy noodles are a popular convenience food consumed all over the world. Though it is inexpensive and easy to prepare, there is a controversy about whether or not it has adverse health effects.

The food world went through a brief demotion due to concerns about wheat in general and gluten. Specifically, noodles have a roaring comeback. If you want to avoid gluten by the necessity of choice, you can try a noodle recipe that has become better over the years. Let's debunk some of the misconceptions related to noodles. 

It contains nutrients and a high amount of MSG and protein. We will look at instant noodles' positive effects on health. 

What are instant noodles? 

Healthy noodles are pre-cooked noodles sold in individual packets, cups, and bowls. Typical ingredients in nutrients include salt, palm oil, and flour. The flavouring packet will contain seasoning monosodium glutamate.

After the noodles are made in the factory, they get steamed, fried, and packed. Each packet will contain a block and a packet of flavouring and oil for the noodle recipe. 

Buyers will soak the block of noodles in hot water with the flavour before having it.  

Some of the popular brands that make healthy noodles include the following. 

• Cup Noodles 
• Top Ramen 
• Mr noodles 
• Maruchan 
• Sapporo Ichiban

In brief, healthy noodles are pre-cooked noodles that get dried and steamed. 

Almost all noodle types get soaked in hot water before getting eaten. There can be a great deal of variability between labels and brands of healthy noodles. Nevertheless, most types will have certain nutrients in common. 

Most types of noodles will tend to be low in calories. It has low protein and fibre and a higher amount of carbs, sodium, and select micronutrients. You need to keep in mind that one pack of top Ramen will have two servings. The amount will double if you want an entire package in one noodle recipe. 

Instant noodles are low in calories. 

With 188 calories per serving,  healthy noodles are low in calories than some other types of pasta. A serving of pre-packed lasagna contains about 377 cal, while that of spaghetti and Meatballs has 275 calories. 

Instant noodles are low in calories, which causes consumers to lose weight. Many people will have a full noodle pack in one sitting, meaning they consume two servings.

Knowing that healthy noodles are low in fibre and protein is also essential. It may not make them the best option for weight loss. Protein will cause an increased feeling of fullness and a decrease in hunger. The noodle recipe will also enhance weight loss.

Instant noodles offer important micronutrients.

It's a fact that an instant noodle recipe comes with essential micronutrients. Despite being relatively low in nutrients like protein and fibre, all noodle types come with many micronutrients, including manganese, folate, and Vitamin B. Some healthy noodles come with additional nutrients.

About 50% of instant noodles get fortified with Minerals and vitamins. One study finds that consuming iron-fortified noodle types and milk can decrease the risk of anaemia caused by iron deficiency.

In addition, an instant noodle recipe gets made using fortified wheat flour. A noodle recipe has shown great potential in increasing micronutrient intake.

Instant noodles will have MSG. 

Most healthy noodles will come with monosodium glutamate used to enhance the flavour in processed food. FDA recognizes msg as safe for consumption. The noodle recipe that contains MSG will need to say it on the ingredients label.

MSG is found in most noodle types, including hydrolyzed vitamin protein, soy extract, yeast extract, tomatoes, and cheese. Nevertheless, other studies found no association between MSG and weight when consumed in moderate amounts. 

Instant noodles' uptake could get linked to poor diet quality.

Some researchers found that regular noodle recipe of instant chow is associated with poor diet quality. It compared the diet followed by instant noodle consumers and non-instant noodle consumers.

In addition, studies found that instant noodle consumers had an increased uptake of sodium and calories compared to instant noodle consumers. A 2014 study looked at the diets of 10711 adults. Healthy Noodles saw that eating instant noodles at least twice weekly increases women's risk of metabolic syndrome. 

In brief, the noodle recipe will get associated with a higher sodium intake, calories, and fat. It is in line with a lower intake of vitamins, minerals, and proteins. 



Also Read: 11 Healthy Soul Food Recipes

Debunking some of the myths about instant noodles: 

Noodles came from China.

Noodles originated in China and were brought to Italy by Marco Polo. Adventures of Marco Polo starred Gary Cooper, who took a literacy license to depict the great Traveller bringing spaghetti to Italy for the first time. The fact is that healthy noodles back to ancient Etruscan civilization. 

Ancestors made a noodle recipe by grinding many portions of cereal and grains. They mixed them with water before cooking the mixture. 

Spaghetti made with durum wheat is the Italian version of healthy noodles.

Noodles make you fat. 

The fact is that noodles do not make you fat. With the right proportion and ingredient partners, a noodle recipe can be part of a healthy diet you can follow for the rest of your life. Noodle is at the core of the Mediterranean diet, which gets identified by nutrition as one of the best eating patterns. It is successful in weight management because noodles are often combined with fresh vegetables, tomato sauce, a small legume, olive oil, and other lean proteins. 

Portion size is a key fact in weight management. A healthy serving of noodle recipe for an adult is about one-half to two third of a cup of cooked noodles. As a bonus, the starch present in the healthy noodles gets digested quite slowly.

If you are one of those who think that noodles are flattening, think about the Italians who ate three times more noodles than Americans.

White colour food has no nutritional value. 

It is contrary to popular belief. Lack of colour does not indicate a lack of nutrition. You must consider a noodle recipe with natural and processed food like onion and mushrooms, white potatoes, and white beans.

Traditional healthy noodles will fall in this category and is a healthy food choice. Noodles, al dente, have a low glycemic index that better impacts blood sugar. There is a range of delicious whole-grain noodle recipe options on the supermarket shelf for additional health benefits, essential nutrients, and greater fibre. You don't need to forget to add colour by loading the vegetables.

Gluten-free noodles are healthier.  

Celebs like Victoria Beckham and Gwyneth Paltrow put a gluten-free diet to the forefront. While celiac disease sufferers have autoimmune reactions to susceptible gluten individuals, people must adhere to a strictly gluten-free diet. The rest of us don't remember that the group that must avoid gluten is small. Rarely one out of a hundred people suffer from celiac disease.

The people who have a gluten-free diet hope that they will lose weight. 

Celiac authority and assistant Daniel Lefler warns that the opposite effect is as likely as pursuing a gluten-free diet. Gluten will positively impact the quantity and quality of noodles, giving them a specific texture. It becomes firm to the bite after cooking.

The wheat we have is different from that of their grandparents due to GMOs. 

 These days wheat grain is not much different as it used to be 50 years ago. It's according to The professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic. Modified weight is not grown in the United States. It is in line with European and worldwide wheat producers. 

 In response to the concern that wheat contains more gluten, the USDA research centre found that gluten content in wheat has not been increased.

How can you choose the healthiest instant noodles? 

Now that you know why you should have healthy noodles let's get to the point about how to select the healthiest instant noodles. If you enjoy an occasional cup of noodles, there are ways to make it healthier. Peking instant noodles made from whole grain will increase fibre content and feelings of fullness. Lower-sodium instant noodles are also available and can reduce the daily sodium intake. 

Conclusion

Throwing in some vegetables and a good source of protein as the base and topping them with healthy ingredients will make them a more well-rounded meal. Choosing instant noodles that are lower in sodium and contain whole grains can give your instant noodles a healthy upgrade.

If you consume it in moderation, having instant noodles in your regular diet will not negatively affect you. 

Authored By: Poorvi Chhajer

About the Author: Poorvi is a psychology graduate with a knack for writing and a belief in Ayurveda.