Besides being practical, instant noodles are also loved by the public because of their delicious taste. However, behind its deliciousness, there are several dangers of instant noodles that need to be watched out for, especially when instant noodles are consumed in excess.
Instant noodles are available in the form of dry noodles and are equipped with spices and vegetable oil in them. The processing process is fairly easy, making instant noodles a choice when you are hungry at night or in the midst of busyness.
You just simply boil the noodles with boiling water and mix it with the available spices. However, did you know that there are various dangers of instant noodles behind its enjoyment?
Various Risks and Dangers of Instant Noodles
Instant noodles are sometimes referred to as unhealthy foods because they are high in carbohydrates, fat, and salt, but low in protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
A study revealed that consuming instant noodles too often is associated with poor quality of the food consumed. This of course has an impact on the lack of nutritional intake in the body.
Furthermore, instant noodles can increase the risk of metabolic syndrome, a condition that can increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
In addition, there are several risks and dangers of instant noodles that you can experience when consuming instant noodles in excess:
1. Digestive disorders
Instant noodles are actually a type of food that is not easily digested, thus making the digestive system work harder. When consumed too often or too much, this can cause disturbances in the digestive tract.
2. High blood pressure
Seasonings used in instant noodles usually have a high salt or sodium content. One package of instant noodles contains about 860 mg of sodium.
The amount of sodium has not been added from the sodium content in other foods that you consume on the same day. In fact, the recommended daily intake of sodium is no more than 2,000-2,400 mg or the equivalent of 5-6 grams of salt.
Several studies suggest that consuming too much sodium can cause high blood pressure and damage blood vessels, thereby increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
3. Heart disease
Instant noodles also use MSG (monosodium glutamate) to increase the taste to be more savory. Well, the high MSG and sodium content in instant noodles can not only cause high blood pressure, but also trigger various heart disorders.
Therefore, instant noodles are not recommended for consumption by people with hypertension and congestive heart failure, as well as users of diuretic drugs and some types of antidepressant drugs.
4. Kidney disorders
As previously mentioned, instant noodles are known to have a high salt content. The salt content can have an impact on the disruption of kidney function, especially if consumed in large quantities and often.
Impaired kidney function can cause a buildup of sodium and fluids in the body. This triggers swelling in the legs and fluid buildup around the heart and lungs.
Another thing to note is the instant noodle packaging used. There are instant noodles that are packaged with ingredients that use styrofoam which contains the chemical bisphenol A (BPA).
BPA is known to interfere with how hormones work and affect brain development in infants and young children. While in adults, the content can increase the risk of heart disease and cancer.
Tips for Processing Instant Noodles
If you consider the nutritional content in instant noodles plus complementary ingredients that are risky to health, you should start limiting the consumption of instant noodles.
In an effort to increase the nutritional intake in serving instant noodles, you can add some additional ingredients, such as eggs, chicken, mushrooms, carrots, beans, cabbage, and other natural ingredients.
If possible, do not use all the spices available. Use only half the dose to reduce the amount of salt and MSG consumed.
However, you also have to meet the nutritional needs of the body by eating nutritious foods and maintaining a healthy body by exercising regularly and not smoking.
If you often eat instant noodles, you should start reducing their consumption to avoid the dangers of instant noodles on health. If necessary, consult a doctor to find out a healthier diet, according to your condition and needs.