Many people enjoy eating instant noodles, but some believe that this food is high in fats, carbohydrates, and salt, making it unhealthy. Is this true or false?
You can definitely enjoy this product in many different ways.
Instant noodles provide energy for the body; only when misused or consumed improperly can they be harmful to health. In fact, no expert recommends that people limit their consumption of instant noodles for breakfast. You can enjoy this product in various ways. For example, you can cook instant noodles with minced meat, eggs, fish, shrimp, or squid to add protein; blanch them with leafy greens, water spinach, bean sprouts, or tomatoes to boost vitamins and minerals.
A breakfast like this is considered “perfect” with the carbohydrate content from instant noodles, vitamins and minerals from vegetables, and protein from meat, fish, and eggs. There’s no need to add additional fats because this product already contains a certain amount.
If you only blanch instant noodles in boiling water, you should supplement your meals throughout the day with other foods to ensure a balanced nutrition.
However, it is not advisable to eat instant noodles every day; the recommendation is 2-3 times a week, alternating with rice, sticky rice, pho, rice noodles, or bread.
In general, instant noodles specifically and food in general are not the cause of health issues or indigestion if consumed correctly, eaten slowly, chewed thoroughly, and combined with all six food groups in meals.
Dr. Tu Ngu
Secretary General of the Vietnam Nutrition Association
