Ramen noodles are popular among people. But it is said that the digestion process can be hard. Keep reading to learn the digestion time of ramen noodles.
You might have heard someone say that the body takes a while to digest ramen noodles. How long does it take to digest ramen noodles? Instant ramen can take several hours longer to digest than homemade noodles, which your body can process in about two hours.
Read and find out how long it takes to digest ramen noodles.
How Long Does It Take to Digest Ramen Noodles?
Depending on the type of ramen noodles consumed, digestion can take some time. For instance, it can take up to 32 hours for the digestion of instant or quick ramen noodles. However, homemade ramen noodles are typically digested faster than instant ones, usually in under two hours.
According to a study by Dr. Braden Kuo, a gastroenterologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, used pill cameras on study participants who were instructed to eat homemade and instant ramen noodles on alternate days.
Dr. Kuo discovered that, unlike the so-called instant noodles, which were found to remain intact and undigested in the stomach for hours after consumption, homemade ramen noodles were immediately digested in 1-2 hours.
The stomach’s attempts to move back and forth in order to break down or digest instant noodles were what surprised researchers the most. The preservatives found in instant noodles have been blamed for this.
As per Dr. Braden Kuo, “The size of the ramen noodle at two and four hours was significantly larger or more formed than the homemade ramen noodle at each of those time points, indicating that ramen noodles were challenging to digest into an infinite amount of small particles.”
Are Ramen Noodles Difficult to Digest?
It is already known that homemade ramen noodles digest more quickly and easily than instant ramen noodles. When ramen noodles are heavily processed (instant noodles), digestion becomes difficult.
Instant noodles require more work from your digestive system, which over time may cause damage to your digestive tract. Tetra-butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ), a petroleum-based preservative added to instant ramen noodles, is to blame for this added effort. Instant ramen noodles are challenging to digest because TBHQ is frequently difficult to digest.
Are Top Ramen Noodles Hard to Digest?
That’s right—top ramen noodles are difficult to digest. Digestion takes longer than two hours.
Top Ramen noodles are a type of instant ramen that has undergone extensive processing. Tetra-butyl hydroquinone, more commonly known as TBHQ, is a chemical preservative derived from petroleum.
The digestive system typically finds it difficult and laborious to break down this chemical preservative. Since TBHQ is frequently found in pesticide products, it is clear why this could cause digestive problems.
How to Make Ramen Noodles Healthier?
There are several ways to make instant ramen noodles healthier for people who like to eat them.
- Add vegetables: The lack of nutrients in plain ramen noodles can be made up for by adding fresh or cooked vegetables like carrots, broccoli, onions, or mushrooms.
- Pile on protein: Due to the low protein content of ramen noodles, adding eggs, chicken, fish, or tofu as a topping will give you a source of protein that will help you feel fuller for longer.
- Choose low-sodium versions: Low-sodium instant ramen noodles are an option; doing so can significantly reduce the amount of salt in the dish.
- Ditch the flavor packet: For a healthier, lower-sodium version of ramen noodles, make your own broth by combining low-sodium chicken stock with fresh herbs and spices.
Although instant ramen noodles are a cheap source of carbohydrates, there are a lot of other healthy, affordable carbohydrate options available.
Should You Avoid Ramen Noodles?
Even though occasionally consuming instant ramen noodles won’t be harmful to your health, frequent consumption has been connected to poor overall diet quality and several harmful health effects.
According to a study of 6,440 Korean adults, those who consumed instant noodles frequently consumed less protein, phosphorus, calcium, iron, potassium, niacin, and vitamins A and C than those who did not.
The amount of vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, meat, and fish that those who frequently ate instant noodles consumed was also significantly lower.
Consuming instant noodles on a regular basis has also been linked to an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, a collection of symptoms that includes excess abdominal fat, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and abnormal blood lipid levels.
Therefore, it’s best to limit your consumption of instant ramen noodles and avoid using them as a regular meal replacement.
Final Words: Digest Ramen Noodles
Even after two hours, your stomach cannot break down highly processed noodles, interrupting normal digestion. Tertiary-butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ), a petroleum-based substance with a difficult-to-digest profile, is used to preserve ramen as well as pesticides and lacquers.
The best option for your health is always to limit your intake of processed foods like instant ramen noodles and eat a lot of whole, unprocessed foods.
FAQs
What Happens If You Eat Ramen Every Day?
Eating instant ramen every day may lead to metabolic syndrome. The Mayo Clinic states that the term “metabolic syndrome” is a medical term used to describe a confluence of various medical conditions. When taken as a whole, they raise your risk of type 2 diabetes, heart attack, and stroke.
Will Eating Ramen Make Me Fat?
Salt and most carbs are in instant noodles. They are not healthy for you, but in fact, they won’t make you fat unless you eat a lot of them.
Is It Okay to Eat Ramen Noodles Once in a While?
In short, eating ramen once in a while won’t wreck your health—as is true with most processed foods. In fact, “If you still want to enjoy instant ramen soup, use half the amount of the flavor packet provided, or don’t use it at all,” says Bannan.