5 shocking reasons to stop eating instant ramen

Written by: Deepa Reviewed by: Dr. Swati Mishra 12 August 2025

[{"selector":"#anim-e207d3d9-1c8c-4328-9a0a-98e52251e905","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-105110a5-aec9-400f-9228-796b5daa4065","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 139.1933%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] You may think instant ramen is cheap and good, but this convenient dish comes with a lot more problems than you think! Photo Credit: Freepik

[{"selector":"#anim-4c6d6916-bd78-44b3-83e2-6ed3f9887215","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eada7ab1-9f5f-4420-9e06-16700231d600","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 167.95226%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Here are 5 science-based reasons why you should stop eating instant ramen, or at the very least cut back. Photo Credit: Freepik

High Sodium Content

[{"selector":"#anim-be8bbb23-4e43-46d6-a9a3-973b8ade9fc4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2ca1573a-c1e7-44b9-8f26-330a2497f526","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 139.1933%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e232d81b-4f04-49c1-ab2a-64f828882fcb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1c71920b-2ea0-4683-a18b-31ebae4c6613","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 645.06201%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] While it’s rich in antioxidants, it also has caffeine and theobromine, which can keep your mind active late into the night. Photo Credit: Freepik

Lacks Nutrients

[{"selector":"#anim-0196e605-9f00-4371-bcb3-cae3e645b23d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fc0b3acd-2c30-483f-917c-fa9d1ff64dda","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 125.42485%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a830d565-5bf2-4ad4-8917-0021b54e6a26","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-86f6ad5a-5c8b-4ce7-9b1e-ac18ef8d38fa","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 672.83992%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Instant ramen comes loaded with carbohydrates, but lacks protein, vitamins, and minerals. Long-term consumption of ramen can cause nutrient deficiencies. Photo Credit: Freepik

May Contain Unhealthy Additives

[{"selector":"#anim-a99b5b5c-b1b0-401f-98cb-54edd5aa1e87","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-799e0230-f540-4a47-98b1-282ce703b9ac","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 129.19501%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e6d38167-61ef-4b3a-b462-7af1fd2db34a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d2fd1daf-b545-4408-a689-b302d23d8059","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 466.00353%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Instant ramen often contains unhealthy additives like monosodium glutamate (MSG), preservatives, & artificial flavorings that may trigger serious headaches & bloating. Photo Credit: Freepik

Linked to Metabolic Disorders

[{"selector":"#anim-c9a1d27f-b66e-42ee-bffe-30b1e17d2d3e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e97287ca-a405-4596-9dd2-d233af431b73","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 110.05531%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-43eb95c7-4c17-4e07-a723-1e58b5fd60df","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7f1c9016-668b-44d0-ba24-63a2787e127b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 448.09305%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Research has shown that frequent ramen consumption is linked to obesity, diabetes, and metabolic disorders since instant ramen is usually high in fat, carbohydrates, and sodium. Photo Credit: Freepik

Not Easily Digestible

[{"selector":"#anim-591d4a28-b4e5-4433-8740-e1bcec052a73","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3645bfe7-9cf8-4f42-924b-bf27e34dff12","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 124.09298%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-10bd11d4-27dd-4a56-9f86-0a51b2d53ba6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-495ab742-0f5b-4d8d-ae6e-443d83d41746","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 750.61766%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Ramen noodles take a significantly longer time to digest, compared to fresh food. You may notice that instant ramen can make you feel bloated and sluggish for long periods of time! Photo Credit: Freepik

Final Takeaway

[{"selector":"#anim-c38e2ab1-52be-4416-9dfe-42c1b4bb6da1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e96fd815-549c-411f-bfa7-33350521b525","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 123.17746%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-83c48587-73d8-4917-877c-45f2192f1580","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-025564be-27aa-4f49-bde5-a794b749e9f6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 839.50653%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] To be clear, it is definitely okay to eat an occasional bowl of instant ramen. Eating ramen frequently may be harmful for your health. In the long-run, it's best to eat whole and fresh meals to fuel your body. Photo Credit: Freepik

If you found this helpful,

[{"selector":"#anim-13f32889-e866-4123-af2b-67a3393e8081","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-37802e98-d892-4de3-903e-9473ca1917a2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 179.61058%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6a442371-9e92-4f7a-a4ca-e7b1f0b499c8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4cb78f7d-5f2b-4507-bf78-663ddc2a7b77","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-270deg) translate3d(0px, -2448.9724%, 0) rotate(270deg)","rotate(-270deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(270deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Tap on that love ❤️ button. Stay tuned for what’s coming next! Video Credit: Tata 1mg Arrow