Nutritional value of ramen noodles?

[AlexR]

I just love Asian food and often have a soup made with ramen noodles, especially on weekdays when I'm in a hurry.
Usually, this consists of about a quarter of a mug filled with noodles broken into little bits, soup powder, and a trickle of sesame oil to which I add boiling water. Et voilà !

The man who invented ramen noodles just died. He had amassed a a colossal fortune.

In a story I read about him in a magazine, they described his winnning recipe, which involves flash frying in palm oil.
Well, this got me to wondering about the nutritional value of the noodles.

Do ramen noodles provide mostly "empty calories"?
What is the proportion of fat to carbohydrate and, most importantly, isn't palm oil said not to be good for you?

Best regards,
Alex R.

 

[urmaniac13]

Yes, most of the commercial ramen noodles are fried in palm oil. Aside from the undesirable nuturitious factor, vrey often you can also taste the stale oil and its slimy texture in it. Also if you use the soup packet, it is also laden with sodium.
If you look around the ethnic food section of a large supermarket or specialty shop, you should be able to find unfried oriental egg noodles (which look pretty much like ramen noodles, without loads of saturated fat), that would be a better choice for your own dishes.

 

[boufa06]

Alex, although not in the order you asked your questions, I would start with palm oil first. In my own opinion, it is probably one of the worst oils to fry in because it contains saturated fats alongside with unsaturated ones. This implies increase risks in elevating cholesterol levels.

Because of the convenience of preparation, I am also guilty of succumbing to the temptation of an instant meal at times. Nevertheless, I do consider the nutritional value of Ramen noodles approximately equal to that of the water added to them before serving or even somewhat less due to potential preservatives, artificial flavourings, the ever-present MSG, additives of other kinds, etc. in the powdered mix.

It may sound a bit harsh but I just don't see what ingredients could generate nutritional value in this product. Perhaps its only value is/was the pile of money it made for its creator.

 

[BreezyCooking]

I enjoy ramen noodle soup quite frequently - but my mother sends me all sorts of interesting ones from her local Asian market, which are NOTHING like the ones you get in your local supermarket. I have never purchased the supermarket varieties.

I also ALWAYS add meat or seafood, fresh chopped garlic, veggies, & herbs, etc., to mine.

I also purchase plain fresh &/or dried ramen noodles for stir-fry dishes - again, with lots of good things added.

While the noodles themselves may be somewhat "empty" calories, they're like the old "stone soup" story. What you add is what makes the soup.

 

[ntbsnthlrchn]

Nutrition Facts and Analysis for Soup, NISSIN, OODLES OF NOODLES TOP RAMEN Ramen Noodle, Oriental flavor, dry form

total saturated fat : 3g for 190 calories..... that's not bad. from wikipedia
"
A study by a group of researchers in China comparing palm, soybean, peanut oils and lard showed that palm oil actually increased the levels of good cholesterol and reduced the levels of bad cholesterol in the blood (Zhang, et al, 1995, 1997 cited by Koh, 2006).[6]
A study by Hornstra in 1990 also showed similar results.[7]"

 

[bethzaring]

all I could find in my book is canned chow mein noodles, 1 cup equals 220 Kcal and 10.6 grams of fat. Another gives 11 grams of fat for the same noodle/amount.

 

[bethzaring]

Nutrition Facts and Analysis for Soup, NISSIN, OODLES OF NOODLES TOP RAMEN Ramen Noodle, Oriental flavor, dry form

total saturated fat : 3g for 190 calories..... that's not bad. from wikipedia
"
A study by a group of researchers in China comparing palm, soybean, peanut oils and lard showed that palm oil actually increased the levels of good cholesterol and reduced the levels of bad cholesterol in the blood (Zhang, et al, 1995, 1997 cited by Koh, 2006).[6]
A study by Hornstra in 1990 also showed similar results.[7]"

I just looked at this and total fat was 7.2 grams, which includes 3 grams of saturated fat. So for 190 calories you get 7.2 total g. of fat.

 

[Little Miss J]

In my What Food is That? book it has the following info for Wheat Noodle, Steamed and Fried which it describes as 'the modern, instant noodle'. This is without the flavouring added.

For 80g serve
Energy 1570 kJ
Protein 8g
Fat 17g
Carbohydrate 50g

Obviously this would differ between brands. It also says that the vitamin B in the product (the only nutrient they mention) is water soluble and is mostly lost when they are boiled or rinsed.

 

[scott123]

Alex, although not in the order you asked your questions, I would start with palm oil first. In my own opinion, it is probably one of the worst oils to fry in because it contains saturated fats alongside with unsaturated ones. This implies increase risks in elevating cholesterol levels.

The idea that saturated fats (or dietary cholesterol) are somehow linked to blood cholesterol/triglycerides is a myth. Saturated fats, because of their resistance to oxidation, are actually healthier than most of the liquid vegetable oils on the market.

What you want to avoid are artificially saturated fats like shortening and refined vegetable oils like soybean, canola and corn. Those are where the nasty trans fats reside.

Tropical fats like coconut and palm oil have gotten an undeservedly bad rap because of the powerful American corn and soy lobby. If you take a look at the study ntbsnthlrchn posted above you see proof that palm oil is the healthier choice.

As far as the nutritional value of ramen noodles... I would say close to nothing. The're pretty much nothing but starch/carbs. Carbs make you fat.

 

[Candocook]

The noodles are loaded with fat--no two ways about it. One third of the total calorie intake is provided by FAT. And fat is fat=calories and if you are trying to lower fat intake, this is not for you. Cholesterol is a whole 'nother thing.
Campbell's used to put out non-fat ramen but I can no longer find it.

 

[bethzaring]

The idea that saturated fats (or dietary cholesterol) are somehow linked to blood cholesterol/triglycerides is a myth. Saturated fats, because of their resistance to oxidation, are actually healthier than most of the liquid vegetable oils on the market.

Please explain this paragraph.

Please cite the scientific studies that support this claim.

Please cite your sources for this claim.

And finally, do you mean that saturated fats are the same thing as dietary cholestrol, or do you mean that saturated fats as well as dietary cholestrol are "linked to blood cholestrol"?

 

[boufa06]

The idea that saturated fats (or dietary cholesterol) are somehow linked to blood cholesterol/triglycerides is a myth. Saturated fats, because of their resistance to oxidation, are actually healthier than most of the liquid vegetable oils on the market.

What you want to avoid are artificially saturated fats like shortening and refined vegetable oils like soybean, canola and corn. Those are where the nasty trans fats reside.

Tropical fats like coconut and palm oil have gotten an undeservedly bad rap because of the powerful American corn and soy lobby. If you take a look at the study ntbsnthlrchn posted above you see proof that palm oil is the healthier choice.

As far as the nutritional value of ramen noodles... I would say close to nothing. The're pretty much nothing but starch/carbs. Carbs make you fat.

On the healthy or not aspect of using palm oil, I happen to be one of those who subscribe to the notion that saturated fats in the food are linked to high blood cholesterol levels. I did not start this but I do go by it, same as every doctor or publication on this matter that I know of. Since palm oil contains a high percentage (around 50%) of saturated fats, I have enough evidence in support of what I said.

When you refer to soy or corn promotion boards, isn't more than likely that there is somewhere a palm oil promotion board as well? I will not go into the sources of your info because Bethzaring has already done so and I do hope that you will oblige her with a reply.

Besides healthy or unhealthy aspects, there is also the matter of taste. What, in your opinion, could be the reason that few Asians use palm oil as their main cooking oil instead of soy, corn, or sunflower oil? Could it be that the propaganda of the soy/corn boards has such far reaching effects so as to brainwash people who can't even speak English? Just in case you may think that I am a soy/corn board secret agent, I go for olive oil almost exclusively except for some smaller amounts of sunflower oil here or there.

 

[Aria]

boufa06, I agree with you. And Ramen noodles may be inexpensive and fast and easy to cook.
That is it. Reading the label??? What are some of the ingredients? Not for me.