Many women crave instant noodles during pregnancy but are concerned about how safe it is for their baby’s health. Instant noodles are generally not considered a good food option for pregnant women because they are high in carbohydrates and sodium, have little nutritional value, and contain preservatives. These ingredients interfere with the health of the growing fetus. However, if you want to eat instant noodles, you may explore ways to cook them more healthily. This post provides more information about the nutritional value of instant noodles, their harmful ingredients, and some tips to make them healthier.
Is It Safe To Eat Instant Noodles During Pregnancy?
According to medical experts, it is best to stay away from them.
If you really must indulge, make sure there is no extra salt added (1).
Include vegetables to make it nutritious.
It’s best to keep the consumption to the very minimum.
Nutritional Value Of Instant Noodles
Noodles are made of wheat flour, starch, palm oil and salt. Sometimes wheat flour is replaced with buckwheat too.
The Dark Side of Instant Noodles: What Makes Them Harmful?
Pregnant women are usually advised to consume less qualities of instant noodles due to the following reasons (2).
Noodles are grouped under junk food as they contain high levels of carbohydrates and fat.
They are very low on vitamins, proteins, fiber and minerals.
One of the biggest concerns with noodles is the content of sodium in it.
The current U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowance of sodium for adults is 1,500mg/day (3).
Typical cup-type instant noodles contain 2700mg of sodium (per 100g of edible portions).
Pregnancy already involves the risk of high blood pressure. The extra amount of sodium intake can affect the baby negatively (4).
Johna Burdeos, a registered dietitian from Greater Houston, says, “TBHQ is short tertiary butylhydroquinone. It is an additive used to preserve the shelf life of processed foods, including noodles. Like many food additives, TBHQ has not been extensively studied in humans. However, there is controversy surrounding its use. There are studies showing that TBHQ is linked to the incidence of tumors in rats, vision problems in humans, and effects on human behavior.”
Tips To Make Instant Noodles Healthier
Only possible way to make noodles a little healthier is by adding fresh vegetables and/or hard boiled eggs. If you must indulge in noodles when you are pregnant, make sure that you include a lot of fresh vegetables like peas, capsicums, tomatoes, potatoes etc. These vegetables also help in enriching the flavor of the noodles while upping the nutrition quotient.
Nestle Maggi tops the lists for the most selling instant noodle brand in South Asian countries. Their atta noodles and multigrain noodles are relatively healthier.
Also, Foodles by Horlicks is rated the healthiest of all instant noodles available in India.
Knorr Soupy Noodles also contain a decent amount of vegetables.
Another thing that needs to be taken into consideration is the oil that is used in the preparation of noodles. Instant noodles require not more than one tablespoon of oil for garnishing (most people prefer this than just boiling it in water.) Make sure that the oil is fresh and clean. Ensure it hasn’t turned rancid.
Always keep in mind that noodles containing added vegetables are loaded with extra preservatives.
