ramen noodles?

Even for plain ramen noodles, the only nutrition benefit is that they are high in iron. The sodium is lethal (1580 for 1 pkg) and that is without any added salt from a seasoning packet.

This can't be right ... it would seem to me that there's *no* *way* that plain noodles can have that much sodium -- now, with the flavoring packet, that much sodium makes sense, but something tells me that these numbers are straight off the noodles' nutritional info (and that, of course, would include the whole flavoring packet).

I've seen MFP food database entries that show *plain* ramen noodles at far less sodium, and those numbers make more sense...!

No, that nutrition information is specifically for Maruchan Plain Ramen Noodles, which is why I included the link in my post. But if you google “nutrition plain ramen noodles” you will find the same result. 790 mg sodium per serving and one serving = 1/2 package.

Actually, I just looked at the actual nutrition label on a pack of Ramen and that sodium level is directly off the label, which includes the flavor packet.

Even for plain ramen noodles, the only nutrition benefit is that they are high in iron. The sodium is lethal (1580 for 1 pkg) and that is without any added salt from a seasoning packet.

This can't be right ... it would seem to me that there's *no* *way* that plain noodles can have that much sodium -- now, with the flavoring packet, that much sodium makes sense, but something tells me that these numbers are straight off the noodles' nutritional info (and that, of course, would include the whole flavoring packet).

I've seen MFP food database entries that show *plain* ramen noodles at far less sodium, and those numbers make more sense...!

No, that nutrition information is specifically for Maruchan Plain Ramen Noodles, which is why I included the link in my post. But if you google “nutrition plain ramen noodles” you will find the same result. 790 mg sodium per serving and one serving = 1/2 package.

Actually, I just looked at the actual nutrition label on a pack of Ramen and that sodium level is directly off the label, which includes the flavor packet.

For which kind? I have a pack of Top Ramen Chicken Flavor in my hands (husband eats them, it’s poison to me). The listed nutrition information is based on “1/2 dry noodle block & 1 tsp seasoning mix” and Sodium is listed as 910 mg. About 120 mg more than what the web is showing for Maruchan Plain.

While I don’t have a package of plain ramen noodles to verify the information I’m seeing online, the chicken flavor I have is showing more sodium than plain, but the noodles themselves (which have five different preservatives that I identify as salts) appear to be lethally high in sodium. As someone with high blood pressure, I wouldn’t touch them, seasoning packet, or not.

Even for plain ramen noodles, the only nutrition benefit is that they are high in iron. The sodium is lethal (1580 for 1 pkg) and that is without any added salt from a seasoning packet.

This can't be right ... it would seem to me that there's *no* *way* that plain noodles can have that much sodium -- now, with the flavoring packet, that much sodium makes sense, but something tells me that these numbers are straight off the noodles' nutritional info (and that, of course, would include the whole flavoring packet).

I've seen MFP food database entries that show *plain* ramen noodles at far less sodium, and those numbers make more sense...!

No, that nutrition information is specifically for Maruchan Plain Ramen Noodles, which is why I included the link in my post. But if you google “nutrition plain ramen noodles” you will find the same result. 790 mg sodium per serving and one serving = 1/2 package.

Actually, I just looked at the actual nutrition label on a pack of Ramen and that sodium level is directly off the label, which includes the flavor packet.

For which kind? I have a pack of Top Ramen Chicken Flavor in my hands (husband eats them, it’s poison to me). The listed nutrition information is based on “1/2 dry noodle block & 1 tsp seasoning mix” and Sodium is listed as 910 mg. About 120 mg more than what the web is showing for Maruchan Plain.

While I don’t have a package of plain ramen noodles to verify the information I’m seeing online, the chicken flavor I have is showing more sodium than plain, but the noodles themselves (which have five different preservatives that I identify as salts) appear to be lethally high in sodium. As someone with high blood pressure, I wouldn’t touch them, seasoning packet, or not.

The pack I looked at was Nissan Beef Top Ramen. It listed 760mg of sodium per serving with no separate breakdown for the flavor packet apart from that.

If you want noodles, you may like to try the Shirataki or Miracle noodles. Only 40 cals for an entire 8 ounce bag.
They are made from tofu....and take a little getting used to. You will either love them...or hate them.
Available in spaghetti, angel hair and fettucine.
I toss them into my stir fry...with chicken and veggies.
You can find them in higher end grocery stores...or Asian markets...and online.
They can be a bit expensive...but are a good alternative to pasta.
Enjoy!

Make your own!!!

Recipe:

Soba (wheat), udon (buckwheat) or frozen dumplings
Veggies (peppers, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, onions... whatever you want)
Chicken stock or bouillon (4 cups liquid)
1-3 tsp of soy sauce
white pepper or cayenne to taste
(1-3 tbsp curry powder) or (1 tbsp red wine vinegar for hot and sour soup)
1 tbsp corn starch mixed with 3 tbsp warm water (optional)
1 whisked egg (optional)

saute the vegetables (except for bamboo shoots) and add the chicken stock and spices and bring to boil. Add the noodles or dumplings. Once they're finished add the cornstarch water mixture, reduce heat and allow the soup to thicken. When the soup is thick turn off the heat. Add the egg, allow it to cook and mix the soup.

Once you have a good base of spices on hand, this recipe is so easy. You don't even need the vegetables. I make it at least once a week when I don't have time to cook. It is so easy and very customizable. Just season to taste with what you have, really. My boyfriend loves it and it sooo much healthier then packaged ramen (no MSG!!). You can even use reduced sodium soy sauce. This recipe feeds 2, so if you're cooking for yourself you could cut it in half or save the leftovers.

Cheers!

Make your own!!!

Recipe:

Soba (wheat), udon (buckwheat) or frozen dumplings
Veggies (peppers, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, onions... whatever you want)
Chicken stock or bouillon (4 cups liquid)
1-3 tsp of soy sauce
white pepper or cayenne to taste
(1-3 tbsp curry powder) or (1 tbsp red wine vinegar for hot and sour soup)
1 tbsp corn starch mixed with 3 tbsp warm water (optional)
1 whisked egg (optional)

saute the vegetables (except for bamboo shoots) and add the chicken stock and spices and bring to boil. Add the noodles or dumplings. Once they're finished add the cornstarch water mixture, reduce heat and allow the soup to thicken. When the soup is thick turn off the heat. Add the egg, allow it to cook and mix the soup.

Once you have a good base of spices on hand, this recipe is so easy. You don't even need the vegetables. I make it at least once a week when I don't have time to cook. It is so easy and very customizable. Just season to taste with what you have, really. My boyfriend loves it and it sooo much healthier then packaged ramen (no MSG!!). You can even use reduced sodium soy sauce. This recipe feeds 2, so if you're cooking for yourself you could cut it in half or save the leftovers.

Cheers!

if your adding mushrooms or bamboo shoots it does contain MSG. its a naturally occurring substances someone just found a way to refine it.

They're relatively bad.

Although, if I'm just craving them, I make them and drain out the liquid...hoping that it helps get rid of some of the sodium. ha.

Salt is naturally occurring... arsenic is naturally occurring... does that mean we can eat as much of it as we want?
And no, there is not MSG in bamboo shoots or mushrooms. Even canned bamboo shoots. I read my labels.

http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-bamboo-shoots-canned-i11028
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=122

Why would the FDA require foods that contain MSG to be labeled? Wouldn't every food, natural and processed contain it?

While I don’t have a package of plain ramen noodles to verify the information I’m seeing online, the chicken flavor I have is showing more sodium than plain, but the noodles themselves (which have five different preservatives that I identify as salts) appear to be lethally high in sodium. As someone with high blood pressure, I wouldn’t touch them, seasoning packet, or not.

I'm holding a packen of "Maruchan Ramen, Chicken Flavor" (and the link you provided claims it's for "Maruchan Plain Ramen Noodles"), and it's showing 830mg of sodium in a serving. The link says that a 1/2 block contains 790mg sodium.

It's just not realistic to presume that plain noodles are 790mg, but a 1/2 packet of (essentially MSG) is only 40mg.

It seems more reasonable to conclude that the packet is the lion's share of the sodium... and therefore, the link is inaccurately reporting the sodium content.

(On the other hand, it seems realistic to say that a full block of Maruchan ramen is 380 calories, 140 of which are from fat.)

I have HBP, too, which is why I rarely use more than a pinch of the seasoning, if any at all...

ETA:

Looking at the ingredients, the noodles say "preserved by TBHQ, contains less than 1% of salt, soy sauce, ..., sodium, sodium carbonate".

Meantime the soup base ingredients *start with*: "salt, monosodium glutamate".

Point taken. Certainly seems more likely that the sodium content, which while not low, is not as high as being reported on that site. But, it still doesn’t alter my answer to the OP’s question. The negative far outweighs the positive when it comes to considering whether or not to eat packaged ramen noodles.

Salt is naturally occurring... arsenic is naturally occurring... does that mean we can eat as much of it as we want?
And no, there is not MSG in bamboo shoots or mushrooms. Even canned bamboo shoots. I read my labels.

http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-bamboo-shoots-canned-i11028
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=122

Why would the FDA require foods that contain MSG to be labeled? Wouldn't every food, natural and processed contain it?

they don't add it to the mushrooms, it naturally form inside them. actually it forms in almost every vegetable, but its a fleeting substance. the quicker it goes from the ground to your mouth the more it contains. that is the big reason homegrown vegetables taste better than what you buy at the grocery. in the case of cretin plant the glutamates tend to linger, things like mushrooms, bananas, bamboo shoots, coco beans, even tea leaves, contain high amounts of MSG without the processors ever adding any.

on a side note you'd be surprised how much arsenic is in your drinking water.