Something on instant noodles...

-The so called 'Instant noodle' -

Instant noodles are considered as a ‘junk food’ just because it does not contain any of the nutritional values on it…So it is just a pack of ‘unhealthy’ noodles…We are generally attracted by its way and style of the packaging we didn’t even bother that are there any so called ‘beneficial’ ingredients on it…they are just born just to have the satisfaction of enjoying with different kindsof taste and ingredients added on it…And people usually think by cooking instant noodles can help them to save their time by avoiding themselves spending a long time cooking in the kitchen.

Now, do you know that a single serving size of instant noodles are packed high in carbohydrate but low in fiber, vitamins and minerals. Noodles are typically fried as part of the manufacturing process, resulting in high level of saturated fat or known as trans fat. Additionally, if served in an instant broth, instant noodles typically contain high amounts of sodium. And the thing that tickles our taste buds is of course, the flavoring soup which usually packed readily in our instant noodles packet. The flavoring soup base here played an important role as flavor an additive which is the monosodium glutamate (MSG) in our meal.

Instant noodles (raw)Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 450 kcal 1900 kJ

Carbohydrates 65 g
- Dietary fiber 2.4 g

Fat 17 g
- saturated 7.6 g
- monounsaturated 6.5 g

Protein 9 g

Thiamine (Vit. B1) 0.7 mg (54%)
Riboflavin (Vit. B2) 0.4 mg (27%)
Niacin (Vit. B3) 5.4 mg (36%)
Folate (Vit. B9) 147 μg (37%)
Iron 4.3 mg (34%)
Potassium 120 mg (3%)
Sodium 1160 mg (50%)

One package is 80 gPercentages are relative to USrecommendations for adults.Source: USDA

Monosodium glutamate is considered as an unhealthy stuff this is because MSG can lead us to several factors of diseases or side effects such as:

- burning sensation in the back of the neck, forearms and chest
- numbness in the back of the neck, radiating to the arms and back
- tingling, warmth and weakness in the face, temples, upper back, neck and arms facial pressure or tightness
- chest pain
- headache
- nausea
- rapid heartbeat
- bronchospasm (difficulty in breathing) in MSG-intolerant people with asthma
- drowsiness
- weakness

-The dangerous Monosodium glutamate (MSG)-

-And this the stuructural formula of the MSG-

And here is a circulated e-mail copy for those who are really instant noodles lovers...Please have a read on what it saying:

· Make sure you break for at least 3 days after one session of instant noodles before you eat your next packet! Please read the info shared to me by a doctor. My family stopped eating instant noodles more than 5 years ago after heari ng about the wax coating the noodles – the wax is not just in the Styrofoam containers but it coats the noodles. This is why the instant noodles do not stick to each other when cooking.

· If one were to examine the ordinary Chinese yellow noodles in the market, one will notice that, in their uncooked state the noodles are oily. This layer of oil prevents the noodles from sticking together.

· Wanton noodles in their uncooked state have been dusted with flour to prevent them sticking together. When the hawker cooks the noodles, notice he cooks them in hot water and then rinses them in cold water before cooking them in hot water again. This process is repeated several times before the noodles are ready to be served. The cooking and rinsing process prevents noodles from sticking together.

· The hawker then ‘lowers the noodles in oil and sauce to prevent the noodles from sticking if they are to be served dry. Cooking instructions for spaghetti require oil or butter to be added in the water when boiling the spaghetti to prevent the pasta from sticking together. Otherwise, one gets a big clump of spaghetti!

· There was an SBC (now TCS) actor some years ago, who at a busy time of his career had no time to cook, resorted to eating instant noodles everyday. He got cancer later on. His doctor told him about the wax in instant noodles. The doctor told him that our body will need up to 2 days to clear the wax. There was also an SIA steward who after moving out from his mother’s house into his own house, did not cook but ate instant noodles almost every meal. He had cancer, and has since died from it.

· Nowadays the instant noodles are referred as ‘ cancer noodles '.