Noodles are a type of pasta made from unleavened dough that is boiled in water. There are different types of noodles, not all types are available in Dutch supermarkets. Most people eat instant noodles when they eat noodles. But are instant noodles actually healthy?
What are noodles?
Unproofed dough cooked in water is called noodles. There are many different types of noodles.
Types of noodles
Some noodles are as follows:
- Udon noodles
- Sobo noodles
- Egg noodles
- Glass noodles
- Mihoen
- Rice noodles
- Windows
- Mie
Not all of these noodles can be found in the Dutch supermarket. For some noodles you have to go to a store. Ramen (noodle soup) is very popular in America.
Dutch people usually eat instant noodles such as stir-fry noodles. These noodles are easy to combine with meat, fish and vegetables. Or just vegetables for a vegetarian meal.
Homemade noodles
Fresh homemade noodles are obviously healthier than instant noodles. If you cook yourself, you know exactly what is in your meal. However, making noodles yourself takes more time and people are therefore more likely to turn to instant noodles.
Instant noodles
Yes, they are still noodles, but they are marketed with the English term. The ingredients of instant noodles below may differ per brand. For example, flavor enhancers are not contained in the instant noodles (stir-fry) of the Maggi brand.
|
100 grams |
(instant) Unox good noodles chicken |
(instant) Stir-fry noodles Maggi (chicken) |
(Instant) AH Nice noodles |
(instant) Conimex noodles |
|
Energy |
70 kcal |
426 kcal |
357 kcal |
370 kcal |
|
Fats |
2.5g |
20.2g |
1.5g |
1 g |
|
– of which saturated |
1.1g |
9.5g |
0.1g |
0.3g |
|
Carbohydrates |
11g |
51.8g |
72g |
83g |
|
– of which sugars |
1.2g |
3.2g |
3.5g |
0.1g |
|
Fibres |
1.1g |
3.3g |
2.5g |
2.2g |
|
Protein |
1.5g |
7.5g |
11g |
Not mentioned |
|
Salty |
Not mentioned |
5.2g |
0 g |
0.08g |
|
Sodium |
0.37g |
Not mentioned |
Not mentioned |
Not mentioned |
Maggi’s stir-fry noodles contain a large amount of carbohydrates. However, Unox instant noodles contain much fewer carbohydrates. So it differs per brand. In addition, the above noodles from Maggi contain a lot of fats and the wrong fats, the saturated fats. Salt also varies per type, Maggi noodles have the most salt of the above examples. Too much salt is bad for the heart.
Flavor enhancers
Some instant noodles contain flavor enhancers including E621, or monosodium glutamate. This flavoring is very addictive because it stimulates the taste buds and signals the brain to eat more. It is therefore not only found in instant noodles, but can also be found in chips, for example. Unox instant noodles are an example of noodles that contain this flavor enhancer.
Lots of sodium
Instant noodles contain a lot of sodium. Sodium is a part of salt that you should not consume too much of. Too much sodium is hard on the kidneys. In addition, too much sodium is bad for blood pressure and the heart.
Saturated fat
Instant noodles can contain a lot of saturated fat. Too much saturated fat increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. For example, the instant noodles from the Maggi brand contain a lot of saturated fat.
Propylene glycol
Instant noodles contain an ingredient called propylene glycol. This ingredient is added to prevent the noodles from drying out. It is also used in antifreezes. However, propylene glycol can cause liver, heart, kidney and a weakened immune system.
Glycemic index
Instant noodles contain between 40 and 50. A glycemic below 55 is considered low. Instant noodles therefore do not cause blood sugar spikes. People with diabetes could therefore eat instant noodles for this reason.
