It’s possible that you’ve heard that the body takes a while to digest ramen noodles. Yet, is it accurate, and how long DOES IT REALLY TAKE? How long does it take for ramen noodles to digest?
Ramen noodles might be difficult to digest since it depends on your body and whether they are handmade or quick. Instant ramen can take several hours longer to digest than homemade noodles, which your body can process in around two hours.
As you can see, contrary to what certain misconceptions may have led you to believe, it does not take a long time to digest instant noodles. Now let’s investigate why it is in greater detail.
Have you ever wondered why ramen noodles are so popular and how long they linger in your digestive system? Ramen noodles, typically made from enriched wheat flour, salt, water and vegetable oil, have become a staple food for many people. While this convenient meal is quick to prepare and often quite tasty, some may worry about the nutritional content or potential issues with digestion. How long does it take for ramen noodles to digest? In this blog post we’ll examine the digestion process of ramen noodles as well as their health implications!
Digesting homemade vs. instant ramen noodles
Because homemade ramen includes less additives, it is simpler for the body to digest and is broken down more quickly.
Instant ramen takes a lot longer to break down since it contains so many preservatives.
I’ll go into that in a moment, but the length of the digestion process will have an impact on nutrient absorption and how nutritious (or bad) the noodles are.
Tertiary-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), propylene glycol, vegetable oil, BPA, and corn syrup are all included in instant noodles. The body finds it more difficult to swiftly digest the noodles because of all these elements.
The method used to produce the noodles, not the ramen itself, is what makes them harder to digest. This makes homemade noodles much easier to digest.
According to studies, the body’s attempt to overcome the preservatives in instant ramen caused it to remain bigger after 2 hours whereas fresh noodles had already begun to break down into a smaller mass.
Related – How long do you cook ramen noodles in the microwave?
The digestive process
The majority of studies on the digestion of ramen noodles indicated that handmade ramen noodles and noodles with less additives were digested rather quickly.
Contrary to the widespread belief that all noodles digest slowly, 2 hours is generally thought to be the norm.
But, preservative-added quick noodles take significantly longer to digest.
It was seen that the stomach had to work significantly harder, and that there seemed to be a mechanism that repeatedly moved the noodles throughout the stomach. This worsens the gastric problems.
Instant noodles need more effort from the body to digest since the preservatives must first be broken down for healthy digestion to begin.
How long does it take for ramen noodles to digest?
That depends on the individual and their digestive system. Factors that influence digestion time include the type of noodles, how they are prepared, and other foods eaten with them.
It is generally accepted that most carbs take around 4-5 hours to digest in a healthy gut. Ramen noodles consist mostly of carbohydrates, so they should be digested within this time frame. However, if you have any underlying digestive issues or food sensitivities, digestion may take longer than average.
To maximize digestion speed and help your stomach break down ramen noodles more quickly, try adding some healthy fat or protein to your meal. This can help slow down carbohydrate absorption into your bloodstream and reduce the risk of digestive problems.
You might be tempted to linger after eating a bowl of ramen or yakisoba and ponder how long it will take the delectable noodles to digest and leave your body.
It is challenging to estimate how long noodles will stay in your digestive tract because everyone’s digestive system functions at different rates.
As soon as you gulp down your noodles, saliva in your mouth starts using enzymes to break down the meal.
Noodles break down faster than fats, proteins, and nutrients since they are predominantly constituted of carbs.
The amount of time it takes for noodles to break down depends on the kind you’re eating.
Because noodles can be manufactured from a variety of ingredients (such as buckwheat, egg, and rice), the longer it takes for your stomach to digest them, the more chemically complicated they are.
Related – Does it take 7 years to digest ramen noodles?
Why not watch the following video of Ramen noodles passing through a person’s digestive track if you’re curious about how your body digests noodles:
It takes less time to digest ramen than you think
The length of time it takes to digest ramen noodles is difficult to predict since it relies on a number of different factors.
With the absence of preservatives, you can virtually always assume that homemade ramen will take around 2 hours to prepare.
But, instant noodles are less consistent. It depends on the materials used, how many preservatives are present, and whether you have any allergies or sensitivities.
You may anticipate that it won’t take days or weeks to digest noodles, as you may have previously been told. Instead, it will take around 2 hours.
What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Instant Noodles
One of the kids’ favorite foods and your go-to supper option when nothing is on hand that you can quickly make is instant noodles. Do you know what happens when you eat quick noodles, though?
The so-called instant noodles did not break up, were intact, and remained undigested in the stomach even hours after consumption, according to a study by Dr. Braden Kuo, a gastroenterologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, using pill cameras in subjects who were asked to consume instant noodles and fresh homemade ramen noodles every other day during the study.
The study’s findings about the stomach’s attempts to turn back and forth in order to break down or digest instant noodles were more startling. The preservatives included in instant noodles were identified as the cause of this.
According to Dr. Braden Kuo, “At two and four hours, the particular size of the commercially prepared ramen noodle was much larger or formed than the homemade ramen noodle at each of those time points, suggesting ramen noodles were difficult to break down into an infinite particulate matter during the process of digestion.”
Related – Do ramen noodles make you fat?
Tertiary-butyl hydroquinone is the primary preservative in instant noodles, according to the FDA, and it might damage organs if consumed regularly over an extended period of time and raise the risk of tumors and cancer.
For instant noodles to keep their texture even when cooked in boiling water in addition to TBHQ, propylene glycol is also added. Tobacco products have the same ingredient.
When these instant noodles are cooked in the cup itself by adding extremely hot water, Bisphenol A (BPA), which is included in the majority of instant or cup noodles, enters your body. Your metabolism can be destroyed by BPA.
In addition to these artificial substances, additional additives including salt, corn syrup, palm oil, and monosodium glutamate (MSG) have their own drawbacks.
You don’t need to store Instant Noodles on your kitchen slabs for the reasons mentioned above. Do not spread sickness to your family members. If there are any noodle aficionados in your household, choose homemade fresh ramen noodles rather than the instant type!
Related – Do ramen noodles go bad?
Related questions
– How often can I eat ramen noodles?
It’s best to limit your intake of ramen noodles and other processed foods as much as possible. Try to include more fresh vegetables and healthy proteins in your diet instead.
– Are ramen noodles healthy?
Generally speaking, no. Ramen noodles are typically high in sodium, saturated fat and calories, so they should not be a regular part of your diet.
– Do ramen noodles cause bloating?
Eating too many processed or sugary foods can lead to bloating or indigestion. If you experience discomfort after eating ramen noodles, try adding more fiber-rich foods to your diet and drinking plenty of water.
Final thoughts
So, how long does it take for ramen noodles to digest? The end. Just kidding. While we don’t have a definitive answer, from what we know about the ingredients in ramen noodles, it would seem that they are not easily digestible and could thus take some time to work their way through your system. If you’re looking for a quick meal that won’t weigh you down (literally), maybe give ramen a miss next time and opt for something else instead.
Now that you know how long it takes for ramen noodles to digest, be sure to contact us at Angelo’s Burgers with any questions. Our team is always happy to help!