Quick, easy, affordable, filling, and tasty – don’t we all love instant noodles? A bowl of steaming instant noodles helps calm a queasy stomach. However, recent developments have placed a big question mark on their safety, and if you are pregnant, you would be all the more worried. Is it a good idea to eat instant noodles during pregnancy?
A pregnant woman’s diet and lifestyle directly or indirectly affect the health of the fetus growing inside her. So she has to make sure she has a balanced and healthy diet. Largely, instant noodles are safe for pregnant women, provided they are consumed in moderation. You may not shy away from having that bowl of noodles that cook in minutes and practically need nothing more than hot water, but regularly eating instant noodles during pregnancy will be quite harmful not only to you but to the growing baby as well.
In This Article
- Are Instant Noodles During Pregnancy, Healthy?
- Other Ingredients in Noodle That Are Harmful During Pregnancy
- What is TBHQ? Is it Present in Instant Noodles?
- Side Effects of TBHQ in Pregnancy
- Can You Make Instant Noodles During Pregnancy Healthier For You?
- What Other Snacks Can I Eat During Pregnancy?
- Never Over Eat This Instant Noodles
- Things to Remember Before Eating
- FAQ’s
Are Instant Noodles During Pregnancy, Healthy?
A lot of us love instant noodles for the sheer convenience and taste they offer. Hunger pangs can strike you more than often. Though instant noodles may satiate your taste buds, they are not nutritious, to say the least. They lack essential vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber that you require during pregnancy. For this reason, they do not qualify as balanced food and cannot be a meal on their own.
Other Ingredients in Noodle That Are Harmful During Pregnancy
The majority of ingredients in instant noodles are not safe during pregnancy.
1. Maida or Refined Flour
We all know that refined food loses all its nutrients during processing. ‘Maida’ is one such ingredient that can play around with your digestive system, without adding any nutrient value to your food. Though many brands have introduced ‘Atta noodles,’ so to say, the truth to them is surely questionable. Isn’t it?
2. Salt
Every 100g of instant noodles carry nearly 2500 mg of sodium, making it an integral ingredient of instant noodles. Long-term regular intake of instant noodles can make you prone to hypertension – all the more dangerous if you are pregnant.
[Read : 5 Effective Ways To Control Hypertension During Pregnancy]
3. Preservatives
All manufacturers look to increase the shelf life of their products, and adding preservatives is a foregone conclusion. Instant noodles are loaded with artificial food coloring, flavor additives, etc., and can be quite harmful to the fetus.
4. MSG or Monosodium Glutamate
MSG is a common ingredient in many food items these days for its taste-enhancing properties and rendering an umami flavor to any dish. It can also extend the shelf life of perishable items and is a common ingredient in most instant noodles. Though a small amount of MSG during pregnancy can be processed by the system, large quantities can have considerable harmful effects on you and your baby.
5. Trans Fats
All processed foods are high in trans fats, and instant noodles are no exception. If you read the labels, you will be surprised at how much trans fats you end up consuming every day. The harmful vegetable oils and other ingredients can wreak havoc on your cholesterol levels – and you’d not want this when you are carrying.
What is TBHQ? Is it Present in Instant Noodles?
TBHQ or Tertiary Butylhydroquinone is a toxic, synthetic petroleum derivative, used as a preservative by some manufacturers of instant noodles. This chemical is also used in other industries like paints, cosmetics, and pesticides.
Judging by this, you can comprehend how dangerous it is for us humans, more so for pregnant women and their babies. Though it may not harm you if the intake is in small quantities and in moderation, it can surely impact your health negatively in the long run.
Side Effects of TBHQ in Pregnancy
The consumption of some foods that contain TBHQ in higher quantities during pregnancy can lead to:
- Delirium
- Breathlessness
- Nausea
- Tinnitus
TBHQ is also eliminated by the body after a short period of time. But if you eat instant noodles on a regular basis, they could stay in your body for a long period of time. It may also cause metabolic syndrome, which may mess with the blood pressure, cause obesity, and also even spike up the bad cholesterol levels too. TBHQ may lead to heart problems and diabetes also.
Can You Make Instant Noodles During Pregnancy Healthier For You?
If you are really craving for them or are hungry and want something quick, you may eat a bowl of instant noodles of your favorite brand, but do make attempts to make them healthier.
- Add a good chunk of fresh vegetables like beans, cauliflower, capsicum, carrots, mushrooms, peas, onion, tomatoes, etc. to your noodles.
- You can also use just half of the flavoring masala provided in the pack, or you can make your own tasty masala using less salt.
- Moderation has to be the key here, and you must, in all circumstances, indulge in instant noodles only occasionally.
What Other Snacks Can I Eat During Pregnancy?
Instant noodles during pregnancy may be off-limits for you now that you are expecting, but there are scores of other healthy Indian snacks to choose from. And if you have a more modern taste, try out some easy to prepare modern snacks during your gestation period. Not only are they easy to make and require less time, but they will also satiate your cravings and will also provide much-needed nutrition to you, the healthy way.
We hope this instant noodles during pregnancy article will help you understand what you are feeding your unborn baby as you indulge in that bowl of instant noodles during pregnancy. Always keep in mind that at the end of the day, noodles are junk food, and it is better to avoid them for your and your baby’s health. So next time, before you decide to eat a bowl of instant noodles, remember that instant noodles are processed and not good for your health in the long run. So make sure you talk about it with your doctor!!
[Read : Top 10 Healthy Indian Snacks For Expecting Mothers]
Never Over Eat This Instant Noodles
Now, you may have an option to eat healthy noodles by adding some vegetables to them and by choosing the better types of noodles, but that certainly does not mean that you can eat them as much as you want. As noodles have no nutritional values of their own and contain more fat and carbohydrates, you may end up gaining unhealthy weight. So you should always limit eating these noodles, even if you crave noodles often when you are pregnant.
Your obstetrician is the best person to understand your pregnancy. So if you feel like having your favorite noodles often, and you are, at the same time, and worry about your baby’s health, do talk to your doctor before you reach out for that bowl of instant noodles. At the end of the day, it is better to avoid eating the noodles for the good health of both you and your baby also.
Things to Remember Before Eating
Eating processed foods and instant noodles during pregnancy can be avoided totally, but if you can’t give it up, you can eat it once in a while after a long time. But make sure to add vegetables to make it much healthier in your diet process.
Did you crave instant noodles during pregnancy? How often did you indulge in them? Do share your experience in the comments section below.
[Read : 10 Ways Junk Food Can Be Unsafe During Pregnancy]
FAQ’s
1. Is Instant Noodles Bad During Pregnancy?
Yes, it is. It contains high levels of MSG. It also takes time to digest.
2. Do Instant Noodles Use MSG?
Yes, it does. This is added to enhance the flavor. Excess consumption of MSG can cause birth defects in baby.
3. Can I Have Instant Noodles When Pregnant?
An occasional cup of instant noodles is ok. You can have it for a change of taste or to satisfy those cravings. Ensure you do’t have it regularly.
4. Can Instant Noodles Make Me Gain Weight During Pregnancy?
Yes, it can. it has a high content of refined flour and fats. It does not digest easily either.
Read Also: Maggi During Pregnancy – Is It Safe?
