TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Letter: The effects of consuming instant noodles

Nowadays, people consume more instant noodles per day

The Jakarta Post
Tue, October 28, 2008

Share This Article

Change Size

Letter: The effects of consuming instant noodles

Nowadays, people consume more instant noodles per day. For example: One family household consumes noodles for breakfast and lunch or dinner everyday. People tend to like noodles because they are easy and fast to prepare and delicious but cheap. But they do not know that instant noodles have negative effects on their health.

Children in particular will suffer health problems if they consume instant noodles everyday. Noodles do not contain enough nutrients, while their additives are harmful to pregnant women and children under five.

As with other industrial fastfood products, instant noodles use many chemical ingredients, such as food colorings, preservatives and flavorings, that we should be wary of. Although they have minimal effects if consumed rarely, if consumed over a long time, the chemical substances will accumulate in one's body and later disturb the body's metabolism because essentially they are poisons.

There are some disadvantages to consuming instant noodles:

1. They can reduce the ability of children under five to absorb nutrients. Arlene Ersenberg says in her book "What to eat when you are expecting", that many children under five have problems absorbing nutrients after consuming instant noodles.

2. Noodles can negatively effect the development of a fetus. Ersenberg also says in her book that in England, many pregnant women who consume large amounts of instant noodles suffer miscarriages.

3. Styrofoam, which is often used in instant noodles packaging, can cause cancer.

Therefore, it is better for you to avoid frequently consuming instant noodles, and if you want to consume them, you can add in vegetables to balance out the ill effects.

IVA ROHMATULLAILY

Metro, Lampung

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.