Ramen noodles linked to more risk of metabolic syndrome

The instant noodles commonly known as ramen may increase people's risk of metabolic changes that are linked to heart disease and stroke, new research finds.

In the study, women in South Korea who ate the precooked blocks of dried noodles twice a week or more had a higher risk of metabolic syndrome than those who ate ramen less, or not at all. The researchers found the association even among young women who were leaner and reported doing more physical activity.

People with metabolic syndrome often have high blood pressure or high blood sugar levels, and they face an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Although ramen "is convenient and delicious, there could be an increased risk for metabolic syndrome given [the food's] high sodium, unhealthy saturated fat, and glycemic loads," said Hyun Shin of the Harvard School of Public Health. He was a coauthor of the study, published in the Journal of Nutrition.

- Washington Post