It’s a staple of undergraduate students’ diets, but new research suggests that too many bowls of ramen noodles could lead to a premature death. The study, which surveyed more than 6,700 people, spanned nearly half a decade.
A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging surveyed 6,725 Japanese participants aged 40 and older. The study split respondents into those who ate ramen less than once per month, one to three times a month, up to two times per week and more than three times per week. Most of the respondents said they ate ramen once a month.
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Frequent ramen consumers
The study found that 7% of respondents said they consumed ramen noodles three or more times per week. Of that contingent, the researchers ran a hazard analysis and found they were commonly male, overweight, smokers and drank alcohol.
The study would check in with the participants annually over the course of nearly half a decade, checking for death certificates in the final year.
Researchers said that 85 men and 60 women who reported eating ramen more than three times a week had died during the monitoring period. The deaths included 100 from cancer and 29 from cardiovascular disease.
While they don’t directly point to ramen intake as a contributing factor to the premature deaths, the study’s authors point to a commonality between the habit and premature death in men under 70.
The silent killer
Ramen, specifically the broth, contains a high concentration of sodium. The increased sodium intake is what the researchers say is the link between more ramen meals and premature death, specifically caused by stroke and gastric cancer.
The American Heart Association recommends limiting salt intake to 2,300 mg per day, with an ideal amount around 1,500 mg for most adults. One package of chicken-flavored Maruchan ramen noodles contains 1,520 mg of sodium.
Billions in sales
Especially popular in Eastern Asia, ramen sales worldwide amount to billions of dollars. An October 2024 analysis valued ramen sales at $58 billion in 2023. Ken Research said the majority of ramen sales are of the instant variety.
