Are Ramen Noodles Good For Your Health?

Ramen noodles are not the first food to reach for when eating for health, although the instant noodles do offer convenience and a long shelf life. Even though the noodles originated in China, Nissin Foods of Japan marketed the product first to Japa, and then brought the noodle to popularity in the United States in the 1970s, according to Rhonda L. Parkinson, author of "The Everything College Cookbook."

Dietary Requirements

Ramen noodles count as a portion of your grain requirement. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines indicates that if you eat a 2,000-calorie diet, you should have 6 oz. of grains, and at least 3 oz. a day from whole grains. Because ramen noodles contain only enriched white flour, they do not count as a whole grain. Whole grains offer you greater nutrients, more fiber and may help you with weight management. An adult between the ages of 31 and 50 needs to consume between 25 to 31 grams of fiber a day. Ramen noodles only have 1 g of fiber in one serving.

Sodium Content

The sodium in ramen noodles is cause for concern, as eating one serving, which is half a package, gives you over 870 mg of sodium. The American Heart Association advises that all Americans consume a maximum of 1,500 mg of salt, or sodium, a day. Sodium in your diet may negatively affect your blood pressure, which increases the possibility you will develop heart disease. If you eat ramen noodles, choose the reduced sodium variety, which contains about 450 mg of sodium per one serving.

Calorie and Nutrient Considerations

The calories in a serving of ramen noodles comprise about 10 percent of a 2,000-calorie diet, while a whole package gives you 20 percent of your total calories. The noodles offer little in the way of important nutrients, as the noodles are devoid of vitamins A and D and contain very little of the B vitamins and vitamin C. Consuming a serving of ramen noodles gives you about 1.7 mg of iron, which is 2 and 9 percent of a women's and men's daily requirement, respectively. Your body needs protein to repair tissue, support immune function and maintain muscle mass. A serving of ramen noodles contains 4.5 g of protein, between 8 and 10 percent of the RDA. Ramen noodles are a fried food and high in fat. A serving provides almost 7 g of fat, about half from saturated fat. In contrast, a serving of whole wheat, nonfried noodles has less than 1 g of fat.

Healthy Options

If you love the taste, texture and flavor of ramen noodles, you can enjoy them occasionally and still eat a healthy diet. Limit your serving size to half a package, and sprinkle 1/8 of the seasoning packet on the cooked noodles to reduce the sodium content. Steam fresh vegetables while the noodles cook, and combine the two for a healthier, noodle dish when both foods finish cooking. Avoid eating only the noodles for dinner, and serve them as a side dish to a well-balanced meal of grilled chicken, green salad and milk or yogurt.