Karina's Noodle Love and the Diet Dilemma

The fact that aespa's Karina loves ramyeon so much that she has a 'Han River ramen machine' at home perfectly illustrates this. In a recent episode of JTBC's variety show 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator since 2014', Karina and Winter brought laughter to viewers by bringing their own refrigerators. Karina proudly showed off the Han River ramen machine she received from a friend, stating, "I love ramyeon so much."

Ramyeon: The Enemy of Dieting? Why?

However, ramyeon is known as one of the foods to avoid for those on a diet. The reason isn't just its high calorie count. Most instant ramyeon noodles are made with white flour, are deep-fried, and come with a salty soup packet. According to domestic research, a typical pack of instant ramyeon consumed in Korea boasts about 505kcal, fulfilling 24% of daily carbohydrates, 31% of fat, 53% of saturated fat, and 90% of sodium. This high proportion of fat and sodium is quite excessive for a single meal.

Specifically, noodles made from white flour are digested quickly, causing a rapid spike in blood sugar. They also lack vegetables, protein, and fiber, leading to a lack of sustained fullness. Furthermore, adding rice, kimchi, pickled radish, dumplings, or cheese can easily increase sodium and calorie intake. Frequent consumption of ramyeon can negatively impact not only weight management but also abdominal obesity, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels.

How to Enjoy Ramyeon Healthily

So, what should you do when you crave ramyeon? You don't have to give it up forever just because you're dieting. Instead, try modifying how you eat it. Refer to the tips below!

• Control the Soup Amount: Don't use the entire soup packet; use half or two-thirds to reduce sodium intake.
• Don't Drink All the Broth: Most of the sodium in ramyeon remains in the broth rather than the noodles, so it's best to leave some behind.
• Add Protein: Reduce the noodle portion and add protein sources like eggs, tofu, chicken breast, or seafood to increase satiety.
• Load Up on Vegetables: Add plenty of vegetables like cabbage, bean sprouts, mushrooms, green onions, and bok choy to compensate for the lack of fiber.
• Avoid Adding Rice: Adding rice to your noodles means consuming a large amount of refined carbohydrates in one meal, so avoid this.

Enjoy Ramyeon While Staying Healthy!

Additionally, if possible, try to eat ramyeon during the day or early evening rather than late at night. Then, make your next meal light and less salty. By following these simple guidelines, you can enjoy ramyeon while still taking care of your health. Just like Karina, love ramyeon but don't let your health slip away!