INSTANT NOODLES LEAD TO HEART DISEASE , STROKE
Instant noodle eaters,
take heed. Recent Baylor research shows that significant consumption of the
convenient food product -- ramen included -- may increase a person's risk for
cardiometabolic syndrome, especially in women. The findings, recently published
in The
Journal of Nutrition, could shed new
light on the risks of a worldwide dietary habit.
Because ramen consumption
is relatively high among Asian populations, the research focused primarily on
South Korea, which has the highest per-capita number of instant noodle
consumers in the world. In recent years, South Koreans have experienced a rapid
increase in health problems, specifically heart disease, and a growing number
of overweight adults. Such changes could lead to increased mortality due to
cardiovascular disease, as well as increased health care costs.
Baylor's primary
investigator on the study, Hyun Joon Shin, MD, is a clinical cardiology fellow
at Baylor University Medical Center and a nutrition epidemiology doctoral
student at Harvard School of Public Health.
"While instant
noodle intake is greater in Asian communities, the association between instant
noodle consumption and metabolic syndrome has not been widely studied,"
Dr. Shin said. "I decided to investigate in order to uncover more distinct
connections."
Dr. Shin, who led
the study on behalf of the Baylor Heart and Vascular Hospital (BHVH), found that
eating instant noodles two or more times a week was associated with
cardiometabolic syndrome, which raises a person's likelihood of developing
heart disease and other conditions, such as diabetes and stroke.
Dr. Shin also found
that those results were more prevalent in women. He said that can likely be
attributed to biological differences (such as sex hormones and metabolism)
between the sexes, as well as obesity and metabolic syndrome components. In
addition, men and women's varied eating habits and differences in the accuracy
of food reporting may play a role in the gender gap.
Another potential
factor in the gender difference is a chemical called bisphenol A (BPA), which
is used for packaging the noodles in Styrofoam containers. Studies have shown
that BPA interferes with the way hormones send messages through the body,
specifically estrogen.
Regardless of the
gender-related findings or their causes, Dr. Shin said, the study represents
the importance of understanding the foods we feed our bodies.
"This research
is significant since many people are consuming instant noodles without knowing
possible health risks," Dr. Shin said. "My hope is that this study
can lay a foundation for future research about the health effects of instant
noodle consumption."
Dr. Shin added that
the study's health implications could be substantial -- particularly if it
leads to people choosing healthier foods.
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