Your cherished instant Ramen is slowly killing you

Bowl of instant Ramen
Andy Kryza (edited)
Andy Kryza (edited)

You might swear to everyone you gave up instant noodles after college, but admit it: you're still occasionally tempted by an alluring package of beefy Top Ramen. Well it looks like you really do need to give that stuff up, as a new study out of South Korea reveals that instant ramen can increase your risk of heart disease.

Researchers surveyed over 10,000 adults about their diets, and eventually divided the group into two camps: those who followed a "traditional" diet of fish, rice, and veggies, and those who chose a "meat and fast-food" lifestyle full of dead animals and processed food (i.e. insta-ramen). As a whole, neither diet put the person at risk for metabolic syndrome -- a potpourri of conditions including high blood pressure and cholesterol, which can make you more susceptible to heart disease and diabetes. But when they looked at women who ate instant noodles at least twice a week, they were 68% more likely to have metabolic syndrome. Yikes.

The scientists didn't see the same results in men, though the senior author noted this could be because older ladies are more sensitive to the effects of carbs, sodium, and saturated fat. But still, looks like instant ramen is apparently bad news bears. Next time you get a craving, try one of these legit shops instead.

Kristin Hunt is a food/drink staff writer for Thrillist, and does not want to know what scientists would classify her diet as. Follow her at @kristin_hunt.