K-pop group aespa member Karina has made no secret of her deep love for instant ramen—so much so that she even keeps a Han River-style instant ramen cooking machine right inside her home.
Karina recently appeared as a guest on the JTBC variety show Please Take Care of My Refrigerator, alongside fellow group member Winter. On that day's broadcast, Karina and Winter brought out two separate refrigerators. Winter explained the unusual setup, saying, “We don’t live apart. We used to have our own individual dorms, but we recently combined them into one shared space. We each brought our own refrigerator from our old dorms, which is why we have two here.”
Karina then revealed that the automated Han River ramen machine belonged exclusively to her. “A friend sent it to me as a birthday present. I love ramen so much,” Karina shared.
Despite its undeniable popularity as a comfort food, instant ramen remains one of the primary items individuals attempting to lose weight typically avoid. Here is a closer look at why caution is highly recommended.
The Science of Ramen: Why It Hinders Effective Weight Loss
Ramen is not a poor choice for dieting simply because of its calorie count. The real issue lies in its specific nutritional combination: noodles made from highly refined white flour that are deep-fried, paired with an exceptionally salty seasoning packet. According to a domestic study, a single packet of instant ramen commonly consumed in South Korea contains approximately 505 kcal and delivers roughly 24% of the daily recommended value for carbohydrates, 31% for fat, 53% for saturated fat, and a staggering 90% for sodium.
For a single standalone meal, it is heavily skewed toward high fat and high sodium. Furthermore, refined white-flour noodles are digested rapidly by the body, causing blood sugar levels to spike sharply. Because the dish inherently lacks fresh vegetables, quality protein, and dietary fiber, the feeling of fullness fades quickly. Compounding the issue, if you mix rice into the leftover broth or pair the meal with traditional sides like kimchi, pickled radish, dumplings, or melted cheese, the overall sodium and calorie count can easily skyrocket.
If frequent ramen consumption becomes a long-term habit, it can lead to harmful physical outcomes beyond simple weight management, including abdominal obesity and difficulties regulating blood pressure and blood sugar. In fact, a study centered on South Korean adults established a clear association between high noodle consumption and an increased risk of metabolic syndrome.
Satisfying the Craving Safely: Smart Strategies for Healthier Ramen
You do not need to banish ramen entirely from your life just because you are on a diet. Instead, you can significantly mitigate its impact by transforming how you prepare it.
First, avoid using the entire seasoning packet; using only half to two-thirds is the easiest way to slash your sodium intake. Second, resist the urge to drink all the broth, as the vast majority of ramen’s sodium resides in the liquid rather than the noodles themselves. Third, reduce the portion of noodles and supplement the dish with high-quality proteins such as eggs, tofu, chicken breast, or fresh seafood, which help you stay full for longer periods.
Fourth, add a generous amount of vegetables like cabbage, bean sprouts, mushrooms, green onions, and bok choy to compensate for the lack of dietary fiber and add healthy volume to the bowl. Fifth, break the habit of mixing rice into the remaining broth, as adding rice on top of noodles introduces an excessive load of refined carbohydrates into a single sitting.
Finally, whenever possible, it is best to consume ramen during the day or in the early evening rather than late at night, and to ensure that your subsequent meals remain light and low in sodium.
