Grab a Cup of Sodium

By Jasmine Williams   

With college students on a tight budget, opting for ramen noodles as a quick and cheap meal could come at the expense of their health.

Consumption of the famous three-minute snacks can lead to metabolic syndrome, which is a cluster of factors such as abdominal obesity, raised blood pressure and insulin resistance, according to the American Heart Association.

The nutrition facts for one package of shrimp ramen list that in a half block of noodles, saturated fat accounts for 18 percent, sodium for 33 percent and carbohydrates for 26 percent. These ingredients contributing to a majority of its nutritional value is not good news for a person’s health.

The reality of long-term health effects may not be a priority for college students. Being budget friendly, however, seems to outweigh ramen’s lack of nutritional importance.