Ramen is a quick and easy meal that so many people love. Those cheap little packets of instant soup cups can be real lifesavers on busy days or when money is tight. They might not be the best option for everyone, though. If you follow a gluten-free diet, you may be wondering if you can pick some up on your next trip to the grocery store or join your friends at the best ramen restaurant in town. Is ramen the same as other gluten-containing noodles?
Ramen noodles are typically not considered gluten-free, as most brands contain wheat. Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup and Nissin Cup Noodles are not gluten-free. The best gluten-free alternatives to ramen include Lotus Foods Buckwheat Shiitake Rice Ramen, Better Than Noodles Konjac Noodles, and Sea Tangle Kelp Noodles, and Lotus Foods Purple Potato and Brown Rice Ramen.
While a gluten-free diet may seem like a trend right now, it is important that only those with diagnosed celiac disease follow a gluten-free diet because many nutritional deficiencies can develop from the lack of wheat, varieties and derivatives of wheat, rye, barely, brewers yeast, wheat starch, and more.
Contents
Is Ramen Healthy?
Ramen is a cheap and quick meal that is often enjoyed by college kids two or more times a week. Eating ramen that frequently, though, can be doing some real damage to your body.
Ramen is particularly unhealthy due to a food additive called Tertiary-butyl hydroquinone, or TBHQ. TBHQ is a preservative that is a petroleum industry byproduct. In other words, it is not something you would want in the food you eat.
In addition to that, ramen is extremely high in sodium, calories, and saturated fat. Consuming foods that are high in sodium, calories, and saturated fat on a regular basis can significantly increase your risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and other health problems.
Not only are the noodles themselves bad for you, but the packaging they come in can also be harmful to your health. That’s right, the packaging can be just as unhealthy for you as the actual noodles. I am sure most of you have heard of the cancer-causing chemical called bisphenol-A, or BPA. BPA is widely used in the Styrofoam cups that ramen often comes in.
Popular Brands Of Ramen
After learning how harmful ramen can be, you probably won’t be making it any time soon. However, busy days where you just don’t have time for anything else happen. Or maybe you just need a cheap meal while you wait for your next paycheck to hit. For days like that, these are some of the most popular brands of ramen.
Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup
This brand is known as America’s finest ramen noodle soups. It comes in a variety of flavors like chicken, beef and chili. It cooks in just three minutes and only costs about 28 cents per pack.
This brand is not gluten-free.
Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup (Chicken Flavor)
These are the ingredients found in Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup (Chicken Flavor):
- Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
- Palm oil
- Salt
- Contains less than 2% of autolyzed yeast extract, citric acid, disodium guanylate, disodium inosinate, disodium succinate, dried leek flake, egg white, garlic powder, hydrolyzed corn protein, hydrolyzed soy protein, lactose, maltodextrin, natural and artificial flavor, onion powder, potassium carbonate, potassium chloride, powdered chicken, rendered chicken fat, silicon dioxide, sodium alginate, sodium carbonate, sodium tripolyphosphate, soybean, spice and color, succinic acid, sugar, tbhq (preservative), wheat
Here is some important nutritional information to note for this brand (per 1 package serving):
- Calories: 380
- Total fat: 14g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 1600mg
- Total carbs: 53g
- Total sugars: 0g
- Protein: 9g
Nissin Cup Noodles
This brand is everyone’s favorite quick, easy, and portable meal. It has less sodium than most other ramen brands and has no added MSG. A single cup of this will take you from hungry to happy in just 3 minutes.
This brand is not gluten-free.
Nissin Cup Noodles (chicken flavor)
These are the ingredients found in Nissin Cup Noodles (chicken flavor):
- Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
- Palm oil
- Salt
- Dried carrot flake
- Contains 2% or less of dried corn, dried green pea, monosodium glutamate, powdered chicken, glucose, onion powder, dry soy sauce (wheat, soybean, salt), hydrolyzed corn and soy protein, maltodextrin, spice and color, garlic powder, calcium silicate, sugar, potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium tripolyphosphate, citric acid, rendered chicken fat, autolyzed yeast extract, disodium guanylate, disodium inosinate, natural and artificial flavor, tbhq (preservative), sodium alginate, autolyzed torula yeast extract
Here is some important nutritional information to note for this brand (per 1 package serving):
- Calories: 290
- Total fat: 11g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 1160mg
- Total carbs: 41g
- Total sugars: 0g
- Protein: 6g
Healthier Alternatives
Although cheap and convenient, ramen is not healthy or gluten-free. However, we know that we are bound to have days where we are too busy or do not have the money for anything else. For days like that, let’s try one of these healthier alternatives instead – they’re even gluten-free!
Lotus Foods Organic Millet & Brown Rice Ramen
These traditional Japanese-style noodles are made from specialty rice instead of wheat. Millet and brown rice are some of the most nutritious and easily digestible grains. They feature a deliciously nutty taste and are a great source of fiber and protein. These noodles are ready to eat in just 4 minutes. You can enjoy them on their own, add them to miso soup, or add them to your next stir-fry dish.
In addition to being gluten-free, this brand is also vegan.
These are the ingredients found in Lotus Foods Organic Millet & Brown Rice Ramen:
- Organic brown rice flour
- Organic millet
- Organic white rice flour
Here is some important nutritional information to note for this brand (per 1/2 piece serving):
- Calories: 130
- Total fat: 1.5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 0mg
- Total carbs: 24g
- Protein: 4g
Lotus Foods Buckwheat Shiitake Rice Ramen
These traditional Japanese-style noodles are made from organic buckwheat, mushrooms and brown rice instead of wheat. They feature an earthy aroma, nutty taste and are a great source of antioxidants. Just add a savory vegetable broth for a quick bowl of satisfying and nourishing ramen noodle soup.
This brand is gluten-free, vegan, and certified kosher.
These are the ingredients found in Lotus Foods Buckwheat Shiitake Rice Ramen:
- Ramen: brown rice flour, buckwheat flour, shiitake powder
- Soup Pack: tamari powder (soybeans, sea salt), mushroom powder, dried vegetables (red bell pepper, green bell pepper, carrot, scallion), sugar, salt, garlic powder, yeast extract, ginger powder
Here is some important nutritional information to note for this brand (per 1/2 ramen with seasoning serving):
- Calories: 150
- Total fat: 1.5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 370mg
- Total carbs: 31g
- Total sugars: 1g
- Protein: 4g
Better Than Noodles Konjac Noodles
Konjac is a common name of the East and Southeast Asian plant Amorphophallus konjac, which has an edible corm.
These noodles are certified organic, kosher, gluten-free and vegan. They are even suitable for the paleo diet. With only four ingredients, they are a great plant-based alternative to traditional ramen noodles.
These are the ingredients found in Better Than Noodles Konjac Noodles:
- Purified water
- Organic konjac
- Organic oat fiber
Here is some important nutritional information to note for this brand (per 3/4 cup serving):
- Calories: 15
- Total fat: 0g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Total carbs: 4g
- Protein: 0g
Sea Tangle Kelp Noodles
These noodles are made with mineral-rich kelp. It is ready to eat and goes great in salads. It is also free of all allergens, so these noodles are are great option for everyone.
These are the ingredients found in Sea Tangle Kelp Noodles:
- Water
- Kelp
- Sodium alginate
Here is some important nutritional information to note for this brand (per 1/2 cup serving):
- Calories: 6
- Total fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 35mg
- Total carbs: 3g
- Total sugars: 0g
- Protein: 0g
Lotus Foods Purple Potato & Brown Rice Ramen
These traditional Japanese-style noodles are made from organic brown rice and purple potatoes. They are ready to eat in just 4 minutes, and they are suitable for gluten-free and vegan diets.
These are the ingredients found in Lotus Foods Purple Potato & Brown Rice Ramen:
- Ramen: brown rice flour, white rice flour, purple sweet potato powder
- Soup Pack: dried vegetables (tomato, green bell pepper, carrot, scallion), salt, tamari powder (soybeans, rice, salt), turmeric powder, onion powder, sugar, yeast extract, spices, garlic powder, ginger powder
Here is some important nutritional information to note for this brand (per 1 container serving):
- Calories: 300
- Total fat: 2.5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 640mg
- Total carbs: 64g
- Total sugars: 2g
- Protein: 6g
Final Thoughts
Although cheap and convenient, ramen noodles are neither healthy or gluten-free. However, there are healthy and gluten-free alternatives available on the market that are just as convenient as traditional ramen. Those alternatives include Lotus Foods Organic Millet & Brown Rice Ramen, Lotus Foods Buckwheat Shiitake Rice Ramen, Better Than Noodles Konjac Noodles, Sea Tangle Kelp Noodles, and Lotus Foods Purple Potato & Brown Rice Ramen.
Related Questions
Is Ramen Vegan?
Most ramen is not vegan due to the chicken or beef flavoring they often come in. However, there are vegan ramen options available on the market. In fact, all of the healthy alternatives mentioned in this article are vegan.
Is Ramen Keto?
Ramen should be avoided on the keto diet due to the amount of calories and other unhealthy ingredients.
Is Ramen Dairy-Free?
The noodles themselves are. However, the seasoning packets often contain lactose, which is why the label says the ramen contains milk.