"Gained 4kg in 30 minutes"... What was the 'food' that Running Man members couldn't resist and ate?

The Running Man members showed their inability to resist the temptation of ramen while managing their weight.

On the 14th, the SBS variety show 'Running Man' featured a race called 'Indomitable U-YouTuber.' During the broadcast, the members were given a mission to maintain the weight they had weighed at the opening. The production team stated, "You must maintain the initial weight of 488.8kg," and "If you gain 1kg, the next week's recording will be moved up by one hour." The first mission was a ramen abstinence challenge. The members resolved not to eat, but except for Kim Jong-kook, everyone ate ramen. As a result, they gained a whopping 4kg in just 30 minutes and headed to the next location, Sky Park. What effect does the ramen that the Running Man members couldn't resist actually have on our bodies?

◇Ramen, greasy and high in sodium

High-fat noodles like ramen increase the risk of obesity. A research team from Kangwon National University investigated the relationship between noodle consumption and obesity among 137,363 adults. As a result, the more noodles consumed, the more clearly the risk of obesity increased. Flour used to make noodles undergoes a milling process that removes multiple layers of the grain, resulting in a loss of nutrients such as dietary fiber. Dietary fiber slows down the digestion of carbohydrates and reduces their absorption in the body. Therefore, eating a lot of noodles increases the amount of carbohydrates absorbed, raising the risk of obesity. Obesity can lead to various diseases. For example, obesity can increase the likelihood of fatty liver disease. If fatty liver persists over a long period, it can cause cirrhosis, which involves scarring throughout the liver. When the number of healthy liver cells decreases, complications such as jaundice can occur, and the risk of liver cancer also increases. Additionally, it can lead to various adult diseases, respiratory diseases, and joint disorders.

Furthermore, the sodium found abundantly in ramen is a major cause of swelling. Our blood consists of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma, which is the liquid component. Plasma travels through blood vessels, delivering nutrients, hormones, and waste products throughout the body. When we eat ramen high in sodium at night, the plasma transports a large amount of sodium to various cells. At this time, due to osmosis, the cells also absorb water. The water that should circulate through the blood vessels becomes trapped in the cells, leading to a form of edema.

◇ If you must eat it... change the recipe and add vegetables

If you really want to eat ramen, changing the way you cook it can help. First, boil the noodles and remove them, then separately boil the broth and eat it. When boiling ramen, this method prevents the noodles from soaking up the soup and increasing the sodium content. In fact, according to a research team from Semyung University’s Department of Bio-Food Industry, using a rinsing cooking method for ramen reduced the sodium content by up to 27%. It is also recommended to use less soup when eating ramen. The sodium in ramen is mostly contained in the soup.

Eating foods that help eliminate sodium is also beneficial. Consuming cabbage, seaweed, and onions can prevent excessive sodium intake and its side effects. Cabbage is rich in vitamins and minerals, which help compensate for nutrients lacking in ramen. The dietary fiber abundant in seaweed absorbs sodium along with water in the intestines and helps eliminate it. In particular, the alginate component in kelp also plays a role in lowering cholesterol levels along with sodium excretion. The quercetin component in onions also dissolves unnecessary fats and bad cholesterol in the blood.

<Source: Health Chosun>