low sodium ramen
We recently received this email asking for ramen help.
Meredith wrote:
I hope you can help! My friend has a 16-year-old son who has been diagnosed
with heart failure, he is waiting for a transplant and they expect it will go well. Part of his treatment is that he has to be on a low-sodium diet for the rest of his life. This kid LOVES ramen, he was eating 4 or 5 cups a day at first because the hospital doctors said his sodium was very low. Now it’s normal, and he has to cut back almost entirely. They were willing to give him 1 a week but he’s trying to bargain for more often! I figured I’d help by researching low-sodium ramen. Surely such a thing exists, and I figured you guys would know about it! Is it out there anywhere in the world? I can use Craigslist to recruit somebody to send it to me, wherever it could be found!
Well, Meredith, our hearts go out to your friend and her son! To start with, I was about to post a link to this article, so you’re timing is perfect. The article has tips on how to reduce the sodium in instant ramen. The tip about not using the entire seasoning packet is a quick and easy way to reduce the amount of salt in instant ramen. I’m not sure that “washing” the brick ramen will help much, but “washing” Cup Noodles should help immensely, since the seasoning is already mixed in with the noodles.
I’ve also looked through my pantry, and did some research, and you’re in luck. Nissin has a new Choice Ramen that’s low in fat and sodium. I bought a few packs recently that I haven’t gotten around to review yet, but according to the info on the back, one brick is 2 servings, and each serving has 400mg of sodium (that’s for the beef flavor. The chicken flavor has 480mg). That might still be high for your young friend, but if you cut back on the seasoning packet, that’ll reduce the salt content even more. I bought mine at a local Albertson’s so I imagine they should be pretty easy to find. For something more exotic, it looks likeKorean ramen makers are also getting into the low sodium act.
So now I want to open this up to all our readers. Can anyone else help Meredith out? Are there other low-sodium instant ramen out there? Please post a comment below and help out a worthy ramen fan!
(Also, for anyone who’s concerned about wax in instant ramen (gee, like sodium isn’t bad enough)…don’t worry. It’s a false alarm!)
I have high blood pressure, so the Salt in the seasoning packet in Ramen noodles, I don’t even use with my noodles. (sorry) I make them in the microwave in a bowl with water, add frozen peas and zap it. Then I add either Fat Free butter, yes, they have it, or butter made with Olive oil. You can add garlic, Parmesan cheese, etc. Any low sodium cream soup. Scrambled eggs and LOW Sodium Soy Sauce. There are lots of things to flavor Ramen noodles, without using the seasoning packet. I use that when I make a crock pot of beans though!!!
1Thanks Sandy! Unfortunately this kid doesn’t like ramen without the seasoning packet. I think they’re compromising on giving him half the packet, and I was also able to locate some Nong Shim Chapaghetti at my local Korean market. It’s not exactly LOW sodium…but it’s LESS sodium than his usual Nissin.
2Maruchan now makes a low-sodium version of Chicken and Beef. They are both in a light-blue package and are marked 35% less sodium. I haven’t tried the beef since I prefer the chicken, but the chicken is 440mg vs 780mg per serving. Could be wrong but that’s more than 35%, more like 43% less. I originally saw it at several Walmarts, but lately only at one. Not sure if they’re selectively stocking it or it’s doing so well they are running out.
3Thanks for the tip, Mark. I’ll keep an eye out for the Maruchan one.
4If the kid likes those seasoning packets, maybe try http://hormelfoods.elsstore.com/view/category/517-herb-ox/; it’s sodium-free broth & seasoning. I haven’t try these yet as I just found them by googling. I might try to see if they’re at a local (health?) supermarket first. For just the seasoning part, there is also http://mrsdash.com/products/seasoning-blends.aspx. Maybe now I can eat ramen again!
5Raymond, thanks for the great advice! I’m familiar with the Mrs. Dash seasoning but I’ve never seen the sodium-free broth mixes before. Looks interesting.
6I just don’t like salt so I stay away from it whereever I can. I have been using the Herb Ox Sodium Free / No MSG for quite some time and am very happy with it. If a dish needs a bit more salt, I get to control the quantity. It’s made by Hormel and comes in jars or a box with 8 packets. I can get it at my local Giant supermarket!
Hormel’s phone number from the back of the packets: 1-800-523-4635
Good luck!
7Hi,
..so ur friend’s son may not miss the salt with the cup version. If you dont find the cup version just buy extra low salt bullion (wyler’s) for more flavor. I’m still looking for the cups.. My next stop is to look online into those sites that sell every kind of ramen imaginable.. I used to find the cups at walmart and the local marc’s but I dont see them anymore…. btw the choice ramen is good too.. I dont miss the salt at all.. pls help..
8I saw this blog while I was looking for low salt ramen myself so I thought i would help you. I also grew up on a low salt diet for most of my life sand ai should get back to it. I also have heart probs as well. They are usually found at walmart in bricks.. I usually find them on the bottom shelf there but there are cup versions as well (both are maruchan). I did try both flavors and I prefer the cup versions.. it tastes more like the original while the bricks taste bland. The chicken tastes more like celery water
@Marji & Jessica: Thanks for the helpful info! If anyone’s seen the low-sodium Maruchan cup ramen, please leave a reply here and let us know!
9I’m pretty sure that all the seasoning is for the Top Ramen is chicken bullion. Why not purchase Wyler’s Sodium Free Chicken Instant Bullion and substitute it?
10I was looking for very low sodium. Came accross this website.. http://www.redchopsticksbrand.com/products.php I’m trying to figure out if there is anyone who sells this in the US so i can buy
11@Cally: that sure looks…interesting! I’ve never seen it in any U.S. markets or Asian markets in the U.S. but I’ll be on the lookout now!
12I’m a college student and I survive off of maruchan ramen, but I’m always looking for lower sodium options ever since my older brother, a 20 year old healthy athlete, had a heart attack two years ago (he’s fine now, but it was pretty scary and a real wake up call for me! It CAN happen to anyone, and it never hurts to make healthier lifestyle choices).
What I do: I Sprinkle in about 1/2 tsp of the original seasoning, and add 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon of chili powder, and 1 and a half teaspoons of curry powder. This only really works if you like curry, though. Also, the chili powder can be left out, I just like mine with a tiny kick.
13@Emmy: sorry to hear about your brother. Wow…heart attack at 20!? Thanks for the tip!
14Hi,I have searched everywhere for the low sodium.Walmart,Stop & Shop Big Y every store that is around me.They have al stopped selling the low sodium.They say because the demand is low.I loved it.Sad!!
15@sandra Roy: Ah! No wonder I couldn’t find them in Walmart any more, even though I know I’ve seen low sodium ramen there before.
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