Recently, a 24-year-old social media influencer named Lucy Mourad was hospitalized with kidney stones after reportedly eating Buldak noodles - a popular South Korean instant ramen noodles brand - weekly for several months. Mourad told Daily Mail in a recent interview that she had been "eating more and more" of the ramen "over the past few months" when she began experiencing symptoms like back pain and pain in her belly. She also noticed changes in her urine. In a bid to spread awareness, Mourad shared her experience on social media, cautioning people to be more careful about consuming sodium-rich snacks such as instant noodles.
"Buldak ramen... It's a huge contributing factor," she told Daily Mail. The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) recommends people eat no more than 2,300 milligrams of salt per day - or about one teaspoon. According to The Sun, the spice packet of Buldak ramen contains about 1,280 milligrams of salt per serving - about half a person's daily recommended dose.
Mourad's experience went viral on social media, with several others sharing their health problems when eating too much ramen. Dr Anthony Youn, MD, FACS, also posted a video on his Instagram handle, explaining "How ramen noodles can lead to kidney stones! And what to do to avoid them!"
How Eating Ramen Noodles Can Increase Risk Of Kidney Stones
Explaining the same, Dr Vikram Kalra - Consultant Nephrologist at CK Birla Hospital(R), Delhi, says, "Ramen noodles, often high in sodium and low in nutritional value, can contribute to the development of kidney stones. Ramen noodles' high sodium content has the potential to raise urine calcium levels, which when combined with other waste products, can result in kidney stones. Also, ramen noodles are deficient in vital minerals like citrate and magnesium, which support healthy kidney function overall and reduce the risk of kidney stones. While enjoying ramen noodles, think about reducing your salt intake by using low-sodium varieties or just a little amount of the spice packet, and adding fresh or steamed vegetables to boost flavour. This will help prevent kidney stones."
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4 Tips To Prevent Kidney Stones
The following tips are shared by Dr Vikram Kalra to prevent kidney stones:
1. Drink Enough Water:
Drinking enough water to stay hydrated helps dilute urine, which lowers the chance of stones forming.
2. Eat Citrus Fruits, Almonds, And Leafy Greens:
Kidney health is supported by eating a balanced diet that includes foods high in citrate and magnesium, such as citrus fruits, almonds, and leafy greens.
3. Limit Consumption Of Certain Foods:
Reducing the risk can also be accomplished by limiting foods high in oxalate, such as spinach, and consuming less animal protein in balance with foods high in calcium.
4. Consult Health Experts:
By making dietary changes, consulting with a nutritionist or nephrologist can help reduce the incidence of kidney stones and offer individualized guidance.
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Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.