Noodles are OK if eaten in moderationn

However, eating more than one serving each day can result in excessive sodium levels, he said. Sanga Damapong said people should not worry about eating instant noodles.

On the other hand, they should complement them by adding meat and vegetables. Eating only instant noodles for a prolonged period can lead to health and nutrition problems.

"There are many dishes which are readily available - rice and curry, noodles and fried rice. They might be a little more expensive but we should eat them for good health," he said.

The main content of instant noodles is flour. Oil and fat are included in the seasoning packets that accompany them. About six per cent of each serving is seasoning and that contains salt and monosodium glutamate, he said. Excessive sodium can affect kidney function and lead to high blood pressure, he said.

To be safe, he suggested adding half the seasoning pro¬vided. Do not eat uncooked noodles.

He said recent research by Krung Thai Bank showed this country consumes more than two billion servings of instant noodles a year. That is spending of around Bt20 billion.

The Nation