South Koreans eat more instant ramen noodles per capita than anywhere else in the world. But America

Описание: (21 Aug 2014) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 2018897

THE SPICY, SALTY NOODLES AND BROTH KNOWN AS RAMEN IS THE EPITOME OF CONVENIENCE - NO WHERE IS IT MORE POPULAR THAN IN SOUTH KOREA.
IT COSTS LESS THAN A DOLLAR A PACK AND involves only THREE STEPS - BOIL THE WATER, POUR IN THE CONTENTS, AND EAT.
SOUNDBITE (Korean) Han Seung-youn, diner:
"I think the merits of ramen compared to other foods are the fact that I can eat it comfortably, anywhere, and it guarantees above-average taste wherever I go."
BUT THE SAVORY NOODLES MAY NOT BE GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH.
ACCORDING TO A RECENT STUDY BY BAYLOR HEART AND VASCULAR HOSPITAL IN TEXAS EXCESSIVE CONSUMPTION OF RAMEN IS LINKED TO INCREASED RISK OF DIABETES, HEART DISEASE AND STROKE.
SOMETHING SOUTH KOREAN DOCTORS WORRY ABOUT TOO.
SOUNDBITE (Korean) Park Deok-woo, cardiologist at Asan Medical Center:
"Ramen has a large amount of sodium and is high in salt itself. Since ramen is high-calorie of carbohydrate, its carbohydrate, high-calorie and large amount of salt itself can have a direct influence on blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and metabolic syndrome."
IN CHINA, HEALTH CONCERNS AND CHANGING TASTES ARE TURNING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE INSTANT NOODLES.
SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Feng Xiaowei, migrant worker:
"It's just easy and convenient. I eat it only in time of urgency because it's not good to eat.
BUT IN SOUTH KOREA..RAMEN IS INGRAINED IN THE CULTURE - INTRODUCED IN THE EARLY 1960s AS THE COUNTRY BEGAN TO CLAW ITS WAY OUT OF POVERTY AND THE DESTRUCTION OF THE KOREAN WAR.
SOUNDBITE (Korean) Jeong Ki-hoom, customer:
"Rather than getting mental stress, I think it is a better way to sometimes eat ramen to appease my appetite. If I pay too much attention to the negative aspects of ramen, then I get stressed."
MORE INSTANT NOODLE PACKETS PER CAPITA ARE CONSUMED here THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD - PROVING THE COUNTRY'S LONG TIES TO THE NOODLES MAY BE HARD TO BREAK.
MATTHEW BURGOYNE, ASSOCIATED PRESS

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