Why Craft Instant Ramen Makes the Best Hangover Food
Back when we were in college, hangovers were no big deal. You got up, ate some breakfast, and walked it off. But if you’re anything like most people, hangovers hit harder later on in life. Instead of feeling bright-eyed and bushy-tailed by noon, you can end up feeling the effects all day. Anything you can do to mitigate the effects is good news.
One of the best solutions is actually one that most of us used in college: a fresh bowl of ridiculously good ramen noodles. But we’re not talking about any old noodle pack you buy off the shelf. If you want a grown-up hangover cure, you’ll want to start with a pack of quality craft noodles.
So, why is instant ramen such a great hangover remedy? And why are organic craft noodles the best option? We’re about to explain everything you need to know about this powerful life hack.
It’s Salty…But Not Too Salty
When a lot of people think about hangover food, they think about greasy foods. This is only half right. Greasy foods do help with hangovers…if you eat them the night before. The grease takes up a lot of your digestive system’s absorption capacity, which slows the absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream. If you find that you hold your liquor better after eating a greasy cheeseburger, that’s why.
But by the morning after, that ship has sailed. The alcohol has already been processed by your body, and there’s no way to “un-absorb” it. In fact, greasy foods can actually make your hangover worse if you have a sensitive stomach. Instead, the best foods for a morning hangover are going to be salty foods.
To understand why, it’s important to understand what happens when you drink. There are a few different causes of hangovers, but the most important one is dehydration. When alcohol hits your brain, one of the many things it does is to block the production of a hormone called vasopressin.
Vasopressin is responsible for regulating your need to urinate. When it’s blocked, your kidneys produce more urine than necessary, so you pee a lot. After a night of drinking and excessive peeing, you wake up dehydrated. But dehydration means you’re short on more than just water; your body is also drained of salt and other essential electrolytes.
As it turns out, a big bowl of broth is an ideal source of both salt and water. Meanwhile, the noodles are easy to digest and won’t irritate a sensitive stomach.
That said, a bowl of commercial ramen can contain 35% or more of your recommended daily sodium intake. That’s a ton of salt, and probably more than you actually need. Mike’s Mighty Good craft ramen, on the other hand, contains 40% less sodium than the leading brands. Instead, we use a blend of herbs and spices for a richer flavor profile, all while still giving you enough sodium to treat a hangover.
It's Easy to Prepare
When you’re hung over, you already feel like garbage. The last thing you want to do is spend the next half hour preparing a complicated meal. Sure, something like chicken and waffles sounds awesome. But do you really want to go through all that when your head is pounding?
If you’re just making the noodles and broth without any extras, you can prepare a bowl of ramen in as little as five minutes. Even if you want to throw in a bunch of other ingredients, most recipes take 15 minutes or less. No matter how you cut it, you’re looking at an easy-to-prepare meal that isn’t too taxing for someone battling a hangover.
You’re getting a warming comfort food that soothes away the headache and clears the mental fog, for a fraction of the effort – or cost – of other options.
Other Ingredients Also Help
On their own, a bowl of craft noodles make a fine hangover remedy. But if you really want to kick things into high gear, you’ll want to throw in some more ingredients.
Eggs are a great go-to for a few reasons. To begin with, they add protein, and help you avoid the dreaded “carb crash” that can be even worse during a hangover. Eggs also contain an amino acid called L-Cysteine, which some say help break down acetaldehyde, one of alcohol’s hangover-causing byproducts. Besides which, a hard boiled or scrambled egg can be prepared in just a couple minutes, while you’re making your noodles. Here's how we like to make our ramen eggs.
Leafy greens also make an excellent addition. They’re nutrient-dense, and they’re full of amino acids that can help your body recover. Moreover, they’re even easier than eggs; it doesn’t get much simpler than tossing a handful of greens into your bowl.
If your stomach is up to it, you can add pork, chicken, beef, or even sausage to your recipe. This makes it more filling, and gives your body a little more energy. You also get several B-vitamins that are helpful for hangover recovery.
Craft Noodles Are Better Than Typical Fried Ramen Brands
So far, we’ve mostly focused on instant ramen in general. But craft noodles like Mike’s Mighty Good are a cut above your average off-the-shelf ramen.
This starts during the production process, when the noodles are still just a bunch of dough. The ingredients really make a difference. A lot of brands make heavy use of preservatives, colorings, and all kinds of bizarre ingredients. Mike’s Mighty Good noodles are made from simple ingredients like flour, water, and salt. It’s just like you’d made your own noodles from scratch.
The other main difference is in how the noodles are cooked. In a traditional ramen bar, the raw noodles are steamed. This takes a few minutes, but it provides a more textured flavor, and it gives the noodles a chewy bounce when you bite on them.
Unfortunately, most ramen companies flash-fry their noodles in oil. This is great for their bottom line, because the flash-frying process takes only seconds. Manufacturers can produce more noodles in less time, so they can keep prices low and profit margins high.
But flash-frying adds a ton of grease to your bowl. This isn’t just bad news for a sensitive stomach during a bad hangover. When the noodles are cooked, they leech that grease out into the broth, and it gets blended with all your other ingredients. This fundamentally changes the flavor.
Mike’s Mighty Good noodles are made in the right way, by steaming them. This takes a little longer and costs a little bit more, but we believe it’s worth it. With our steamed organic instant noodles, you’re getting the full flavor of the ramen broth, subtlety of the spices, and a hangover food that you can actually feel good about eating.
Ramen Recipe Examples
Want the perfect ramen the next time you’re hung over? Here are a couple of quick recipes to get you started.
Hangover Ramen – need we say more? This is so good for breakfast or for anytime and is made with eggs and bacon.
Comforting Chicken Ramen Noodle Bowl – Other than ramen, chicken noodle soup is one of the most popular hangover foods. Why not combine the two? This recipe also includes, egg, green onion, and Chinese cabbage. So you’re getting your egg and leafy greens along with the chicken and noodles.
Breakfast Ramen Bowl – If you crave a heavy breakfast during a hangover, this is the right recipe for you. Our recipe calls for pork ramen, along with bacon, eggs, green onions, and some cherry tomatoes. Or you can get creative and mix in some of your own favorite breakfast foods, such as pork sausages.
The Last Word
With plenty of salt and a broth that’s easy on your stomach, instant ramen is a great remedy for any hangover. Add some protein and veggies, and you’ve got yourself a full meal with plenty of nutrients to aid your body’s recovery.
But why limit yourself to ordinary instant noodles? With Mike’s Mighty Good, you’re getting a superior noodle, along with a more flavorful spice packet. It forms the perfect base for any ramen bowl, whether you’re craving a hangover cure or just a delicious meal.
