Young Koreans upgrade instant noodles

Health-conscious Koreans in their 20s and 30s are adding soybean sprouts to instant noodles as they drink less and focus more on fitness. The trend is spreading on social media and is also driven by budget-conscious consumers. Soybean sprouts add protein, vitamin C, minerals and amino acids, while their fiber and potassium can help with blood sugar, cholesterol, and sodium intake. The sprouts are also described as a hangover remedy.

According to Korea’s National Health Statistics, people in their 20s consumed an average of 64.8 grams of alcohol on days when they drank in 2024.

A record 56 percent of adults aged 19 to 29 now consume alcohol once a month or less.

Soybean sprouts provide protein, vitamin C, minerals and amino acids without requiring separate cooking.

The fiber in soybean sprouts helps reduce blood sugar spikes and may aid in managing high cholesterol.

Potassium in soybean sprouts helps the body flush out sodium from the seasoning packet, which can help manage blood pressure.

Published Sep 18, 2026 4:27 pm KST

Soybean sprouts become healthy addition to popular food

An image generated by Gemini

Health-conscious Koreans in their 20s and 30s drink less and focus on fitness. They seek healthier ways to eat even simple meals like instant noodles. Social media posts highlight a new food trend of adding soybean sprouts, noting the vegetable reduces health risks associated with the highly processed dish. Here is a look at the nutritional benefits.

According to Korea's National Health Statistics, people in their 20s consumed an average of 64.8 grams of alcohol on days when they drank in 2024, slightly less than the 66.8 grams consumed by those in their 60s. A record 56 percent of adults aged 19 to 29 now consume alcohol once a month or less. Young adults were formerly the nation's heaviest drinkers, but they now drive national fitness trends like the recent running craze.

Budget-conscious consumers turn to soybean sprouts, which are less affected by rising inflation, to improve their meals. The affordable vegetable provides protein, vitamin C, minerals and amino acids without requiring separate cooking.

Instant noodles consist largely of refined carbohydrates, but the high fiber content in soybean sprouts helps reduce blood sugar spikes.

Fiber also affects the absorption of triglycerides and cholesterol, which can aid in managing high cholesterol. Potassium in the sprouts helps the body flush out sodium from the seasoning packet, helping manage blood pressure.

Soybean sprouts are a well-known hangover remedy. Asparagine in the sprouts helps break down acetaldehyde, the toxic byproduct of alcohol that causes vomiting and headaches. Using less of the seasoning packet further enhances this hangover relief.

This article from Kormedi.com, Korea’s top health care and medical portal, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.

随着20至30岁的韩国人越来越注重健康，他们减少饮酒，更加注重健身，因此开始在方便面里加入豆芽。这种趋势在社交媒体上迅速传播，也受到精打细算的消费者的推动。豆芽富含蛋白质、维生素C、矿物质和氨基酸，其纤维和钾元素还有助于控制血糖、胆固醇和钠的摄入量。此外，豆芽也被认为具有缓解宿醉的功效。

根据韩国国家健康统计局的数据，2024 年，20 多岁的人在饮酒的日子里平均摄入 64.8 克酒精。

创纪录的56%的19至29岁成年人现在每月饮酒一次或更少。

大豆芽无需额外烹饪即可提供蛋白质、维生素C、矿物质和氨基酸。

大豆芽中的纤维有助于降低血糖峰值，并可能有助于控制高胆固醇。

大豆芽中的钾有助于身体排出调味料包中的钠，从而有助于控制血压。

发布于2026年9月18日下午4:27（韩国标准时间）

大豆芽成为广受欢迎的健康食品。

由双子座生成的图像

注重健康的韩国20至30岁人群饮酒量减少，更加注重健身。他们甚至在方便面这类简单的食物上也追求更健康的饮食方式。社交媒体上的帖子突显了一种新的饮食趋势：在方便面中加入豆芽，并指出这种蔬菜可以降低高度加工食品带来的健康风险。以下是豆芽的营养益处。

根据韩国国家健康统计局的数据，2024年韩国20多岁的人群平均每日饮酒量为64.8克，略低于60多岁人群的66.8克。19至29岁成年人中，每月饮酒一次或更少的比例高达56%，创历史新高。年轻人曾是韩国饮酒量最大的群体，但如今他们却引领着全国性的健身潮流，例如近期的跑步热潮。

精打细算的消费者会选择豆芽来改善膳食，因为豆芽受通货膨胀的影响较小。这种价格实惠的蔬菜无需额外烹饪即可提供蛋白质、维生素C、矿物质和氨基酸。

方便面主要成分是精制碳水化合物，但大豆芽中富含纤维，有助于降低血糖峰值。

膳食纤维还会影响甘油三酯和胆固醇的吸收，这有助于控制高胆固醇。豆芽中的钾有助于身体排出调味料中的钠，从而帮助控制血压。

豆芽是众所周知的解酒良方。豆芽中的天冬酰胺有助于分解乙醛，乙醛是酒精代谢产生的有毒副产品，会导致呕吐和头痛。减少调味料的用量还能进一步增强解酒效果。

本文来自韩国顶级医疗保健门户网站 Kormedi.com，由人工智能生成系统翻译，并由《韩国时报》编辑。