Is Pot Noodle really that bad for you? Experts reveal surprising health perk of the demonised junk food - and why it's better than instant ramen

The British student staple is now available in a range of low-fat, 'lighter' flavours, and has ditched plastic in half of its infamous pots in a major green-friendly drive. 

There's also a new pot-free selection, offering a more substantial meal for quick and easy dinner time. 

But will some new flavourings and less fat make the £1.20 convenience food any better for us?

In fact, were they even that terrible for our health in the first place?

Here, experts reveal the surprising nutritional truth about the Pot Noodle - and why it might be a better choice than Itsu...

Pot Noodle has been around since the late 1970s, but its popularity peaked in the 1990s

What's in a Pot Noodle?

Launched in 1977, Pot Noodle quickly became a popular convenience food, but it wasn't until the 1990s that it achieved cult status as a student staple with provocative and eye-catching adverts.

Consisting of dried noodles, seasoning, and sauce in a self-contained bowl - all it requires is boiling water and stirring to come alive. 

The nutrition of each pot depends on its flavour. But the original curry flavoured version contains 415 calories, 1.7g saturated fat, 5.8g sugar, 2.1g fibre, 7.9g protein and 1.4g salt.

The chicken and mushroom version has a similar profile, but with nearly four times as much saturated fat, and a touch less sugar. 

Experts say there's two main problems with the nutrition of a Pot Noodle. First, it's a lot of calories for relatively little valuable nutrition (fibre, protein and vitamins and minerals). 

The calorie count isn't far off that of a McDonald's double cheeseburger which, in fact, provides three times as much filling protein. 

'Instant noodles don't often provide the variety of nutrients we'd ideally want from a main meal,' says dietician Nicola Ludlam Raine. 'This is particularly true when it comes to protein and fibre, which keep us full and prevent snacking.'

Pot Noodle has recently launched lighter versions of their instant meal without the infamous pot

She adds that a lack of fibre can also raise the risk of constipation, which can wreak havoc on long term gut health.

Another concern is the high quantity of salt in the seasoning, which could spell problems for blood pressure. High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of heart attack and stroke, with around two thirds of sufferers unaware they're at risk. 

Depending on the flavour you choose, one pot can use up just under a third of your daily salt limit. The chicken fajita version appears to be one of the worst offenders, with 1.8g of salt per pot.

That's the equivalent of more than three packets of ready salted Walkers crisps.   

Are healthier versions better for you?

Pot Noodle's 'healthier' cousin - its 'Lost The Pot' range - is half the price, with half the amount of noodles per serving.

So, it's no wonder you'll get half the calories and fat, as well as 75 per cent less sugar than a traditional pack.

However, there's still a hefty 0.84g of salt in a measly 42g serving - just under a sixth of your daily limit. For that, you get even less filling fibre and protein than the original version meaning it's highly likely you'll end the meal feeling hungry. 

Ludlam Raine suggests adding a boiled egg to take the protein up to nearly 10g - increasing fullness - as well as fibre-heavy vegetables like broccoli and peas. 

What of other instant noodles on supermarket shelves?

One seemingly healthier alternative to Pot Noodle is Itsu’s Instant Chickn Ramen.

Costing nearly twice the price at £2 per bowl, it has half the calories of Pot Noodle, 75 per cent less fat, and 50 per cent less sugar. But there's even less protein and fibre and a whopping 2.4g of salt -40 per cent of the recommended daily allowance.

Another popular brand, Naked Noodles, offers products more likely to keep you full, with nearly twice the protein of the Lost The Pot range, and around a large banana's worth of fibre. 

A classic curry Pot Noodle contains more salt than a Big Mac, and three packets od crisps

Its downfall, however, is the 2.7g of salt - almost double the amount of a serving of Pot Noodle and roughly half an entire day's intake.

Perhaps the best option for a noodle fix, according to Ludlam Raine, is to opt for Wagamama's chicken ramen meal kit, which contains just 63 calories per serving, as well as only a pinch of sugar and less salt than a Pot Noodle.

While there's very little filling protein and fibre here, the addition of two boiled eggs and extra vegetables is a simple fix to provide a low-calorie, relatively filling meal. 

Ultimately, a Pot Noodle 'isn't recommended as a nutritional staple', Ludlam Raine says.

However she adds: 'It isn't something you need to fear either. It's convenient, affordable and enjoyable, and there's absolutely room for them within a balanced diet.'

And, if you're comparing it to most of the instant noodles on the market, a Pot Noodle may in fact be a healthier option.