Sebastian Stan has revealed he ate ramen with “a bunch of soy sauce” to prepare for his role as Donald Trump in a new biopic. The Apprentice sees the Marvel actor play a young version of the former president as he makes his way in New York real estate.

Despite the movie courting controversies for its storyline, Stan was impressive, portraying the lead character of Donald Trump. The film revolves around how Trump established his stature as a real estate tycoon in New York City in the 1970s. Those who have watched Stan in the Marvel Cinematic Universe recognised him for his toned physique. So there is no guessing that the actor had to go through a transformation before playing the character of Trump.

The whole team of The Apprentice, including director Abbasi, was quite concerned about how they would prepare Stan. The actor underwent some prosthetic tests but none of them were fruitful. Nearly two months before the start of the shooting, Abbasi asked Stan to gain weight.

It led The Martian star to consult with a nutritionist, who told Stan, “What I need you to do is get ramen, add a bunch of soy sauce, and start having that,” according to a report in Entertainment Weekly.

This leads us to the question: Are instant ramen noodles healthy or unhealthy?

Ramen noodles often evoke memories of college days, eating them in your hostel after the cafeteria has closed. But they are not usually associated with a healthy meal, states WebMD, as they are packed with salt and lacking in protein or vegetables.

Nutritionally, ramen noodles are deficient in fibre, vitamins, minerals and protein. While they are quite filling, they offer little in the way of nutritional value but are high in calories. To extend their shelf life, ramen noodles are preserved with tertiary-butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ), a petroleum-based additive that can be difficult to digest. This chemical is also found in products such as pesticides and lacquers. The presence of TBHQ makes ramen harder to break down in the body, prolonging exposure to the substance and potentially hindering the absorption of other nutrients. Prolonged exposure may result in nausea and vomiting.

The real issue lies in the highly processed ingredients, particularly the high levels of saturated fat and sodium. These can lead to serious health conditions such as elevated blood sugar, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Sodium directly contributes to increased blood pressure, which can lead to both strokes and heart failure. According to the USDA, standard ramen noodles contain around 1503 mg of sodium, which amounts to approximately 65% of the daily recommended intake set by the FDA. Consuming ramen noodles can unknowingly cause you to exceed your daily salt limit, increasing your risk of health complications each time you eat them.