Instant noodles ('Indomie') and processed foods cause sudden spikes in intra-abdominal pressure and serious problems such as intestinal obstruction.

Original statement

ينتقد الدكتور ضياء العوضي اللحوم المحقونة والمأكولات المصنعة مثل «الإندومي»، ويرى أنها «تسبب ارتفاعًا مفاجئًا في ضغط البطن ومشاكل صحية خطيرة مثل الانسداد المعوي»، ويحذر من «الأطعمة المصنعة مثل البيض والدجاج والاندومي والسكر»، مؤكدًا أن «الأكل وراء كل مشاكلك».

verbatim according to source. Translation by the project; the Arabic wording is authoritative.

Translation

Instant noodles ('Indomie') and processed foods cause sudden spikes in intra-abdominal pressure and serious problems such as intestinal obstruction.

Origin

Source status

Archive quote (no location given)

Attribution

Elawady (archive paraphrase; source video not given)

Origin

https://eltayebat.com/rule/ultra-processed-foods/

Attribution uncertainty

The archive attributes this text to Dr. Diaa in its 'د. ضياء يقول' box but gives no video reference. Transcript check (the project's research files, keyword search of 307 archive transcripts): similar_idea_only. Injected meat ('Boldex', HIc7ZqJfPXY) and Indomie (OfWv4ujloWY; a reported death of a boy from Indomie in dnMZcPS45zQ) are criticised, but 'sudden rise in abdominal pressure and intestinal obstruction' in direct connection with Indomie was not found in one passage. 'الأكل وراء كل مشاكلك' is the title of video HIc7ZqJfPXY (2025-07-20), possibly written by the channel; the phrase was not found in the transcript. Listing eggs and chicken as 'processed foods' was not found.

Claimed mechanism

Dough/flour forms a sticky mass ('abdominal pressure').

Claimed health effect

Intestinal obstruction, high insulin.

Population concerned

Everyone

Geographic restriction by Elawady

none found

Diverging source versions

Scientific assessment

Potentially false – The available evidence tends to speak against the statement, but is not conclusive.

Certainty of evidence: low – Further research is likely to change the assessment considerably.

1. What was claimed?

Indomie causes abdominal-pressure spikes and intestinal obstruction.

2. What is demonstrably correct?

Instant noodles are ultra-processed (NOVA 4) and typically high in salt; limiting them is consistent with general advice.

3. What is wrong or exaggerated?

No evidence found for 'sudden spikes in abdominal pressure' or obstruction as a general consequence. In transcripts, Elawady blames instant noodles because they are made from white-flour dough ('كل ما هو عجين'), not because of processing or additives; he says preservatives are of little concern (C-UPF-11).

4. What remains unclear?

None material.

5. Which studies support it?

None for the obstruction claim. Frequent instant-noodle intake (>=2 times/week) was associated with metabolic syndrome in Korean women (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.10-2.55) but not in men (I-INTC-15); this supports limiting instant noodles for other reasons.

6. Which studies contradict it?

Pathological intra-abdominal pressure is defined as a sustained pressure of 12 mmHg or more, mainly in critically ill patients (I-GUT-06), not a result of ordinary meals. Small bowel obstruction is mainly caused by adhesions after surgery, hernias and tumours; ordinary foods are not listed among the causes (I-INTC-05).

7. What applies to Germany and Europe?

Not region-specific.

8. What is known about Egypt?

Indomie is a common product in Egypt; the claim is framed for Egyptian consumers.

9. What practical conclusion is appropriate?

There is no reason to fear obstruction from occasional instant noodles; their salt and refined-flour content are the relevant nutritional concerns.

Assessment details

Rationale for certainty of evidence

No study supports that instant noodles cause raised intra-abdominal pressure or intestinal obstruction in normal consumption. Intra-abdominal hypertension is a defined condition of critically ill patients (I-GUT-06), and the causes of bowel obstruction are well described (I-INTC-05). The relevant concern with frequent instant noodles is cardiometabolic (I-INTC-15). Certainty is low because the claim was not tested directly.

Source quality

Archive quote, no source video. The English archive translation adds content not in the Arabic ('drive autoimmune disease, digestive and cardiac disorders'). The Arabic quote lists sugar among processed foods to avoid, which contradicts Elawady's repeated praise of white sugar in transcripts (C-SUG-01, C-SUG-05).

Regional transferability

Universal.

Individual exceptions

Rare mechanical obstructions (e.g., bezoars) can occur with various foods in predisposed individuals; not specific to noodles.

Regional scope of the claim

general (biological/medical)

Last reviewed

26 October 2026 provisional

Scientific evidence in detail

Not supported by high-quality evidence – There is no good evidence for the claim; this alone does not prove it wrong.

Research question: Do instant noodles (and processed foods) cause sudden rises in intra-abdominal pressure or intestinal obstruction in ordinary consumption?

Study results as reported by the authors. Our assessment follows below.

How deeply was this checked?

3 linked studies: 2 checked in full text (0 of them with a structured risk-of-bias assessment), 1 on the basis of the abstract, 0 bibliographically only. No formal assessment with two independent reviewers and no independent human expert review has taken place yet.

Last scientific review: 26 October 2026

In plain language

The archive quotes Dr. Diaa saying instant noodles raise pressure in the belly and can block the bowel. No research supporting this was found. Instant noodles are a typical ultra-processed food high in salt, which is a reason to limit them, but not because they block the gut.

Studies on this claim

Regional context

Germany / EU

Not region-specific.

Egypt

Indomie is a common product in Egypt; the claim is framed for Egyptian consumers.

What applies in my country?

General scientific assessment

Potentially false No evidence that instant noodles cause intestinal obstruction.

The following areas of food safety are relevant to this statement:

• Pesticides and pesticide residues
• Contaminants (heavy metals, PFAS, PCBs, dioxins, nitrate)
• Mycotoxins (mould toxins)
• Additives and processing
• Controls, imports, recalls, labelling

Cereals and rice

Limits: legal rules describe what is allowed, not what every single food contains. Measurement data come from samples and are meaningful only together with their method details.

Country of residence or purchase Compare with another country

References

1. Intra-abdominal hypertension and the abdominal compartment syndrome: updated consensus definitions and clinical practice guidelines from the World Society of the Abdominal Compartment Syndrome.. Kirkpatrick AW et al.. Intensive Care Med 2013 · PMID 23673399 · DOI 10.1007/s00134-013-2906-z
2. Bologna guidelines for diagnosis and management of adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO): 2017 update of the evidence-based guidelines from the world society of emergency surgery ASBO working group.. Ten Broek RPG et al.. World J Emerg Surg 2018 · PMID 29946347 · DOI 10.1186/s13017-018-0185-2
3. Instant noodle intake and dietary patterns are associated with distinct cardiometabolic risk factors in Korea.. Shin HJ et al.. J Nutr 2014 · PMID 24966409 · DOI 10.3945/jn.113.188441