The main problem with instant noodles is not the salt or fat, but the same thing as all other junk food - it takes the place of actual food with actual nutrients.

The healthiest way I've ever found to consume instant noodles is as a meal supplement after exercise. Not every time, but once in a while to replenish salt lost from sweat and as a calorie boost.

Contrary to the sibling comment I think it’s the salt. There was also the guy who ate the ramen in styrofoam bowl for years and had a lump of styrofoam in his stomach.

Personally I just buy dry ramen noodles and make my own sauce or use curry, give a bit more control over salt etc

That's always been my gripe with plastic and styrofoam kitchenware. It will wear, and the worn particles are in your food. No idea how consequential it is, but I don't really want bits of chopping board or plastic bowl in my food.

sounds lowkey, but making the dish with plenty of fresh vegetables as soup moves the needle (noodle, heh) back to the healthy end of the gradient?

I'm sorry for the packaging waste though.

I wouldn’t even start with the noodles as the main culprit but the spice packets that come with them. But even aside from that, if you aren’t adding anything to the soup, like vegetables, it’s sort of like asking “when does surviving off potato/tortilla chips become unhealthy?”