[Somen Alone Accelerates Summer Fatigue?] 85% of Registered Dietitians and Nutritionists Concerned! Top 5 "Somen Rescue Ingredients" to Prevent Summer Nutritional Deficiencies Announced

In April 2026, a new category of "extreme heat days" (maximum temperature 40°C or higher) was established, and severe heat is expected again this year. During periods when appetite decreases due to heat, "somen" (thin wheat noodles) becomes a more frequent sight on dining tables due to its ease of preparation. However, there are concerns about nutritional imbalances if meals consisting solely of "somen (※) + mentsuyu (noodle soup base)" continue.

※ Includes cold noodles such as udon and soba.

Our "Nutritionist Lab®" conducted a survey targeting 100 registered dietitians and nutritionists regarding "cold noodles like somen and summer fatigue."

The results showed that 85% expressed concern about meals consisting only of "somen + mentsuyu." Furthermore, a ranking of rescue ingredients by category that dramatically improve the nutritional value of cold noodles like somen was revealed.

◎ Over 80% of Registered Dietitians and Nutritionists Concerned About "Somen + Mentsuyu Only" Meals

Regarding the continuation of "somen + mentsuyu only" meals for lunch during the summer, 35% responded that they have "significant concerns (high risk of summer fatigue)," and 50% responded that they have "slight concerns (worried about nutritional imbalance)." This highlights that a total of 85% of professionals feel uneasy.

◎ The Biggest Factors Causing or Worsening Summer Fatigue from "Cold Noodles Like Somen" are Deficiencies in "Vitamin B1" and "Protein"

When asked to choose up to three factors they believe are the biggest causes of summer fatigue or worsening of summer fatigue from consuming "cold noodles like somen," the most frequent responses were "imbalance towards carbohydrates, leading to a deficiency in Vitamin B1, which is necessary for energy metabolism" (80 votes) and "decreased muscle mass and basal metabolic rate due to protein deficiency" (76 votes).

◎ Top 5 "Rescue Ingredients by Category" That Dramatically Boost Somen's Nutritional Value

When asked to choose up to three recommended "rescue ingredients" that dramatically boost the nutritional value of somen, categorized by type, the following results were obtained:

※ Multiple responses from 100 registered dietitians and nutritionists per category (up to 3 per category)

【Protein Category】

1st Place: Eggs (71 votes) 2nd Place: Natto (54 votes) 3rd Place: Canned Tuna (46 votes) 4th Place: Canned Mackerel (45 votes) 5th Place: Pork (30 votes)

【Vitamins & Minerals Category】

1st Place: Tomatoes (85 votes) 2nd Place: Okra (66 votes) 3rd Place: Mekabu (38 votes) 4th Place: Shiso (27 votes) 5th Place: Edamame (26 votes)

【Metabolism Support Category】

1st Place: Ginger (77 votes) 2nd Place: Umeboshi (56 votes) 3rd Place: Garlic (39 votes) 4th Place: Vinegar (38 votes) 5th Place: Sesame Seeds (27 votes)

【Gut Health (Dietary Fiber & Fermented Foods) Category】

1st Place: Natto (80 votes) 2nd Place: Kimchi (62 votes) 3rd Place: Okra (36 votes) 4th Place: Mekabu (34 votes) 5th Place: Wakame (31 votes)

From the free-response comments in the survey, we introduce particularly recommended food pairings.

● Okra × Natto × Egg

Provides the protein and dietary fiber lacking in noodles alone. It's also rich in dietary fiber and helps regulate the gut environment.

● Canned Mackerel × Tomato × Ginger

Allows for simultaneous intake of protein, vitamins, and minerals that cannot be compensated for by somen alone. Ginger is also expected to boost appetite and metabolism. All ingredients can be used without prior cooking, making it convenient.

● Natto × Tororo (Grated Yam) × Mekabu

Provides protein, vitamins, and minerals, and is easy to incorporate even when appetite is low due to the heat.

Expert Comments

Summer is a season when appetite tends to decrease due to the heat, and people want to prepare meals as easily as possible. Somen is a convenient and easy-to-eat summer staple, but eating it only with mentsuyu can lead to an imbalance of nutrients, leaning heavily towards carbohydrates.

While carbohydrates are an important energy source for physical activity, protein, vitamins, and minerals are also essential for efficiently producing that energy. A deficiency in these nutrients can not only lead to fatigue and lethargy associated with summer fatigue but can also result in summer weight gain due to the inability to fully utilize energy.

The ingredients that received support from registered dietitians and nutritionists in this survey are all capable of easily supplementing the nutrients that are often lacking in somen alone. Of particular note are not only carbohydrates and protein themselves, but also the vitamins and minerals necessary for their utilization within the body. Minerals are easily lost through sweating in the summer, and the consumption of vitamins and minerals tends to increase due to stress from the heat.

In addition to the survey results, my personal recommendation is, for example, to add natto to somen to supplement protein, and combine it with seaweed like mozuku or nori to consume vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber together. For dessert, consider eating protein-rich Greek yogurt with frozen berries or mango, which are good sources of vitamins and minerals.

During hot weather, there's no need to force yourself to prepare a large number of dishes or aim for a perfect meal. The important thing is to combine nutrients necessary for digestion and metabolism within the amount you can eat and the foods you find palatable. Adjusting your meals with the perspective of "what to combine" rather than "what to omit" will lead to preventing summer fatigue and building a healthy body.

Saori Ogawa

Commentary by: Saori Ogawa

A registered dietitian who supports the health of a wide range of people, from mothers before and after childbirth, to children from weaning to growing stages, working adults, and athletes, through food.

Based on gut health and precision nutrition, she conducts nutrition education seminars at nursery schools, elementary schools, and junior high schools, as well as providing nutritional guidance and seminars for companies and athletes. She emphasizes the importance of "establishing a foundation" through diet and lifestyle habits, especially in today's world where various changes occur due to environment and stress.

Somen Menu Designed by a Registered Dietitian to Withstand Extreme Heat

Here are some arranged somen recipes using rescue ingredients.

Okra and Wakame Sesame Soy Milk Somen

Okra and Wakame Sesame Soy Milk Somen

This is a nutritious dish combining pork, a protein source, with okra and wakame, which ranked high in the Vitamins & Minerals and Gut Health categories. The rich soup made with soy milk, miso, and ground sesame seeds coats the somen well, and the aroma of ginger stimulates the appetite. It's a hearty, rearranged menu that easily allows you to charge up on Vitamin B1 (from pork), which is necessary for converting carbohydrates into energy.

【Ingredients - Serves 2】

Somen: 2 bundles (200g)

Pork Loin (for shabu-shabu): 120g

Okra: 6 pods

Dried Wakame: 1 tbsp

Ginger (grated): 1 tsp

(A) Ground Sesame Seeds: 2 tbsp

(A) Mentsuyu (2x concentrate) / Miso: 1 tbsp each

(A) Unsweetened Soy Milk: 200ml

【Instructions】

1. Rub the okra with salt (amount not specified) and rinse. Rehydrate the wakame in water and drain.

2. Boil water in a pot and add the okra. Simmer for about 1 minute. Transfer to cold water, drain, and slice into 5mm rounds.

Boil the pork in the same water. Once cooked, drain in a colander and pat dry.

3. Add ingredients (A) in order and mix.

4. Boil the somen in plenty of water according to package directions, then rinse in cold water and place in bowls.

Top with pork, okra, and wakame, pour (3) over, and garnish with ginger.

Korean-Style! Mekabu and Kimchi Bukkake Somen

Korean-Style! Mekabu and Kimchi Bukkake Somen

A simple recipe perfect for hot days, topped with eggs (1st place in protein category), kimchi, and mekabu (high in gut health category). The slippery texture of mekabu, the spicy kimchi, and the fragrant sesame oil stimulate the appetite. This is a highly time-efficient rescue somen that easily achieves "gut health" through fermented foods and dietary fiber while also boosting nutrition.

【Ingredients - Serves 2】

Somen: 2 bundles (200g)

Eggs: 2

Mekabu (plain): 2 packs (80g)

Kimchi: 60g

(A) Ginger (grated): 1 tsp

(A) Shiradashi (10x concentrate): 1.5 tbsp

(A) Water: 200ml

Sesame Oil: 1 tsp

【Instructions】

1. Boil the eggs in boiling water for about 8 minutes to make soft-boiled eggs. Combine ingredients (A).

2. Boil the somen in plenty of water according to package directions, then rinse in cold water and place in bowls.

3. Top the somen with mekabu, kimchi, and halved boiled eggs.

Pour (A) over the top and drizzle with sesame oil.

Tomato and Tuna Capellini-Style Somen

Tomato and Tuna Capellini-Style Somen

This Western-style rearranged recipe uses a whole tomato and convenient canned tuna. The garlic flavor and fragrant olive oil create a luxurious taste reminiscent of cold pasta (capellini). It's a visually colorful dish that efficiently delivers lycopene and Vitamin C with high antioxidant properties, along with the high-quality protein from tuna.

【Ingredients - Serves 2】

Somen: 2 bundles (200g)

Canned Tuna: 1 can (70g)

Tomato: 1 (200g)

Shiso: 6 leaves

(A) Garlic (grated): 1 tsp

(A) Mentsuyu (2x concentrate) / Olive Oil: 2 tbsp each

Black Pepper: A pinch

【Instructions】

1. Dice the tomato into 1.5cm cubes. Shred the shiso leaves.

Drain the canned tuna. Combine ingredients (A).

2. Boil the somen in plenty of water according to package directions, rinse in cold water, then mix with (A) and toss.

3. Serve the somen in bowls, then top with tomato, tuna, and shiso in that order. Finish with black pepper.

※ Both water-packed and oil-packed canned tuna can be used for delicious results.

Recipe Creation: Riko Eida, Registered Dietitian (Emish Inc.)

Please contact us for detailed recipes.

▼ Contact Information

https://www.e-mish.com/contact

Survey Results

◎ 85% of Nutritionists and Registered Dietitians Concerned About "Somen (※) + Mentsuyu Only" Meals

When asked about concerns regarding continuing meals of "somen + mentsuyu only" for lunch during the summer, 85% responded that they have concerns, including those who answered "significantly concerned" and "somewhat concerned."

【Figure 1】In summer, regarding continuing meals of "somen (※) + mentsuyu" only for lunch, how do you feel as a nutritionist? ※Includes cold noodles such as udon and soba.

◎ The Biggest Factors Causing or Worsening Summer Fatigue from "Cold Noodles Like Somen"

1st Place: "Imbalance towards carbohydrates, leading to a deficiency in Vitamin B1, which is necessary for energy metabolism" (80 votes)

2nd Place: "Decreased muscle mass and basal metabolic rate due to protein deficiency" (76 votes)

3rd Place: "Internal organs cool down due to cold noodles, reducing digestive function" (49 votes)

【Figure 2】What do you believe are the biggest factors causing or worsening summer fatigue from "cold noodles like somen"? Please choose up to 3.

◎ "Rescue Ingredient" Rankings by Category

【Protein Category】

1st Place: Eggs (71 votes) 2nd Place: Natto (54 votes) 3rd Place: Canned Tuna (46 votes) 4th Place: Canned Mackerel (45 votes) 5th Place: Pork (30 votes)

【Figure 3】Please select from the following the "rescue ingredients" you recommend for dramatically boosting the nutritional value of somen. (Up to 3)

【Vitamins & Minerals Category】

1st Place: Tomatoes (85 votes) 2nd Place: Okra (66 votes) 3rd Place: Mekabu (38 votes) 4th Place: Shiso (27 votes) 5th Place: Edamame (26 votes)

【Figure 4】Please select from the following the "rescue ingredients" you recommend for dramatically boosting the nutritional value of somen. (Up to 3)

【Metabolism Support Category】

1st Place: Ginger (77 votes) 2nd Place: Umeboshi (56 votes) 3rd Place: Garlic (39 votes) 4th Place: Vinegar (38 votes) 5th Place: Sesame Seeds (27 votes)

【Figure 5】Please select from the following the "rescue ingredients" you recommend for dramatically boosting the nutritional value of somen. (Up to 3)

【Gut Health (Dietary Fiber & Fermented Foods) Category】

1st Place: Natto (80 votes) 2nd Place: Kimchi (62 votes) 3rd Place: Okra (36 votes) 4th Place: Mekabu (34 votes) 5th Place: Wakame (31 votes)

【Figure 6】Please select from the following the "rescue ingredients" you recommend for dramatically boosting the nutritional value of somen. (Up to 3)

Survey Overview

Survey Method: Internet Survey Survey Period: April 10, 2026 (Fri) - April 11, 2026 (Sat) Number of Valid Responses: 100 individuals holding dietitian/registered dietitian qualifications belonging to "Nutritionist Lab®"

Information on Surveys by Nutritionists and Registered Dietitians

We also accept consultations for PR and joint research with Nutritionist Lab®. Companies and PR managers who wish to "turn the voices of nutritionists and registered dietitians into data," "add value related to nutrition and health to their own products/services for sales promotion," or "create media-worthy content on food and health themes" are encouraged to contact us.

▼ Contact Information

https://www.e-mish.com/contact

Nutritionist Lab® Member Recruitment

For this survey, we received cooperation from 100 nutritionists and registered dietitians nationwide belonging to Nutritionist Lab®. Nutritionist Lab® welcomes applications from individuals with dietitian/registered dietitian qualifications who wish to be involved in disseminating information on food and health.

▼ Register Here

https://dietician-labo.hp.peraichi.com/

Company Profile

Company Name: Emish Inc.

Representative: Maki Shibata, Representative Director

Location: 3-13-15 Minami, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-0013

Established: September 12, 2012

Business Activities: ・Recipe development and photography

・Casting of food experts

(Registered dietitians, culinary researchers, food coordinators, etc.)

・Product development and consulting

・Kitchen studio operation, etc.

URL: https://www.e-mish.com/

Led by Representative Maki Shibata, a registered dietitian, the company operates the food expert networks "Nutritionist Lab®" and "Love Table Labo" with the mission of "filling dining tables with smiles." They provide content planning and PR support for food and consumer goods manufacturers.

FACT BOX

  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: Survey結果