Could you eat something that once crawled on the floor or buzzed in your ear?
At the same time, this is the food of the future.
Insects answer that call.
You usually swat them away, but putting bugs on your plate can help you ramp up your protein and healthy fat intake.
Healthwise, insects tick several nutritional boxes.
Think about an insect.
Its so small, but picture a bee flying or a grasshopper jumping.
They require a lot of muscle and energy to do those things, says Dr. Rao.
You benefit from that when you eat them.
They are also rich in unsaturated fat, which is a healthier source of fat than saturated fat.
Important, too, are the environmental benefits of eating bugs.
Insects require far less water, land, and feed to raise, compared with conventional animals like cattle.
There are almost 2,000 species of insects eaten worldwide, says Rao.
Promoting edible insects doesnt mean foraging for them in your backyard.
Were talking about raising them in really clean environments, she says.
Insects have to eat organic food; if they were to feast on pesticide-laden feed, theyd die.
If eating bugs is something youve never considered before, that’s okay.
But dont write them off they’re a staple of many cultures.
Do you eat crabs, lobsters, and prawns?
Those are close relatives of insects, and they are the bottom feeders of the ocean, says Rao.
Its all in the mind.
Consider trying it to see if you embrace different products.
Here are six to add to your plate and the potential health benefits they offer.
Which Bugs Are Edible?
Theres alsopreliminary evidencethat crickets support gut health, as eating them spurs the growth of certain good-for-youprobiotics.
After drying and processing, mealworm larvae are 50 percent protein and 30 percent fat.
Termites contain up to 100 times the concentration of the mineral compared with other insects.
In fact, they may contain more than the safe limit of manganese when eaten whole.
Grasshoppers taste similar to the beloved seafood.
To make them edible, the wings and legs are removed.
They are high in protein and fat but low in carbohydrates, according to a review.
In Mexico, crickets are featured in tacos and as a garnish on guacamole,Wiredreports.
In Japan, people eat them fried with soy sauce.
They contain 5 times more antioxidants than fresh orange juice.
Also avoid them if you have gout.
These insects even taste similar to shrimp, according toMontclair State University.
She was previously an assistant editor atPreventionwhere she wrote monthly science-based beauty news items and feature stories.
