Four Surprisingly Good Reasons Insects Make A Great Food

As many readers may be aware, today's food production system is simply unsustainable. The livestock mass produced by factory farms emits a vast amount of greenhouse gases. Antibiotics used for animals exceeds the amount used for humans, and is resulting in very dangerous resistant bacteria. As water scarcity is becoming an issue, the huge quantities of water used to farming will drive costs up. One possible solution may lie with insects as food. Although most readers probably cringe at the very thought, there are a surprising amount of very good reasons to do so. This article takes a look at the many potential benefits of consuming insects for food.

1. A Very Nutritious Source Of Protein

Perhaps surprisingly, cricket flour has almost the same fat and protein quantities as salmon and other meats by weight. At the same time, it is low in carbohydrates. Also, it comes with exceptionally high amounts of essential nutrients like calcium and iron. And cricket protein lacks many of the side problems that come with other non meat protein sources. Nuts and beans do not contain all of the essential amino acids, and soy has been known to cause kidney problems and cancer complications.

2. Surprisingly Light, Pleasant Taste

The taste of insect protein products is almost indistinguishable from other protein bars. It is very mild, and is good at absorbing the flavor of whatever other ingredients it is prepared with. In Southeast Asia, deep fried insect foods are tasty treats at restaurants.

3. Only Cultural Norms Make It Sound Bad

The main reason you may cringe at the thought of eating insects, is that our culture has taught us to. In other areas of the world it is quite normal and accepted. In truth, humans have always consumed various bugs as a important part of their diet. As companies are now realizing the marketing and sales potential of these products, they are trying to change public perceptions.

4. It Is More Ethical And Sustainable That What We Do Now

Factory farms are beds of misery for the animals that are raised there. Pigs, which are as intelligent and self aware as dogs, are stacked in cages where they can not even stand up. They are raised and slaughtered with no regard for the pain and distress they experience. The system is wreaking havoc on the environment, emitting more greenhouse gases than cars. Insects however, can be raised with almost no environmental impact, and they don't feel pain.

If people can overcome their biases, this will become a valuable and nutritious food source. More information can be found at HealthyInsect.com.