On January 1, 2018, a new food regulations in the European Union, which authorized the trade in insects for food. So much so that Carrefour has been one of the first to make various options of these bugs available to customers to take as a snack.
Despite the fact that for many it is something disgusting, insects are living beings that provide numerous health benefits. This is how a new study conducted by the University of Wisconsin and published in Scientific Reports. The research was based on knowing how crickets and grasshoppers benefit the intestinal flora human
A diet with insects
20 women and men, between 18 and 48 years old, were chosen to participate in this research for two weeks. They actually went on strict diets, where half had a normal breakfast and the other half added 25 grams of crushed crickets on bread or smoothies. After these two weeks, they had to "clean out" for another two weeks and then switched to the opposite diet to the one they had been on.
The scientists subjected the volunteers to tests, without knowing what diet each one followed. This is how they ensured that the data from the blood tests, droppings and numbers of depositions were not tampered with.
When collecting all the dead, it was observed that there were no gastrointestinal changes, but they did find an increase in the metabolic enzyme associated with the gut, as well as a reduction in the TNF-alpha protein in the blood.
Why include them in the diet?
There are many countries that already include insects in their diet. In Mexico, for example, there is a great culinary culture about insects, and they are even considered authentic delicacies.
Knowing the high protein and fiber content that they have makes it a food that should not be missing in our varied diet.
I have also been very reticent about eating insects, but it is a mental barrier that can be overcome. Why are we disgusted by eating worms but not shrimp? I think that this cultural problem will end up being eliminated, as it already happened with soybeans or avocados.