Noriaki C. Mera
12 STEM A
Benefits of ingesting edible insects.
The Ingestion of edible insects has been gaining a lot of attention as a sustainable and nutritious food
source. It is beneficial to ingest edible insects since they are rich in protein, low in carbohydrates, contain
essential minerals, and are also rich in unsaturated fat. According to a 2013 report by the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which says that insects are a rich source of protein,
containing up to 80% protein per dry weight, compared to an average of 20% in traditional livestock. In
addition, edible insects are low in carbohydrates and high in unsaturated fats, making them a healthier
alternative than those traditional sources of protein.
Many people may think that ingesting edible insects is repulsive and unhealthy. But one study
found that the house cricket (Acheta domesticus), which is particularly rich in essential amino acids like
lysine, methionine, and cysteine, can be used as food and feed. This study was published in the Journal
of Insects as Food and Feed. Insects are a valuable addition to a vegetarian or vegan diet because they
are nutritious, easier to produce, and packed with health benefits for the body, which are frequently
lacking in proteins derived from plants. Other cultures also have history in consuming edible insects.
Producing insects rather than conventional livestock is also more environmentally friendly. Insects
require less land, water, and feed to produce the same amount of protein as conventional livestock,
according to the FAO. They are therefore a good substitute in places with scarce resources. In addition,
because they produce less waste and emit fewer greenhouse gases than conventional livestock, insects
have a lower overall environmental impact. Additionally, managing and caring for insects is much easier
than doing so with conventional livestock.
Edible insects have cultural and economic advantages in addition to nutritional and
environmental advantages that should be taken into account when considering the normalization of the
consumption of edible insects. Indigenous communities have been eating insects for centuries as a
traditional food source in many parts of the world. In addition to being a valuable source of income for
small-scale farmers and rural communities as the world's population rises, edible insects also give these
people the chance to start their own businesses. In conclusion, people should start coming up with ways
for many people to agree on the idea of ingesting insects since edible insects are a healthy and
sustainable food source that provide a wide range of advantages, such as a high protein content, low
carbohydrate content, essential amino acids, and unsaturated fats, as well as a lower environmental
impact and cultural and economic advantages.
References:
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2013). Edible insects: Future prospects for food
and feed security. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/docrep/018/i3253e/i3253e.pdf
van Huis, A., Van Itterbeeck, J., Klunder, H., Mertens, E., Halloran, A., Muir, G., & Vantomme, P. (2013).
Edible insects: Future prospects for food and feed security. Rome: FAO.
Lee, K., & Roos, N. (2015). Nutritional composition of house crickets (Acheta domesticus) reared on
different feed ingredients. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, 1(1), 1-11.