2016년 4월 16일 토요일

The Nutrition Values of Edible Bugs & Insects

The next time you're staring into the refrigerator racking your brain trying to come up with something to make for dinner, consider heading outside instead. Your backyard and neighborhood are probably teeming with edible insects, which the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations are touting as a nutritious way to meet the nutrient needs of humans. Consider these nutrition facts as added motivation to give any number of six-legged creatures a try.
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Grasshoppers and Crickets

Normally seen hopping through your yard or heard making chirping sounds after dark, grasshoppers and crickets probably aren't what you would consider dinner. A 3.5-ounce serving of raw grasshoppers contains between 14 and 28 grams of protein, which is quite a lot for such a small amount of food. That translates to between 30 and 60 percent of the 46 grams of protein women need each day and between 25 and 50 percent of the 56 grams men need on a daily basis. Grasshoppers and crickets are a good source of unsaturated fats, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, which can help lower your risk of heart disease. These insects also supply small amounts of iron, though the exact amount depends on how large the bug is.

Ants

If you tend to shoo the ants away when you're having a picnic, perhaps you should invite them onto the blanket as part of your meal. A 3.5-ounce serving of red ants supplies about 14 grams of protein, according to the National Geographic website. The same serving of red ants also supplies 5.7 milligrams of iron, which is 71 percent of the 8 milligrams men need each day and about one-third of the 18 milligrams women require on a daily basis. Ants are also a good source of calcium.

Beetles

Beetles are among the richest insect sources of protein, according to National Geographic, but the exact amount depends on what type of beetle you're eating. A giant water beetle, for example, supplies about 20 grams of protein per 3.5-ounce, serving while the same amount of June beetle supplies 13.4. A serving of palmworm beetle can have as much as 36 grams of protein. Like other insects, beetles supply calcium and iron, as well as a good dose of zinc. The exact amounts depend on the size and variety of beetle you're eating.

Additional Insects

Caterpillars are another excellent source of protein and other minerals. A 3.5-ounce serving of the average caterpillar contains 6.7 grams of protein and about 13 milligrams of iron. A serving of the mopane caterpillar supplies between 31 and 77 milligrams of iron, however, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The mopane caterpillar also supplies about one-fourth of the potassium you need each day, as well as 100 percent of the copper you require. Termites are a good source of heart-healthy unsaturated fats, and about 49 percent of their body composition contains these beneficial nutrients.
 by Sara Ipatenco, Demand Media

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