Just imagine chowing down on a delicious cockroach or some savory worms. Sounds tasty right? Probably not. But there are places in Asia, Africa and Latin America where people make insects a regular part of their diet. In fact, archaeologists say that the practice of eating bugs dates back to the earliest humans. And here’s the kicker: you eat them too.
The Health Benefits of Eating Bugs
It’s true! Chocolate can contain as much as 60 insect parts per 100 grams, and beer is allowed to have as many as 250 aphids per 100 grams. That can’t be healthy can it? Well, even though it does sound disgusting, eating bugs isn’t going to hurt you. These creepy crawlers are actually full of beneficial vitamins and minerals, and insects like mealworms are great sources of fiber.
Bugs could even help reduce obesity – not only because everyone will lose their appetite but because they offer about the same amount of protein as meats, minus the unhealthy fats. So next time you are thinking about going out to buy some protein rich foods from the grocery store, you might just choose to eat a beetle instead.
Serving Up Gourmet Insects
A
few high-end restaurants have decided to add the delectable pests to their menus. Forinstance, Aphrodite restaurant in France serves patrons mealworms and crickets with foie gras. And the names of the bugs even sound fancy when you say them in French.
Perhaps you would like some Solenopsis coupled with fried sweetbread or Tenebrio molitor on top of a kale leaf? Bet you are ready to dig right in. That is until you realize you just ordered ants and beetles.
Come to think of it, maybe we should just stick with beef.
A Better Way to Get Rid of Bugs
Now if you want to eat bugs, we won’t stop you. But there is a better way to get rid of those nasty pests around your home. You can call up U.S. Pest. We’ll remove bugs from your home, so you won’t have to deal with them any longer. And with the bugs gone, you can get back to eating food you actually like.
Want to learn more about how you can do away with bugs? Take a look at this article on what attracts ants, so you can avoid an infestation.
Erica Brister is President & CEO of U.S. Pest Protection, a family- and female-owned company that has protected Middle Tennessee homes and businesses since 1985. She was appointed to the Tennessee Pest Control Advisory Board, and she leads a company built on a simple idea: pest control is a people business. Under her leadership, U.S. Pest's state-certified Pest Pros, who average more than seven years with the company, back every service with the Whatever It Takes Guarantee. Erica writes about the pests Tennessee families and businesses actually face, and the practical steps that keep them out.
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