Eating insects 'as good for you as orange juice', suggests study
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Grasshoppers were found to have the highest antioxidant capacity from all the insects tested
Would you be up for chomping on some crickets or devouring a handful of worms for your afternoon snack?
Insects are probably not the first treat you'd willingly reach for, but new research has found that eating bugs could be good for our health.
A study by a university in Italy tested extracts from insects and other invertebrates like scorpions, larvae, buffalo worms and caterpillars.
It found that crickets have 75% the antioxidant power of fresh orange juice when consumed as a powder dissolved in water.
It also revealed that silkworm fat had double the antioxidant power of olive oil.
WATCH: Edible insects on the menu in New York City
What are antioxidants?
Antioxidants can be found in foods like fruit, vegetables, nuts and whole grains.
They help protect the cells in our bodies from the damaging effects of molecules called free radicals.
A diet which includes antioxidants can help prevent people developing diseases like cancers and diabetes.
Are insects good for us to eat?
Which insects came out on top?
In the study by researchers at the University of Teramo, dissolvable extracts taken from grasshoppers, silkworms and crickets showed the highest values of antioxidant capacity.
The study found that grasshoppers, silkworms and crickets have the highest antioxidant capacity
Africa caterpillars and mealworms were also high up on the list.
Giant water bugs, giant cicada, black scorpions and black tarantulas were found to have the lowest values of antioxidant capacity.
Which insects would you be willing to try? Are any a definite no-go? Let us know in the comments below!
Mealworms also have high values of antioxidant capacity
- Published22 February 2019
- Published13 October 2015
- Published12 October 2015
