Health And Family

Why we should consider eating insects

Alixandra Caole Vila - The Philippine Star

September 29, 2014 | 11:50am

MANILA, Philippines – A United Nations (UN) study revealed that there is an 80 percent chance that the world population would go sky-high, between 9.6 billion and 12.3 billion by 2100, contrary to previously published studies indicating population to grow to up to 7.2 billion only.

Because of the impending increase in the population, obtaining sustainable resources for the future would be difficult. Supply shortage, specifically food sources would dwindle putting the survival of the population at stake.
In order to combat the food shortage crisis, people may need to consider changing their diet, including eating insects.

Not that eating insects is new for everyone. There are people who already do this practice. For example, in Democratic Republic of Congo, caterpillars are abundantly available all year round in markets. Nature.com said that globally, beetles and caterpillars are consumed as much as all other edible insects taken together, while bees, wasps and ants account for a whopping 14 percent global insect consumption. Cicadas, locusts, crickets, dragonflies and flies are also considered edible.

Aside from the fact that eating insects are already tried and tested, UN's Food and Agriculture Organization said that insects are rich in protein and good fats. They also are a good source of calcium, iron and zinc.

This video by The Economist further proves why we should consider eating insects for more sustainable food source.