Like Beef, Insects Are A Good Source Of Iron

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As a greater number of people enter the middle class around the globe, many will turn away from plant-based diets in favor of meat-based diets. This could be a cause for concern, as meat production requires the input of substantially more resources, such as water and energy. The question of how to feed a growing world in a time when wealth is spreading and personal tastes are changing is the subject of some sustainability research.

Outside of the Western world, insect consumption is common. The Chinese, for instance, will eat just about anything that crawls on six (or more) legs. Centipedes and fried scorpions appear on the menu.

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As shown, buffalo worms have more bioavailable iron than beef. The iron bioavailability in grasshoppers and mealworms was comparable to but slightly less than beef, while crickets were not a particularly good source of dietary iron.

People who survive on plant-based diets, such as Southeast Asians, are susceptible to iron deficiency anemia. Supplementing their diet with a few bugs might be a way to add this vital nutrient, as well as a little variety, to their cuisine.

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