Researchers found that cockroach milk contains essential amino acids and more protein than other kinds of milk in the market, making it a good prospect for the next great superfood trend. What is a superfood anyway?
In In 2016, a team of researchers found that the “milk” derived from a particular type of cockroach is actually very nutritious, packing up to three or four times more protein than regular dairy milk and containing all essential amino acids that the human body needs.
This “milk” actually comes from a specific type of cockroach that can be found in Hawaii, the Pacific beetle cockroach, which, compared to other cockroach species that lay eggs, actually gives birth to live young. The milk-like substance is what the mothers feed to their young and researchers of the study pointed out that the protein-rich crystals found in the milk are practically complete food.
Next Superfood Trend?
Two years on and it seems as though cockroach milk might be making its mark on the “superfood” list. Evidently, a South African company called Gourmet Grubb has developed what it calls “Entomilk” which is basically milk from farmed insects. The product is supposedly a nutritious, guilt-free, and nature-friendly alternative for other milk.
The potential new trend, however, might not find it easy to take off. For one thing, people might not be too keen on drinking insect milk. What’s more, even its producers admit that it’s not very easy to harvest cockroach or insect milk. More importantly, in 2016, researchers also stated that they had no evidence to prove that the said milk is safe for human consumption. So what might be a superfood to insects, might not be for humans.
What Are Superfoods?
A superfood is a food that is very rich in compounds beneficial for prevention of disease or overall health. Some foods that are considered superfoods are broccoli, blueberries, and salmon. However, there is no scientific basis or general regulation for what may be considered as a superfood.
In fact, the first superfood craze was started not by nutritionists or dieticians, but by a fruit company that was promoting the import of its bananas. Though the company marketed bananas for its versatility and practicality, the craze soared when physicians published in journals how bananas could help treat diabetes and celiac disease. Naturally, the company added such health benefits to their marketing, and thus began the first superfood craze.
That said, many superfoods are, in fact, very nutritious, but experts say it’s important to focus on a “super plate,” instead of a super food. This means that while it’s good to choose certain foods for its nutritional value, it’s important to get a wide variety of minerals from various foods instead of from just one kind that can provide only particular nutrients.