We all eat things we may not particularly love for the sake of our health. In most cases, this involves incorporating more veggies into our diet or swapping in a better ingredient for a less nutritious one. Of course, trends can also push this to the limits with some less traditional foods and drinks (we’re looking at you, butter coffee)—but how far would you really be willing to go? According to scientists, there could be a surprising new superfood on the horizon: cockroach milk.
Research suggests cockroach milk offers significant nutritional benefits.
For some people, even the thought of drinking traditional dairy milk from cows can be off-putting. But in a research paper published in EXCLI Journal, scientists are taking it one step further by suggesting cockroaches might be the source of a truly beneficial beverage.
The researchers explain that the female Diploptera functata cockroach (more familiarly known as a Pacific beetle cockroach) stands out from other insects in that it developed the ability to feed its young with a substance produced from its own body. They claim that the crystalline proteins created to feed these embryos contain more nutrients than any of the other animal milks recorded.
So, what’s the benefit?
Scientists say that the extracted milk is protein-dense, providing nearly four times as much protein as cow’s milk. In addition, the paper states, “It contains rich stores of essential nutrients such as oleic acid, conjugated linoleic acid, omega-3 fatty acids, short-chain and medium-chain fatty acids, vitamins and minerals.”
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The milking process is a bit absurd.
The foundational science on this topic began with the work of Barbara Stay, PhD, a professor emerita of biology at the University of Iowa who has since passed away. In a 2016 interview with NPR, she explains how she noticed that the cockroach embryos were drinking a liquid substance provided by their mother that was stored in her body. This soon led to her discovering how to actually extract the milk.
“You substitute a filter paper in the brood sac for the embryos and you leave it there,” Stay told NPR. “[Then,] you take it out and you get the milk.”
What does cockroach milk taste like?
While the idea of mixing roach milk into your morning coffee is likely revolting, there’s still sure to be a bit of curiosity about what the experience would actually taste like.
A group of scientists working in India who were able to assess the protein-heavy crystals were actually able to find out: One who actually got up the courage to taste the substance himself said it really didn’t taste like anything, NPR reports.
Is it likely to make its way into your diet anytime soon?
With such promising findings, it might seem like we’re set to see cockroach milk alongside coconut and almond milk in the grocery store. However, besides how long the process of milking the insects takes, there’s no indication it’s bound for wide distribution just yet.
“In principle, it should be fine,” Subramanian Ramaswamy, PhD, part of the team of Indian biochemists who studied the milk, told NPR. “But today, we have no evidence that it is actually safe for human consumption.”
However, this isn’t the only time a bug might purposely make its way into your meal. In their research paper, the scientists also pointed out that a flour made from a different breed of cockroaches already exists in Brazil—and also has a much higher protein content.
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The takeaway:
Ready for a new dining experience? According to new research, cockroach milk just might become the next superfood. Scientists said that the Pacific beetle cockroach produces a unique milky substance that contains roughly four times as much protein as cow’s milk.
However, the milking process makes this an especially inefficient product to produce. And since scientists say there’s no evidence that it’s safe for human consumption, it might be a while before you’re adding this bizarre new beverage to your diet.
Content shared from bestlifeonline.com.