Part 2: Antioxidants
Insects are on their way to becoming a part of European diets. The focus is on environmentally friendly production and health benefits. It's already known that these small creatures contain high-quality proteins, minerals, and vitamins. Now, a new study has also confirmed the presence of antioxidants in insects.
What Are Antioxidants, Anyway?
We've all heard of antioxidants. It sounds healthy. But what exactly are antioxidants, and what is their function in the human body?
The consumption of antioxidant-rich foods plays an important role in preventing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. They also slow down cell aging, which is why substances with antioxidant effects are offered as "anti-aging" products.
Antioxidants inhibit the oxidation of various substances in the body. They neutralize free radicals that enter the body from the environment, through UV radiation, or exposure to pollutants. These highly reactive oxygen compounds can also form in the body itself, during immune responses, inflammation, or stress.
Eating Healthy to Stay Young
If these free radicals become too abundant, it's called oxidative stress, which can lead to cell damage. It is considered a contributing factor to aging and is associated with the development of various diseases. Antioxidant-rich foods can counteract this phenomenon.
Some well-known antioxidants include Vitamin C, Vitamin D, or carotenoids. A particularly high content can be found in orange juice, nuts, or cruciferous vegetables. But crickets also contain a surprisingly large amount. They have five times more antioxidants than orange juice. Further experiments outside the lab are needed to determine how many of these nutrients are ultimately available to the human body.
Nevertheless, this study once again shows how much untapped potential there is in insects as food. Insect farming offers a great opportunity to contribute to supplying the growing world population with nutrients. It will be exciting to see what the future of nutrition holds and what insights we will have in 10 years when we look back on today's decisions and considerations.
Stay open-minded and experimental!
#CricketsForTheFuture