Does the thought of eating bugs — even if they are nutritious and tasty — gross you out? If so, it’s time to get used to the idea, according to a recent article in the World Economic Forum.
The world population is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050 and the Forum explains that alternative and sustainable protein sources will play a large part in people eliminating meat-based protein from their diets and, instead, opting for sustainable, environmentally friendly and nutrient-rich foods.
Being aware of and choosing the best foods to eat is not only good for you, but good for the environment. As the featured article suggests, since agriculture is one of the biggest contributors to global warming, the best way to keep yourself and your environment healthy is to choose flavorful foods that are also nutritious, affordable and environmentally sound.
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You can start with whole, fresh, organic foods and pasture-raised meats, dairy, poultry and pork. By doing so, you can help reduce the environmental impact on your health that is caused by the toxic emissions of cattle and rice farms, fertilized fields and deforestation caused by factory farming.
Some of the worst impacts on the environment are the massive Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), with animal wastes contaminating water and releasing greenhouse gases like methane and nitrous oxide into the air.
The animals in these meat factories not only are eating food pumped full of antibiotics that are fueling a growing rise in antibiotic-resistant organisms (“superbugs”), but also have been fed a completely unnatural diet of genetically engineered grains that are often laden with pesticide and herbicide residue, or fishmeal. And that doesn’t even mention that their living conditions are often contaminated with feces or other disease-causing organisms because of the unsanitary conditions in which the animals are forced to live.
On the other hand, before you write off the value of insects, it helps to know that they, indeed, have nutritional value. For example, in a clinical trial, cricket powder eaten by study subjects increased their beneficial gut bacteria while decreasing an inflammatory blood protein linked to cancer and depression.
Crickets also provide a complex array of fats, proteins, vitamins and a unique type of fiber that can help balance the microbiota in your intestines; dysbiosis, or an imbalance, is linked to metabolic problems, gut issues and even depression. In China, many people eat cockroaches for food as they are known for their high protein content.
That said, if you’re not yet sold on eating insects, what can you do? Don’t despair, there are other foods and healthy options you can choose, including adding fermented vegetables to your plate, drinking black tea, exercising regularly and avoiding sugar.
In addition, here are 10 foods that are good for you:
1. Organic coconut oil
2. Sprouts, microgreens and baby greens
3. Organic raw nuts
4. Beets
5. Organic bone broth
6. Leeks
7. Allium vegetables such as garlic and onions
8. Broccoli, cauliflower and other cruciferous vegetables
9. Mushrooms
10. Wild-caught Alaskan salmon
When it comes to catalyzing change in the food system, you wield the greatest amount of power. Everyone eats food on a daily basis, and voting with your pocketbook is a very powerful way to create shifts in the marketplace.
Each time you buy food, you are putting money into one system or another, so give your money to the system you’d like to see grow. You can do this by choosing organic, whole, fresh foods and patronizing local, organic farmers markets and community-supported agriculture.