Eating insects is good for the intestines. Free Technical Library News

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Eating insects is good for the intestines

11.08.2018

More than two billion people worldwide regularly consume insects, which are a good source of protein, vitamins, minerals and healthy fats. This product is not only popular in Asian countries, it is also gaining popularity in Europe and the United States. It is considered as a sustainable, environmentally friendly source of protein that can replace traditional meat.

A research team from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA) was interested in testing for the first time in clinical trials the health effects of eating insects in humans. They used crickets as a test product in their trials.

Crickets, like other insects, contain chitin fibers, which are different from the dietary fiber found in fruits and vegetables. In its biological role, chitin is close to plant fiber. Like fiber, chitin improves the functioning of the body. Its fibers serve as a source of beneficial bacteria, and several other fiber types promote the growth of beneficial bacteria, also known as probiotics. A small study by American scientists showed whether insect fibers can affect bacteria found in the human gastrointestinal tract.

For two weeks, 20 healthy men and women aged 18 to 48 ate either a regular breakfast or a breakfast containing 25 grams of ground crickets added to muffins and smoothies. Over the next two weeks, both groups switched places.

The researchers collected blood samples and stool samples. Using blood samples, they determined the level of glucose in the blood and the level of enzymes associated with the functioning of the liver, as well as the amount of protein. Stool samples were tested for by-products of microbial metabolism in the human gut, inflammatory chemicals associated with the gastrointestinal tract, and the overall composition of microbial communities present in the stool. Participants also completed a questionnaire in which they answered questions about their GI function immediately before the start of the study, immediately after the first two-week diet period, and immediately after the second period.

The scientists found no signs of a change in the overall microbial composition or signs of intestinal inflammation. Instead, they saw an increase in a metabolic enzyme associated with gut health and a decrease in an inflammatory protein called TNF-alpha in the blood. In addition, there was an increase in beneficial gut bacteria such as Bifidobacterium animalis, a probiotic that has been associated with improved gastrointestinal function. These bifidobacteria are added to various products - for example, Danone's Activia yogurt.

Despite the positive results, more and more research is needed to replicate this data and determine which components of crickets may help improve gut health.

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