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by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.
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Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

If the Economy Gets Any Worse, You Might Want to Try Adding Bugs to Your Diet

Thursday March 4, 2010

Let's face it: Things are pretty grim here and around the world. Maybe we are not as bad off as Greece, or Haiti or many other countries formerly rich or always poor, at least not yet. But, things are bad and could get worse. Much worse. Sooner or later, people like you (if you are fortunate), middle class folks not accustomed to hard times, may get hammered. If that happens, lifestyles, as least aspects of lifestyle dependent on an ability to spend, will change. Modest cuts many have already made—fewer vacations, public rather than private schools, a switch to a more fuel efficient car, fewer meals at fancy restaurants and the like, will not suffice. No, if and when deficits go into what is perceived as a death spiral and taxes rise, unemployment rates quadruple, inflation soars, supplies of goods evaporate and panic threatens, dramatic sacrifices will be the norm.

Which brings me to the point of this essay—eating bugs.

A few years ago, I was asked by someone into health food and nature in a big way if a wellness diet might include bugs. This person was well off, and wanted to know for health, not economic reasons. So, I did a little research on the topic.

Of course, it is a lot easier to get over negative cultural conditioning about eating bugs if you are really, really hungry. Bugs are in fact a good food source and have long been enjoyed in many parts of the world. We have a museum dedicated to bugs, located in our national capital, but not many supermarkets carry the product.

Let me tell you about the museum. It's called the Orkin Insect Zoo. It is a part of the National Museum of Natural History. One goal of the museum has always been to encourage Americans to think outside the bounds of narrow cultural programming. This, of course, does not mean the curators of the Orkin Insect Zoo have ever promoted the consumption of bugs. Instead, the zoo folks simply sought to engender a better appreciation for the role of bugs in nature. We have much in common with bugs.

Consider Francis P. Church, the man who authored the 1897 letter that appeared as an editorial in The New York Sun entitled, "Is There A Santa Claus?" He wrote, "In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him..." Mr. Francis showed that, from an ecological perspective, insects are very, very important to humans, even if we never ever were to eat one, which as I mentioned people do all over the world. Humans are in a highly interdependent relationship with bugs, whether we want to admit it or not. In some countries, insects are a dietary staple, even a gourmet delight. Bugs are very high in protein and contain all the essential amino acids.

So, if the country goes to hell in a Tea Bagger, Republican or other handbasket or some other way plunges into an economic crisis and you can't afford or can't obtain your favorite foods anymore at supermarkets or elsewhere, keep bugs in mind.

You will want to read up on insects before the power goes out and you can't conveniently Google whatever it is you need to know about them (including recipes), so here are a few basics.

They can be enjoyed in pupae (newly hatched and worm-like) stages as well as in full adult forms. They are equally good dead or alive. Ants, bees, butterflies (especially caterpillars), cicadas, wasps and grasshoppers are favorites among bug eaters. It is said that fried wasps, mixed with boiled rice, sugar and soy sauce are out of this world, meaning a real five star treat. This dish was a favorite of Japan's late Emperor Hirohito.

If you already enjoy sushi, the transition should be easy. Cheers. Look on the bright side.

Note: An earlier version of this essay appeared here on May 11, 2001. It was then entitled "Are Bugs Good For You?"

Domain: physical
Subdomain: nutrition

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