Do you know that a creature that can disgust people at a mere glance, could one day provide the ideal superfood for the masses: Cockroach milk, according to a new discovery.
New research published by scientists in the journal from the International Union of Crystallography (IUCrJ) found that the “milk” from a species of lactating cockroaches is remarkably rich in some essential nutrients humans need in their food.
The Pacific beetle cockroach (aka Diploptera punctata) is the only cockroach species known to give birth to live bug babies instead of laying eggs. According to the research, this particlular cockroach feeds its young a liquid substance (think milk) which, when consumed by the baby cockroaches, crystallizes in their stomach.
“The crystals are like a complete food – they have proteins, fats and sugars,” said Dr Sanchari Banerjee, the leading author of the study, in an interview with the Times of India.
Cockroach “milk” crystals have four times the amount of energy as an equal amount of cow’s milk. The crystals are also loaded with essential amino acids and release nutrients gradually as they are being digested.
“It’s time-released food,” said Prof Subramanian Ramaswamy, professor of biochemistry at the University of Iowa and senior author of the work.
“If you need food that is calorifically high, that is time-released and . . . complete, this is it.”
“They’re very stable. They can be a fantastic protein supplement,” said Mr Ramaswamy.
Report with help from Irish times and CNN
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