Are crickets the natural prebiotic?

With the move to natural, healthy and whole-food food production we are seeing a reduction in allergies and health problems. A large part of this is the prevalence of natural good bacteria especially that of the gut. With a healthy body comes a healthy mind and good gut bacteria makes for improved mental health and general well being.

“Crickets, in particular, we’re shown to provide a remarkably complex array of proteins and a unique type of fibre that helps balance the microbiota in your intestines. When the bad outweighs the good bacteria in your gut, your ability to fight off disease is thwarted. This imbalance, known as dysbiosis, is linked to metabolic problems, gastrointestinal issues, noncommunicable diseases, allergies, asthma and even a bad mood” - Mercola.

Our bodies host billions of bacterial cells. The gut bacteria impacts your metabolism, gene expression, immune function, energy and mood. What’s in your gut affects your overall health and your diet has a massive influence on your health too.

"Diet is an especially relevant factor in defining the composition of gut microbiota, and even small shifts have demonstrated meaningful effects. Dietary diversity is linked with a more diverse, healthy microbiota that is more adept at adjusting to perturbations. Indigestible dietary carbohydrates (dietary fibres) are the primary energy sources for gut microbiota, and thus shape microbial growth. Not surprisingly, dietary fibre intake has been shown to contribute to the health of the gut microbiome by increasing diversity in fecal microbiota, and high fibre intake has been associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer, diverticular disease, coronary heart disease and metabolic syndrome.” Scientific Reports

The hormones and antibiotics present in feed for cattle can be passed though to us by the consumption of milk and meat potentially killing off some of good bacteria within us leaving our immune system weak. Intensive agriculture has led to a rise in gut issues from gluten and lactose which were not as great a problem 30 years ago. Research is continuing in this area but based on what we know so far, the information is leading to more conscientious consumers. 

This has been recently visible in the consumption of bread where those suffering from Gluten allergies have been able to comfortably eat sourdough and naturally leavened bread again . The white bread loaf with its stripped nutrients is quickly manufactured but had resulted in an increase of allergies likely in part due to its lack of good bacteria. 

So what are effective ways to improve our gut health and our mental health as a consequence?

Well, the probiotic industry is a growing industry expected to grow a further 10 percent over the next few years. Although currently very expensive Genome Mapping has opened up a new world of bacterial understanding. Being able to identify an individuals gut health can help target potential health problems. With this understanding, good bacteria can be transferred from one host to another. Without the accessibility to this advance technology, “trusting your gut” as the old saying goes is enough to find out whats good for you. By consuming pro biotic foods that are proven to support gut health and through trial and error you can work out what your body responds to and needs. However there are natural ways to boost the good bacteria in your gut. Drinking fermented drinks and foods such as Kimchi, Kombucha and other fermented teas will do just that. Most recent studies have shown that consuming cricket powder is a great way to provide all the bacterial benefits you need for your gut.

“Insects like crickets offer fibre known as chitin, the polysaccharide exoskeleton of most arthropods, which is different from the fibre in fruits and vegetables. Lead study author Valerie Stull, of the University of Wisconsin, also explained that dietary fibre are "indigestible dietary carbohydrates" that the human body doesn't absorb, but they're the most prominent food and energy sources needed to develop gut health. "Basically," she explains, "the fibre that we're getting in our diet is shaping the growth of microbes in our gut." - Mercola

As we look for ways to improve our overall health, often the most natural solutions have the greatest affect. Cricket powder is known for its protein content, even its high amino acid and b12 content but could this be an easy affective way to balance your gut?

Add one scoop of cricket powder to any dish or smoothie or check out our recipes for inspiration. Start seeing the benefits for yourself.

We are always excitedly researching and developing new products. One of these being a protein Kombucha.