There are currently more than 2 billion people on earth that eat insects, and for good reason! Edible insects have exceptional nutritional qualities such as high protein, vitamin, and mineral content, which are beneficial to human health, especially for athletes. In fact, some edible insects are more nutritionally dense than many traditionally eaten meats.

A complete protein source

For athletes in particular, it is essential to consume an adequate amount of complete protein. What constitutes as a complete protein? Complete proteins contain a sufficient proportion of thenine essential amino acids, which are critical for healthy functioning of the body.

You might know that animal-based food products such as chicken or beef are good sources of complete protein and that plant-based products often lack several essential amino acids. But what about crickets?

Cricket powder is an excellent source of complete protein. In fact, crickets are composed of 60% protein! This means that if you consume 100 grams of cricket powder, you will get 60 grams of high quality protein, whereas if you consume identical portions of chicken and beef jerky, you will get only 31 and 43 grams, respectively.

Therefore, crickets contain almost twice as much protein on a per weight basis than regular meat! Crickets are also considered a superfood rich in fiber, calcium, iron, omega 3, and vitamin B12, all of which are essential for yourhealth.

Athletes need to consume approximately 2-3X more protein than the recommended daily intake to recover from intense physical activity. Opting more more eco-friendly protein sources, such as plant-based protein or insect protein, is a great way to meet protein requirements while being kind to the planet. As you may know, animal protein production and farming is not sustainable: it wastes a lot of water and contributes to deforestation and global warming.

A sustainable protein

Our world is currently facing significant and urgent food shortages. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that about 795 million people currently suffer from a chronic lack of nutritious food. With the world’s population at a steady increase, we will not be able to sustain the world’s current protein diet by the year 2050.

According to areport of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation (FAO), consumption of insects, such as crickets, is an ideal alternative to meat to replace protein sources. The production of cricket powder requires fewer resources than the production of animal protein and creates less waste. Cricket farming also requires 2,000 times less water than beef farming! The benefits don't stop there. Cricket farming produces 100 times less greenhouse gas, uses 13 times less arable land, and 12 times less feed compared to beef farming.

Easy to cook

With its slight nutty flavor and floury texture,cricket powder is easy to integrate into your everyday recipe! Simply add 2 spoons of cricket powder to your smoothies or baked goods for a complete protein boost.

Still not convinced?Click here to find out more and find all our recipe ideas on our blog.