Cricket powder, or cricket protein, has become a popular new trend in the world of fitness and sustainability. Many people have tried to switch to this eco-friendly new bug-based protein option, some successfully, others not so much. You may be wondering what all the fuss is about and whether or not this is a good option for you and your health program. This article will help by giving you an introduction to cricket protein and its benefits as well as some of its downfalls.

Health Value

One of the biggest benefits to cricket protein is its health benefits. Unlike most proteins besides whey protein, cricket protein is a complete protein, meaning that it contains all the amino acids that human bodies need to build and repair muscles. This makes it a highly attractive protein option for those who are active and interested in gaining muscle mass. 

In addition to its benefits as a straight protein, cricket powder has many other health benefits as an energy source. Cricket protein is rich in minerals, including zinc, copper, iodine, and manganese, full of fatty acids, and high in vitamin B. 

Sustainability

Another reason that people rave about cricket protein is that it is a great sustainable food option. Livestock farming, which provides us with the standard whey protein option, is one of the largest contributors to pollution worldwide. Raising crickets, however, requires significantly less land, does not emit nearly as much carbon dioxide, does not require antibiotics, and requires less feed per volume of protein produced. Because of all these factors, cricket farming and the process of producing cricket protein powder is much more economically friendly than many other food sources. 

Taste

One of the more negative aspects of cricket powder is that it does not have an appealing flavor profile. Many supporters of cricket protein claim that it has little to no taste, but most people who have tried it admit that it smells a bit like fish food and does not taste any better. Flavor can, of course, vary a bit depending one which brand you purchase, but be sure to add some other strong flavors to your cricket protein shake to make it a bit more palatable.

Give It A Try

Whatever you think about cricket protein, it certainly has a wide range of benefits if you can stomach the unfortunate taste. It is certainly worth giving it a try to see how it could be at least incorporated into your protein consumption as an environmentally-friendly, extremely healthy contribution.