Insects Protein Extraction Produces Healthy Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Insects are sustainable sources of protein and the oils extracted from them are the new sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. The scientists from Wageningen University studied which insects can give the best quality oil. "The oil appeared to contain a lot of fatty acids," Daylan Tzompa Sosa, Ph.D., researcher of Wageningen University said.

Science Daily states that Sosa extracted oil from soldier flies, beetle larvae, cockroaches, mealworms, grasshoppers and crickets -- describing and comparing the smell of the oils. She also said that oil can be mined in an environment-friendly way that would make the best quality oil.

WebMD reports that omega-3 fatty acids from certain fish have numerous health benefits. These include boosting the effectiveness of anti-inflammatory drugs that are good for those who have rheumatoid arthritis.  Researchers found out that these fatty acids can improve the baby's brain development. It also prevents the risk of certain conditions such as depression, asthma, ADHD, dementia and Alzheimer's disease. However, there is only a certain amount of these fatty acid intakes.

Meanwhile, the  AOCS shared that insects are not only considered as the sources of nutrition but also for industrial, medical and foodservice applications. In Sudan, they collected and extracted bugs such as the melon bugs and the sorghum bugs -- using such extracted oils for medicinal and cooking purposes.

And in some part of Central Sudan, they used "bug oils" to shield their camels against dermatological viruses. They also found out that oils extracted from these bugs have fatty acids and physicochemical properties that may be compared with oils of sunflower, cottonseed, groundnut and sesame. And generally, the insect's oil is highly regarded as a stable source of healthy omega-3 fatty acids.