Saturday, March 3, 2007

Entomophagy

Abstract
The topic of this paper is using insects as alternative food. It argues that there are many characteristics in the insects make them an excellent source of food. The first is that insects are very healthy food. The second is that insects are cheaper compared them with other kinds of meats. Third, is that insects are tasty. Finally, insects are widely available.
Outline
Entomophy
Thesis: insects should be eaten for a variety of reasons.
I. Introduction
A. What do you think, eating insects is delicious?
B. Edible insects is on issue
C. Thesis: insects should be eaten for a variety of reasons.
II. Background
A. What is Entomophagy ?
1. Using insects as a food source (Bircz, 2002)
B. History of Entomophy
1. Many people worldwide have been eating edible insects since ancient
time.
2. Forty - four kinds of insects are considered edible. (Bircz, 2002)
C. Who argues about Entomophagy?
1. People who eat insects as a food.
2. Group of people who against eating insects.
III. Main Arguments
A. Insects are a very cheap source of food.
1. Example of how insects saving money. (Bricz, 2002)
2. Some factors that lead to drop in insects cost.
B. Insects are tasty food.
1. about the ways that people like to eat insects in.
2. Example of how people cook insects. (UA Beetle A Day", 1999)
3. Some restaurant offer insects in menu to attract customer.
C. Insects are healthy food
1. Insects body full of vitamins and minerals.
2. Example of what caterpillars' bodies are contain about. (2004)
3. Example of protein that insects' bodies are contain about. (Bircz, 2002)
D. Insects are widely available.
1. The places where insects are usually found.
2. about how insects increase in the world.
E. Opponents opinion
1. Opponents said eating insects are toxic.
2. The opposite opinion that said not toxic.
3. A bout some evidences that have given to prove how insects are not
toxic.
IV. Conclusion
A. Four reasons
B. We should eat insects as a source of food.

Entomophgy
What do you think is eating insects is delicious? Actually, chewing insects is something disgusting to see on T.V. When TV. watchers see a contender eat crickets or worms, their stomachs get upset. However, nowadays eating insects is not something nasty anymore. Many countries eat edible insects as a main course or even as snack. This is very common in many different countries, but in the United States, and Europe, edible insects are not common yet. Insects should be eaten for a variety of reasons such as they are cheap and economical, delicious, healthy, and widely available.
The definition of Entomophagy is the process of eating insects as a food source" (Bircz, 2002, para.1). Many people worldwide have been eating edible insects since ancient times, they believe that insects are healthy and delicious. In fact, "Forty-four kinds of insects are considered edible by the National Institute of Thai Traditional Medicine". ("A Beetle A Day", para. 12). There are many types of insects are eaten such as grasshoppers, beetles, locusts, termites, and crickets. Every culture has different kinds of insects and ways to cook them. Koreans eat fried grasshoppers as a side dish. In China insects double as food and medicine. In addition, Africans eat terminates raw or turn them into cooking oil. On the other hand, according to Kanwee," insects are a real health hazardn even if cooked before being eaten, He said the cockroach spreads disease because it is host to a number of dangerous viruses and bacteria and a carrier of parasites like Raillentina suzerain and Moniliformis which can cause stomach ache, diarrhea, tiredness and hallucinations". (as cited in "A Beetle A Day", 1990, para. 14). Include insects in your meal, they will provide you more nutrients.
First, insects are a very cheap source of food. In Bricz's article (2002), he claims that the prices of meat products are expensive comparing with insects price (para.1). Shoppers can save many dollars when they buy insects products. In addition, Insects are cheaper because they are easily to rise. In fact, there are no machines are wants to raise or help insects generate rapidly, which means no cost for machines are added when someone need to buy insects. Furthermore, their smaller size helped insects' price decrease because shoppers can buy insects in the same cost of meat with three times more in amount. Also, insects do not need special food to eat, they eat plants from everywhere. Insects get their food from flower, falling fruit, and grass. What that means is raising insects are free. There are no processing, no machines, and no special food. All these elements decrease insects' price. If poverty countries sell insects as a food, more people will afford them.
Second, "there are an estimated 2,000 insect species that are consumed around the world and people do not just eat insects, they relish them as delicacies". (Fromme, 2005, para. 2). That shows that insects are tasty besides their benefits as a good alternative source of food. There are many different ways to eat insect, like some people put chocolate on it and make a desert. In addition, insects can be made into spices or even cooking oil. Some Chinese chiefs put insects as a flavor to the food. In fact, according to "A Beetle A Day "some people [fry] grasshoppers and beetles to make very delicious snack". (para. 4). In addition, some high level restaurants in America to grab customers, they offer insects meal in their menu such as a nice dish with beetles, while the other restaurants offer insects as an appetizer. Because insects are crispy, many people exclaim that insects have the most wonderful taste they have ever taste.
Third, if you want a healthy food, Insects will provide you that. Insects contain more protein, fat, and carbohydrates than an equal serving of fish, meat, or even chicken. Moreover, according to a 2004, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FDA) report, caterpillars for many species are rich in potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and iron, as well as B-vitamins. So, insects provide human's body with all what he needs to be in a good health for a long time. In Bircz's article (2002), "Entomophagy", he states that "while insects are high in protein and relatively low in fat they are also a "clean food source because many feed-off fresh plants". (para.S). Insects feed on plant, so that is why their bodies have a lot of vitamins and minerals.
Lastly, grasses, forests, bushes, gardens, farms, and zoo are places where insects are usually found. Insects are in trees, in plants, and flying in the air. In all continents insects are available like Asia, Africa, Australia, and South America. It is easy to gather insects than hunt any kind of animal. Besides, millions and millions of insects are generated in a day. So, there will be always enough insects to eat. Furthermore, there is a variety of insects' kinds. They come in many colors, shapes, and sizes, insects are a massive alternative source of food.
Opponents claim that insets are toxic and harmful; they believe that edible insects can make them sick if they eat them. This opinion is not true because people who said that they do not buy these insects from markets. They may be hunt them or find them around house, and eat them. In addition, There is study shows that edible insects like ants make people live longer, which means edible insects are not dangerous for human body. Also, if insects are risky, why some cultures make medicine from them to prevent diseases like weak lungs, and back pain. In addition, how insects are toxic and their bodies full of minerals and vitamins. Moreover, if insects are toxic, why Asian people are the healthiest people in the world, and they eat insects for a previous time. Americans have not been exposed to anything like this before. Recently more and more people are becoming more open minded and trying different things like eating edible insects. Insects will be the best source of medicine for scientists in next decade.
In conclusion, insects should be eaten worldwide because they are cheap, tasty, and healthy. A person cannot judge something without trying it. Research shows that eating edible insects are healthy for your health and are also used to make medicine. In fact, eating edible insects is not a new thing it has been around for ages and looks like (Americans) are starting to pick up on this trend. People have been eating edible insects for many years and they are alive and well to talk about it. Restaurants are starting to sell edible insects so we know that they are tasty. If you care about your health, want to try something new, and want to save some money, you may want to give edible insects a try.

References
A beetle a day. (1999, July, 6). National Multimedia Group. Retrieved February
22, 2007, from http://65.54.161.250/ cgi-bin/getmsg/insects1.html
Bircz, RA.(2002). Entomophagy: Using insects as a food source.
eSSORTMENT. Retrieved February 22,2007, from
http://essortment.com/entomophagyeati_rnkm.htm
Fromme, A. (2005, August). Edible Insects. Zoogoer34(4). Retrieved February
22,2007, from http://nationalzoo.sLedu/publications
/zoog oer/2 005/4/ed iblei nsects. cfm
Insects as food for humans. (2006). Retrieved February 22, 2007, from
http://members.aol.com/yesclub2/ecology05.html
Madsen, D. B. (1989, July). A Grasshopper in Every Pot. Natural History
. Pp.22-25. Retrieved February 22,2007, from
http://www. hollowtop. com/fin L html/hu ntgathers. htm
Planning to survive on insects? (2006, November). Chemicals And Toxic
Survival. Retrieved February 22,2007, from
http://www.andinia.com/b2evolution/index.php?blog =6&cat= 138
By Alabdulwahab, Yasmeen

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