Don’t think eating bugs can be good for you then think again. People all over the globe have shared a meal of some creepy crawlies. Take the famous philosopher Aristotle who loved to dine on cicadas a fly looking grasshopper bug. But if eating funny looking creatures isn’t your thing read on.
The type of bugs I’m talking about aren’t the kind found crawling around the outside of your bus instead they’re living bacteria that are good for you. These good bugs are called probiotics and they lend a helping hand to the bacteria naturally present in your body.
Throughout our digestive system there are numerous friendly bacteria living. Sometimes the balance of these bacteria can get upset and consuming probiotics can help temporarily restore that balance1. So if you have a cold, taken antibiotics, or travel regularly then you can definitely benefit from a little more bugs in your life.
Activia is a popular brand of yogurt out there that has these good bugs. Their strain of probiotic bacteria has even been shown to get things moving along a bit faster and help with the occasional irregularity1. A probiotic, Oxalobacter formigenes, has even been shown to help prevent recurring kidney stones2. This bacteria is already present in our gut and it helps break down the stuff that kidney stones are made out of. From digestive health to kidney stones probiotics have been linked with helping a variety of problems.
Great ways to eat more bugs
- Stash some yogurt on the bus for a quick and easy snack
- Use Greek yogurt instead of mayo for tuna salad
- Ease away your aches and pains with a tart cherry smoothie
- Get them in the sour cream dips for your chips or veggies
- Everyone loves a good 3 Layer Mexican Dip
~ The Roadie Intern, Amanda
1. Activia. http://www.activia.us.com/DigestiveHealth/about-digestive-health.aspx
2. Colin S. Stewart, et al. “Oxalobacter formigenes and Its Potential Role in Human Health.” Applied & Environmental Microbiology 68.8 (2002)Just Wendy Jo
