Cockroaches Have More Nutritional Value Than Your Protein Shake

In today’s news to make you say, “That’s disgusting,” it turns out cockroaches serve a greater purpose than simply to invade our homes as the annoying pests they are.

Historically, salmon, blueberries, and kale have been touted as a few of the most nutrient-rich foods we can put into our bodies. A new study by the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine in India (inStem), however, reveals that cockroach milk might be the greatest superfood yet.

Research shows the Pacific beetle cockroach has the mammal-like ability to produce milk to feed its offspring, and the milk it “lactates” is full of protein-dense crystals that boast essential amino acids, sugars and healthy fat.
Author of the study Subramanian Ramaswamy says this time-released milk is a complete food, carrying more than three times the caloric content than that of buffalo milk. Ramaswamy told inStem he and his colleagues plan to produce the crystals in mass quantity, saying, “They’re very stable. They can be a fantastic protein supplement.”

Pretty soon, health fanatics all over the world will be harboring these home invaders for their nutritional value rather than calling in pest control to take care of an overabundance of protein.