Table of contents:
- Various foods from sago worms
- The benefits of eating sago worms for body health
- 1. Build muscle
- 2. Prevent various diseases
- 3. Improve mood and sports performance
Eating sago must be common, then what about eating sago worms? Sago caterpillar is a typical food of the people of eastern Indonesia. Although most people feel disgusted by this food, sago worms are considered a nutrient-rich food, you know. What are the benefits of eating sago worms? Let's find out more about the nutrition and benefits of the following sago worms.
Various foods from sago worms
When a sago palm or palm tree starts to rot, sago beetles will lay eggs around the trunk of the tree. After the eggs hatch, fat white caterpillars, known as sago worms, will appear. This caterpillar has a Latin name Rhynchophorus ferrugineus or also known by name red palm weevil .
Source: Insect Pests
Well, after the kumbang eggs hatch into caterpillars, the people of North Sumatra, East Kalimantan, South Sulawesi and Papua take the caterpillars to be processed as food. Sometimes they eat it raw, used as a side dish for savory rice, or made sago caterpillar serundeng.
In fact, these caterpillars are often made into snacks for children. For example skotel, rolled omelette, toast, tofu, sweet potato balls, croquettes, banana cake, lemper, and panada.
The benefits of eating sago worms for body health
According to research conducted by Nirmala IR, MSc, and colleagues, sago worms contain protein, carbohydrates, omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids, and amino acids.
Although there has been no further research regarding the benefits of sago worms, based on its nutrition there are several benefits that you may get, such as:
1. Build muscle
Sago worms are high in protein. Protein is an important component that plays a role in building and repairing body cells and tissues, such as bones, muscles and skin.
In addition, protein also helps the process of forming enzymes, hormones and other chemical compounds. The body does not naturally produce protein. So, you need protein intake from food, for example this sago caterpillar.
2. Prevent various diseases
Sago caterpillars also contain a variety of good fatty acids, such as oleic acid, omega 3, omega 6, and omega 9.
The content of fatty acids is believed to reduce inflammation in the body thereby reducing the risk of Alzhiemer's disease, depression, asthma, and rheumatism.
Many fatty acids are also made into supplements to reduce high triglyceride levels which are the cause of heart disease.
3. Improve mood and sports performance
Sago worms contain various types of amino acids, such as isoleucine, leucine, histidine, and phenylalanine. This amino acid helps produce serotonin, a brain chemical that can improve your mood and sleep cycle.
In addition, these fatty acids can also restore damaged muscles faster and reduce muscle soreness after exercise.
