Cockroach 'Milk' Is Trending Again Because It's Healthy But People Want It To Stop
By Mustafa GatollariUpdated Jan. 8 2019, 3:59 p.m. ET
There are some health trends that seem super gross but are ultimately good for you, so you act like an adult and begrudgingly try them out.
Like people's unnatural obsession with kale.
But although kale has the uncanny ability to absolutely ruin any salad it touches, in my opinion, there are some health foods that take grossness to a whole other level: like incorporating "bug protein" into foods.
I know, it sounds nasty to eat insects and that's because they are totally gross looking. Logically, it makes perfect sense to farm bugs and consume them for sustainability purposes. There are worm burgers currently being sold in Germany, and cricket protein cookies on shelves in supermarkets all over America, and they're much cheaper to produce and pack just as much, if not more, nutrition than our current go-to protein sources.
But there's something that somehow sounds even grosser than eating straight-up crickets and ground worms, believe it or not, and that disgusting food is cockroach milk.
Why Cockroach Milk Is the New Health Obsessionhttps://t.co/XM9n4wvnj6 pic.twitter.com/gsW7F82Ezl
— Marie Claire (@marieclaire) May 22, 2018People are trying to push this idea that 'Cockroack Milk' is a new health trend that we're all getting obsessed over, but, it's just not happening.
cockroach milk is the new wave? pic.twitter.com/UM4OIeBqgF
— Mr. Barcelona (@col1015) May 23, 2018Sure, the 'milk' is actually crystals produced by a specific breed of cockroaches to feed their young.
Cockroach milk crystals have more than 3x the energy of dairy milk. Seriously.https://t.co/eTfRwKROsA
— AJ+ (@ajplus) July 29, 2016So it's not like people are going around and 'milking' cockroach boobies in order to get at the that sweet roach nectar.
And there are some people who are ready to try slurping on cockroach crystals because the health benefits are undeniable. It packs more than double the fat, sugar, and protein than other milk.
I’ll try to get through this script... no promises. Must be #HumpDay 😂 #CockroachMilk #Gross @WVLALocal33 pic.twitter.com/PHoiKge4BW
— Gerron Jordan (@GerronJordan) April 11, 2018The scientific and nutrition community is, of course, interested by the news because, again, logically speaking this is a big, big deal with huge implications for everyone all over the world. World hunger could be affordably addressed if we cultivated cockroach crystals to produce low-cost sustenance for impoverished nations.
But it doesn't mean that people aren't very confused.
....how does one milk a cockroach, exactly? It’s not like it’s got mammary glands....
— Dr Mel Thomson (@DrMel_T) May 23, 2018Even if they are finding the news fascinating.
the cockroaches make little nutritionally dense protein crystals and feed them to their young. :3
— wereoctopus (@wereoctopus) May 23, 2018As it turns out, eating the crystals can exacerbate other issues, like inducing acne. Probably because your body is so disgusted it's literally breaking out to stop you from eating cockroach secretions.
Cockroach milk = Crystalline protein secretions for larvae.
“there is evidence that shows that GH [in roaches] may exacerbate acne in certain individuals" - Dr. Nazarian
Trust me, Doc. The acne will be the furthest thing from anyone’s mind...#RDchat #disgusting #health https://t.co/PQBuqeVWG4
— Dustin Moore, MS, RD (@theamericanrd) May 23, 2018Nevertheless the memes about cockroach milk already began rolling in.
“Honestly, I just think you aren’t drinking enough cockroach milk. If you really wanted that glow, you’d actually commit.”
— stephanie ruby (@rubyjnkie) May 23, 2018Everyone was taking their shots at the nasty news.
Blech is an interjection. It means "an exclamation of disgust, revulsion, etc."
There are many uses, including in response to an offer of cockroach milk. https://t.co/qipaCHiqqh https://t.co/9eMs6NUfa1
— Dictionary.com (@Dictionarycom) May 23, 2018Even throwing some shade at celebs:
My first thought when reading this article was: “Enough’s enough, Gwyneth Paltrow.”
— hil.i.am (@hilaryluros) May 23, 2018It's pretty obvious though that people just aren't having it.
WE ALREADY TAKED ABOUT THIS AND THE ANSWER WAS NO. https://t.co/Bis2uQesvR
— Celeste Ng (@pronounced_ing) May 23, 2018I mean how many individuals are out there running around, excited to drink cockroach milk?
I really don't understand how anyone who has battled cockroach infestations would ever look at them and go, "You know what would really kick this situation up a notch? Using them for my milk." https://t.co/TUcnsf8sOX
— Miranda Yaver (@mirandayaver) May 23, 2018Some people pointed out that there are plenty of plant milk alternatives, like pea milk.
there’s like 10 different kinds of plant milk but sure go ahead and drink fucking cockroach milk pic.twitter.com/VXm3slkTuN
— Krista Marie ⓥ (@kristaforwalkin) March 24, 2018I mean it could have some benefits.
Cockroach milk is how we're gonna survive the post-nuclear apocalypse
— JAM (@ninjyte) May 23, 2018Scientists: Cockroach "milk" is remarkably rich in protein, fat and sugar https://t.co/5ghOLkLAPm pic.twitter.com/FS01j6dcSY
— CNN (@CNN) July 30, 2016But in the end, is it worth it?
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