Silkworm chrysalis has always been loved by many people as a high-protein food, but people who don’t like to eat it find it very scary. It's obviously a bug, so why eat it?
From the perspective of Western medicine, silkworm pupae are rich in nutrients, containing about 60 grams of amino acids and nearly 10 grams of fat per 100 grams, and are also very rich in flavonoids and polyphenols, which can It is a kind of food known as high protein and low fat, and has the title of "Food Protein King". Not only that, in the field of traditional Chinese medicine, silkworm chrysalis also has medicinal value.
According to historical research, silkworm chrysalises have been used as vegetables in our country for thousands of years. The more common cooking method today is to fry, but at that time steaming was more common. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that silkworm chrysalis is sweet, salty and pungent, can produce fluid, quench thirst, eliminate food, regulate qi, and has a good therapeutic effect on improving malnutrition, weight loss and thirst in children.
From this point of view, silkworm chrysalis can indeed be used as food, and can also bring considerable benefits to people's health. If you usually like to eat silkworm chrysalis, you may also be able to reap these benefits. But many people have overlooked a problem, silkworm chrysalis poisoning.
Mr. Hong (pseudonym) from Zhejiang Province developed symptoms of red ears and multiple rashes. He scratched his ears from time to time and was very uncomfortable. This symptom appeared after eating silkworm chrysalis, and the symptoms continued to worsen in the afternoon. Until early in the morning, he began to feel chest tightness and discomfort, and was rushed to the hospital.
After the examination, he was diagnosed as "silkworm chrysalis poisoning". To be honest, this situation is not uncommon.
Many people may experience symptoms such as red rash and chest tightness when eating silkworm chrysalis for the first time. Not only silkworm pupae, but also bamboo insects, bee pupae, grasshoppers, etc. There may be some safety hazards hidden in these foods. If you like to eat, you should also pay more attention to it.
The first is that the high protein content in these bugs likely poses a risk. Proteins in silkworm chrysalises, grasshoppers and other insects are also heterologous proteins. If people are allergic to this protein or allergic to seafood, they are likely to have allergic reactions to it, with symptoms such as red and swollen lips, itching, and gastrointestinal discomfort. , bad for health.
Secondly, silkworm pupae are likely to contain certain pathogenic bacteria. If the correct method is not used to deal with it, it is likely to cause food poisoning. Purely natural silkworm pupae cannot be eaten without processing. They must be cooked thoroughly by steaming or frying before they can be eaten normally.
The third reason is that some silkworm pupae are wild. Insecticides or pesticides need to be sprayed on some green trees. The drugs seep into the branches and soil, and may also be absorbed into the body by the silkworm pupae. , may also cause people to have the adverse effects of food poisoning after eating it.
Sometimes, eating silkworm chrysalises without causing poisoning does not mean that food poisoning will not occur in the future. You must master scientific eating methods every time and control the amount you eat, so as not to increase the burden on your digestive system and threaten your health.
Teach you how to choose good silkworm chrysalises, which will make you feel more at ease when eating them
First of all, there are two main states of silkworm chrysalis: yellow and black. The yellow silkworm chrysalis looks better, but the black one tastes better. From the perspective of nutritional value, there is almost no difference. But when people choose silkworm chrysalis, they must choose fresh ones.
For example, look at the eyes of a silkworm chrysalis, which are the two black spots in the front. The eyes of silkworm chrysalises become darker, indicating that they are no longer very fresh, and it is not recommended to continue eating them. There are also small white spots on the head of the silkworm chrysalis, which can also indicate that it is relatively fresh. If it turns black, it means that it is not very fresh.
If you accidentally eat spoiled or stale silkworm chrysalis, you will be more likely to suffer from gastrointestinal discomfort and affect digestion.
Silkworm chrysalis itself is a food with relatively high nutritional value, but some people find it difficult to accept it because of its appearance, which is normal. If you like to eat silkworm chrysalis and eat it often, you may want to pay more attention to some details, such as choosing fresh silkworm chrysalis and how to cook it. Be careful when eating to avoid similar food poisoning incidents.
Extended reading: Hidden bugs and delicacies
In Yunnan, Fujian and other places in my country, there is a eating habit of eating "bugs". For example, there are about 2,000 kinds of edible insects in Yunnan, especially in places where there are many ethnic minorities. Eating insects is a very common behavior, and there are also rumors like the "Eighteen Monsters of Yunnan".
Fujian, Xiamen and other places also have the custom of eating bamboo shoot jelly. The frozen product is made from cleaned sandworms. It looks very flexible. If you don’t know the raw materials, you may mistake it for the real thing. Bamboo shoots have deceived many people.
The delicacies made by these insects have relatively strong regional characteristics. People can treat them as special delicacies. If you want to try them, you should also choose reliable cooking methods and eat them appropriately. Pay attention. Observe your body's performance. After all, the proteins in these insect delicacies are often heterologous proteins, which may bring the risk of allergy to the human body.