Vegans called neophobic for not wanting to eat insects as a source of protein

[cornivore]

I don't know if this has been brought up before, but it's a fairly recent article. Insect Consumption Attitudes among Vegans, Non-Vegan Vegetarians, and Omnivores:

"Consumption of foods of insect origin is encouraged... Vegans appeared significantly more neophobic than non-vegan vegetarians and omnivores..."

What, are you scared? You are, aren't you, chicken! Here's what I want to know though: why are people so afraid of not eating enough protein? Now we have to eat insects to get enough... yeah right, as if people are getting stronger for all of this protein they're eating, nope. What does the animal we base the meaure of horse-power for engines on eat? Grains. Just to put it in perspective, I don't think insects must be eaten at all. It's like a false dichotomy on various levels, in my opinion.

[brimstoneSalad]

How weird. Vegans are no more opposed to insects than to chicken; it's not neophobia, it's not wanting to eat animals. To have an honest analysis they'd need to compare attitudes about eating insects to those on eating chicken, cows, etc.

What does the animal we base the meaure of horse-power for engines on eat? Grains. Just to put it in perspective, I don't think insects must be eaten at all. It's like a false dichotomy on various levels, in my opinion.

Mostly grass and other forage. They shouldn't eat too many grains (which are just the seeds of the grasses). Grasses themselves, in terms of macronutrient ratio, are much higher in protein. The fiber is converted into fatty acids in their digestive tract... so incidentally they're almost keto dieters in metabolic terms.

[cornivore]

Oh, I was thinking of feed bags, metaphorically. It's more interesting how they eat in the wild though.

[cornivore]

To have an honest analysis they'd need to compare attitudes about eating insects to those on eating chicken, cows, etc.

It seems like they came up with this hypothesis that people are primarily afraid of eating insects, because it's a new idea, and then they tried to make this fit the vegan mindset of being selective. As they imply that vegans are neophobic because they have food selection strategies and perceived behavioral control over food intake. By that standard, you could just as well call these scientists neophobic for not being vegan in the first place. After all, I'd say vegans are least neophobic for figuring out how to make that diet work on a personal level, without thinking they have to eat insects for protein.

[cornivore]

Another article says that eating less protein in particular tends to increase lifespan, along with calorie restriction in general.

Does eating less make you live longer and better?

"In fact, studies in humans, analyzing the composition of the diet, have reported very interesting findings. The evaluation performed by Pedersen et al led to the indication that an increase in all-cause mortality, type-2 diabetes mellitus, and CVD is possibly associated with low carbohydrate, high protein diets. The worst consequences were linked with animal-based proteins and other animal product–based diets, while vegetable-based proteins and other vegetable product–based diets were able to reverse the tendency. A later NHANES study published by Levine et al has showed, in agreement with previous data, that the problems implicated by a higher protein diet in people under 65 years of age are eliminated by the consumption of vegetable- rather than animal-based protein. In participants aged 50–65 years with the highest protein intake (more than 20% of calories from protein), all-cause mortality increased by 75% and cancer and diabetes mortality increased four times. However, in participants over 65 years, a reverse association occurred as subjects consuming the highest protein intake had a 28% reduction in mortality. Therefore, the source of protein may be as crucial as the amount of protein in the diet."

This just makes it even funnier that people are grovelling to eat insects for extra protein.

[brimstoneSalad]

AFAIK the link is thought to be with methionine, which has borne out in lab studies on animals (where the effects of limiting that one amino acid are similar to limiting calories).

Right, it doesn't really make sense to be going after insects as a healthier source of protein. It's more sustainable than land animal meat, but no reason to believe it's better than plant protein in terms of sustainability and at least some reason to believe it's inferior to plants for health.