Posted on 09/18/2023 7:58:43 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Digesting a crunchy critter starts with the audible grinding of its rigid protective covering—the exoskeleton. The hard cover might be good for the metabolism, according to a new study, in mice.
The researchers, led by Steven Van Dyken, Ph.D., found in mice that digesting chitin, an abundant dietary fiber in insect exoskeletons and also mushrooms and crustacean shells, engages the immune system. An active immune response was linked to less weight gain, reduced body fat and a resistance to obesity.
The immune system is well known for safeguarding the body against various threats, including bacteria, viruses, allergens and even cancer.
The researchers found that a particular arm of the immune system also is involved in chitin digestion. Stomach distention after chitin ingestion activates an innate immune response that triggers stomach cells to ramp up production of enzymes, known as chitinases, that break down chitin. Of note, chitin is insoluble—incapable of being dissolved in liquid—and thus requires enzymes and harsh acidic conditions to digest.
"We think chitin digestion mainly relies on the host's own chitinases," Van Dyken said. "The stomach cells change their enzymatic output through a process we refer to as adaptation."
The research team found that the greatest impact on obesity in mice occurred when chitin activated the immune system but was not digested. Mice fed a high-fat diet also were given chitin. Some mice lacked the ability to produce chitinases to break down chitin. The mice that ate chitin but couldn't break it down gained the least amount of weight, had the lowest body fat measurements and resisted obesity, compared with mice that didn't eat chitin and with those that did but could break it down.
If the mice could break down chitin, they still benefited metabolically, but they adapted by overproducing chitinases to extract nutrients from chitin.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
I really only expect most people to eat mushrooms, of the options.
You’ll eat Bugs, and you’ll be Happy!
Chitin is not digestible by people. Further many people will have a n immune system respomse to it, especially those with shellfish allergies.
You can obtain chitinosan as a supplement for weight loss. There was a study from 2004 that discussed this.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15311218/
Be aware that some people might be allergic to shrimp or crab. The WEF types want us to switch from cattle to bugs. Not sure if that includes shrimp and crabs.
I recall chitin supplements being touted for weight loss many years ago.
I knew a guy in Louisiana that died of iodine poisoning from eating too many oysters. His blood vessels collapsed and it was a horrible death. His skin color turned black.
Anecdotally, I’d noticed that mushrooms seemed to do that for me.
Regards,
.
And skinny!
Worthy of a Monty Python sketch.
Well done, Sir!
“ You’ll eat Bugs, and you’ll be Happy!”
The Fcuk I will.
“I knew a guy in Louisiana that died of iodine poisoning from eating too many oysters.”
Somebody should’a told him not to eat the shell!
He must have had some type of disorder that caused him to absorb metabolize and absorb too much.
I’m from Louisiana. When I was in high school, we went to Phil’s Oyster Bar and Seafood Market on Government Street in Baton Rouge every Thursday (only eat oysters harvested during winter) after school and ate raw oysters...sometimes 3-4-5 dozen for each of us, dipped in cocktail sauce with lots of horseradish and Tabasco...they never asked for ID so we could have a couple of their giant draft beers. We always went on Thursday because that is when the weekend shipment of fresh oysters came in. Sometimes we would take several dozen home with us to fry up for Po-boys on the weekends. The only bad effect that I had was that I got Hep-A...but recovered.
Phil’s is still in existence but has moved and become more of a full service seafood restaurant.
Next seafood dinner, eat the shell, toss the crab.................
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