Food is commonly recognized as a substance containing nutritional elements for the human body. However, from the archeological record to today, there are many examples of items of food that are consumed for reasons other than simply fulfilling one’s dietary nourishments. In modern cultures, medical substances fit into this category, since they are properties that are ingested for reasons other than nutritional value. In Callahan’s article, ‘Eating dirt’, he not only discusses the nutritional elements of geophagy, nonetheless, he discusses a series of other benefits humans believe eating dirt provides (2003, pg. 153). In his article he mentions a quote by Stephen Jay Gould stating, “we live now in the ‘Age of Bacteria.’ Our planet has always
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It is clear that the Western world is still far away from accepting entomophagy as a daily eating practice, however, the many medical purposes that insects pertain is becoming a topic that is more open to discussion (DeFoliart, 1999, 45). It is interesting to see how the western world is known to consume non-nutritional food items, such as fast foods, however, they are so resistant of entomophagy; a source of food that has many medical benefits. Many regions in India have adapted to entomophagy, and have proved its benefits to medicinal practices. Refocusing on the idea of living in the Age of Bacteria, it is clear that becoming immune to the earth’s natural products are an important part of boosting one’s immune system. Entomophagy is a cultural phenomenon in foreign cultures, and is a tradition that lives on to harness the food of their ancestor’s. All in all, entomophagy is a form of food in modern cultures that contains non-dietary benefits to health. In anthropological studies, it is important to understand a holistic perspective on findings. This is why understanding entomophagy, as a way for foreign countries to harness tradition and culture is an important benefit of its eating practice. Insects are a form of food for many foreign cultures today, and continue produce many benefits that extend further than filling one’s daily nutritional
It is clear that the Western world is still far away from accepting entomophagy as a daily eating practice, however, the many medical purposes that insects pertain is becoming a topic that is more open to discussion (DeFoliart, 1999, 45). It is interesting to see how the western world is known to consume non-nutritional food items, such as fast foods, however, they are so resistant of entomophagy; a source of food that has many medical benefits. Many regions in India have adapted to entomophagy, and have proved its benefits to medicinal practices. Refocusing on the idea of living in the Age of Bacteria, it is clear that becoming immune to the earth’s natural products are an important part of boosting one’s immune system. Entomophagy is a cultural phenomenon in foreign cultures, and is a tradition that lives on to harness the food of their ancestor’s. All in all, entomophagy is a form of food in modern cultures that contains non-dietary benefits to health. In anthropological studies, it is important to understand a holistic perspective on findings. This is why understanding entomophagy, as a way for foreign countries to harness tradition and culture is an important benefit of its eating practice. Insects are a form of food for many foreign cultures today, and continue produce many benefits that extend further than filling one’s daily nutritional