May 24: Move over, soy milk and oats milk, because cockroach milk is here. If you’re scowling in disbelief or skepticism right now, we don’t blame you. Cockroach milk? Since when does cockroach (an insect) produce milk?

Since new research found that cockroach milk, nutrient-rich milk crystals found inside the Pacific Beetle cockroach — used as food for cockroach infants — could be beneficial to humans.

How cockroach milk is good for you?

Cockroach milk is thought to be a powerhouse of nutrients, according to a study published in the Journal of the International Union of Crystallography. It boasts four times as much protein as cow’s milk, three times more than buffalo milk, but also contains essential amino acids that promote cell growth, lipids that keep our bodies healthy, and sugars that fuel energy.

“The crystals are like a complete food - they have proteins, fats and sugars. If you look into the protein sequences, they have all the essential amino acids,” Sanchari Banerjee, a researcher said, back in 2016.

How do you consume cockroach milk?

Clearly milking a cockroach isn’t the most feasible option. Inverse reports that cockroach milk has a more viable future as a pill, and that form might not be too far off in the future, though it would probably take somewhere in the ballpark of 100 cockroaches to produce a pill.

But do you really need cockroach milk?

It may seem like cockroach milk has its benefits, but is it the most nutritious option?

The exact concentration of nutrients in this ‘healthy’ milk are unknown, hence Kolkata-based general physician Dr Shayan Dasgupta won’t call it a ‘wonder drink’.

Instead if you are looking to try new versions, Dr Dasgupta says, “If its is low calories you’re after, almond milk is your match, but if you are after the milk that’s nutritionally rich, cow's milk is still the best choice.”

Is cockroach milk good for your beauty regimen?

The levels of growth hormone in cockroach milk are unknown, but there is evidence that shows that growth hormones may exacerbate acne in certain individuals, Marie Claire reports.

“The high levels of sugar may make it a poor choice in terms of skin health and beauty, as we know that high-sugar diets actually accelerate skin aging. However, protein and fat are vital components of good hair and nails, and this particular liquid may make getting optimal levels of both things much easier,” Rachel Nazarian from Schweiger Dermatology Group told Marie Claire.

 

CourtesyHindustan Times

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New Delhi: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that four to five lakh “Miya voters” would be removed from the electoral rolls in the state once the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists is carried out. He also made a series of controversial remarks openly targeting the Miya community, a term commonly used in Assam in a derogatory sense to refer to Bengali-speaking Muslims.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an official programme in Digboi in Tinsukia district, Sarma said it was his responsibility to create difficulties for the Miya community and claimed that both he and the BJP were “directly against Miyas”.

“Four to five lakh Miya votes will have to be deleted in Assam when the SIR happens,” Sarma said, adding that such voters “should ideally not be allowed to vote in Assam, but in Bangladesh”. He asserted that the government was ensuring that they would not be able to vote in the state.

The chief minister was responding to questions about notices issued to thousands of Bengali-speaking Muslims during the claims and objections phase of the ongoing Special Revision (SR) of electoral rolls in Assam. While the Election Commission is conducting SIR exercises in 12 states and Union Territories, Assam is currently undergoing an SR, which is usually meant for routine updates.

Calling the current SR “preliminary”, Sarma said that a full-fledged SIR in Assam would lead to large-scale deletion of Miya voters. He said he was unconcerned about criticism from opposition parties over the issue.

“Let the Congress abuse me as much as they want. My job is to make the Miya people suffer,” Sarma said. He claimed that complaints filed against members of the community were done on his instructions and that he had encouraged BJP workers to keep filing complaints.

“I have told people wherever possible they should fill Form 7 so that they have to run around a little and are troubled,” he said, adding that such actions were meant to send a message that “the Assamese people are still living”.

In remarks that drew further outrage, Sarma urged people to trouble members of the Miya community in everyday life, claiming that “only if they face troubles will they leave Assam”. He also accused the media of sympathising with the community and warned journalists against such coverage.

“So you all should also trouble, and you should not do news that sympathise with them. There will be love jihad in your own house.” He said.

The comments triggered reactions from opposition leaders. Raijor Dal president and MLA Akhil Gogoi said the people of Assam had not elected Sarma to keep one community under constant pressure. Congress leader Aman Wadud accused the chief minister of rendering the Constitution meaningless in the state, saying his remarks showed a complete disregard for constitutional values.

According to the draft electoral rolls published on December 27, Assam currently has 2.51 crore voters. Election officials said 4.78 lakh names were marked as deceased, 5.23 lakh as having shifted, and 53,619 duplicate entries were removed during the revision process. Authorities also claimed that verification had been completed for over 61 lakh households.

On January 25, six opposition parties the Congress, Raijor Dal, Assam Jatiya Parishad, CPI, CPI(M) and CPI(M-L) submitted a memorandum to the state’s chief electoral officer. They alleged widespread legal violations, political interference and selective targeting of genuine voters during the SR exercise, describing it as arbitrary, unlawful and unconstitutional.