Girls’ Trendy Beauty Secret: Eating Insects
White, plump, about half a thumb-long bamboo worms, resembling wingless dragonflies, and garlic-clove-like bee larvae—these seemingly terrifying insects have become favorites among some young women in Beijing. How do they enjoy them? By eating. Why? Because “they’re said to enhance beauty.”
After interviewing several “insect-eaters,” I found real ones at a Yunnan-style bar named “WE” near Longbo Plaza. One girl who ordered only bamboo worms and dragonfly larvae said she wasn’t a true “insect eater,” just occasional. “I don’t find them disgusting at all—they actually taste good.” The bar owner revealed his shop opened less than three months ago, already attracting over ten regular female customers, each ordering one or two insect dishes per visit. “They claim it’s for beauty,” he said, “though I don’t know why—I just serve it because it’s a Yunnan specialty.”
Does eating insects really enhance beauty? Professor Zhang Guoxi, a gerontology expert at the West Garden Hospital of the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, confirms that consuming certain insects can indeed improve appearance. “Insects are rich in essential nutrients for the human body, including proteins and fats. Evidence shows regular insect consumption helps combat modern urban ailments like obesity and hypertension. In Western countries, eating insects is gaining acceptance—some London specialty stores sell canned goods made from crickets, bees, and caterpillars, and there are even dedicated insect farms in Britain.”