​The Cicadas Are Here – Bringing Wellness with Them

BYTE-SIZE WELLNESS

​The Cicadas Are Here – Bringing Wellness with Them

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I’ve had so many new experiences since I moved to the U.S. in 2014 – I’ve wrangled everything from politics to pests.

Now, I’m facing Brood X Cicadas season. After 17 years, these cicadas are emerging from the ground by the trillions in Washington, D.C. and in several other states, including Maryland, Ohio, Indiana, and parts of Delaware, Kentucky, West Virginia, Illinois, and New York.

Brood X Cicadas are everywhere! These winged, red-eyed, shelled exoskeletons attach themselves to trees and wooden surfaces, and then shed their skins. Plus, they’re all over the ground.

And while they definitely have that icky, “Ewww, gross!” factor – which is why I didn’t post a photo! – they do bring with them several redeeming wellness wonders. And since I am all about tapping into wellness through my Virtual Wellness Lounge offerings, I thought I’d share some cicada upsides with you:

1. They Provide White Noise

I LOVE the sound cicadas make!

I open the windows so I can listen to the calming white noise, which helps me fall asleep. Cicadas provide a peaceful soundtrack perfect for relaxing and meditating.

We can all benefit from some white noise to help us de-stress and refocus while we calm the mind.

Have a listen to the cicada "sound byte" HERE.

2.They're Resilient

Cicadas are an amazing testament to nature’s resilience. Despite major environmental challenges, such as climate change and urbanization, these insects still manage to tunnel their way up through the earth every 17 years for six weeks so they can mature, find mates, breed and then die.

They’re the perfect representation of the resilience we’ve all developed in the face of a global pandemic.

3. They’re Incredibly Edible

Cicadas provide a good source of sustainable protein – meaning that eating cicadas is good for the environment, helping to reduce food production practices that are responsible for 30% of greenhouse gas emissions.

A nutritious meat alternative, cicadas are high in protein, vitamins and minerals. So much so that foodies and nutritionists are flooding the internet with tips on how to cook and bake with these insects.

However, if you’re anything like me, I have NO interest in adding these recipes to my repertoire! If you’re a way more adventurous eater, feel free to grab my free guide to the Top 10 Food and Nutrition Trends HERE. You’ll see that #7 is all about alternative insect protein. (Apparently, cicadas have a buttery, nutty taste.) Enjoy! 

Be well,

PS: The Top 10 Food and Nutrition Trends freebie is one of many downloadable resources inside my Virtual Wellness Lounge. Click HERE for a video tour or HERE to schedule a Zoom meeting to discuss the Lounge for your upcoming virtual or hybrid meeting.