Papua PON Bodybuilding Gold Winner Calls Sago Caterpillar A Protein Alternative To Increase Muscle Mass

Oto Gidion Wantik (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The host contingent of Papua celebrated in the XX National Sports Week (PON) bodybuilding sport by winning three gold medals in the competition which took place at the Auditorium of Cenderawasih University Jayapura, Papua, Monday. One of them, Oto Gidion Wantik.

Oto won a gold medal in the 65 kg class, ahead of Bambang Sujatmiko (DI Yogyakarta) and Kariyono (East Java) who got silver and bronze medals, respectively.

It is known, this one sport is judged based on the athlete's ability to demonstrate a beautiful and muscular body shape through poses in an attempt to show the muscular body parts to create an attractive impression and the form of strength of the participant's body.

Then, what is Oto's secret to being able to steal the jury's attention? Sago caterpillar! Yes, this Papuan local wisdom menu is an effective alternative to animal protein intake to increase muscle mass. This is what Oto consumes.

"The protein sago caterpillar is good. Papua is rich in extraordinary protein. I think nothing is lacking in Papua", said the 65 kg class PON XX Papua gold medalist, Oto, in Jayapura, as reported by Antara, Tuesday.

The research report states that the larvae of the red coconut beetle (Rhynchophorus ferrugenesis) which often lays eggs on the tops of sago palms have 9.34 percent protein or almost half of red meat which reaches 28 grams more protein per 100 grams of consumption.

In addition, this typical Papuan dish also contains several essential amino acids, such as aspartic acid (1.84 percent), glutamic acid (2.72 percent), tyrosine (1.87 percent), lysine (1.97 percent), and methionine (1.07 percent).

Oto believes that the sago caterpillar can help boost the immune system from attacks by viruses and bacteria that cause disease. The content of fatty acids in sago caterpillars is also able to dispel inflammation in the body and lower triglyceride levels in the body so that the heart will become healthier.

The taste of the sago caterpillar called Oto is similar to the sensation of eating chunks of beef fat but with a stronger tinge of savory taste. The dish is recommended to be burned so that it is more delicious in the mouth.

"This sago caterpillar can be cooked by burning or boiling. But it is more delicious to burn it", he said.

Another dish can be made by burning and then wrapped in a variant of fresh vegetables, as was done by a Papuan athlete who won bodybuilding gold in the 75 kg PON XX class, Edoardus Apcowo.

"I usually wrap it in leafy vegetables. In my opinion, sago caterpillars are more like the taste of salmon. Very suitable for body protein", he said.

The gold medal winner of PON XVIII Riau 2012 actually tasted the savory taste of sago caterpillars that came from the fat content of the white and fat-looking larvae.

"Good for protein and muscle. Because he has fat it's not saturated fat", he said.

Edo said that the sago caterpillar is suitable for beginner athletes who want to start a career in bodybuilding because the selling price is relatively affordable.

The price of sago caterpillars in several culinary locations in Papua is priced at IDR 45 thousand to IDR 50 thousand per 25 heads, said Edo added.

Even these caterpillars tend to be easy to find in sago tree plantations.