Health Benefits Of Sea Cucumber

Closely related to sea stars and sea urchins, sea cucumbers are marine animals with a round elongated body and a mouth on one end, having lots of tentacles for feeding. Shaped like a cucumber, sea cucumbers have a leathery skin with a distinctly phallic appearance. They are found in all the oceans in warm shallow waters and sometimes at great depths as well. The harvested sea cucumbers are known as trepang, béche-de-mer or balate and are consumed throughout Asia, in the form of soup, stir frys and raw in sushi. The dehydrated sea cucumbers are marketed throughout Asia, the biggest markets being China, Korea, Indonesia and Japan. However, they are also exported to San Francisco, Oakland and Los Angeles. Read through the following lines to know more about the health and nutrition benefits of eating sea cucumber and also explore its nutritional value.

Nutritional Value of Sea Cucumber

Total Weight of Sea Cucumber: 100 g

Nutrients	Amount
Basic Components
Protein	13 g
Fat	0.4 g
Water	80.7 g
Ash	2.8 g
Calories
Total Calories	56
Calories From Carbohydrate	0.4
Calories From Fat	3.6
Calories From Protein	52
Vitamins
Vitamin A	310 IU
Thiamin	0.1 mg
Riboflavin	0.9 mg
Niacin	3.2 mg
Minerals
Calcium	30 mg
Iron	0.6 mg

Nutrition and Health Benefits of Eating Sea Cucumber

Sea cucumbers are known for their anti-aging properties.
The Chinese consider a sea cucumber to be a health panacea and hence, use it for treating kidney disorders, constipation and reproductive problems, including impotency.
Sea cucumbers contain glucosamine and chondroitin that are helpful for treating arthritis.
Sea cucumber is the most popular traditional remedy used by Malay women for treating injuries and wounds caused by episiotomy.
Ointments prepared from sea cucumbers are used for treating back and joint pains by the Peninsular Malaysian communities.
Sea cucumbers are considered as a general health tonic and benefit people with chronic joint pains, tendonitis, sprains, ligament stress and arthritis.
They are commonly used for treating debility among elders, frequent urination and intestinal tract lining.
Sea cucumbers are an instant energy booster.
Sea cucumbers assist in nourishing the brain and heart, as they contain fatty acids, such as EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), similar to fish oil.
Sea cucumbers extracts are combined with legendary herbs to produce ointments effective for health and beauty that can be used on face, hands, feet, joints, muscles, scalp, hair, mouth, gum and sensitive areas.
Topical application of sea cucumber ointment acts as sun protector, night cream and moisturizer for dry and cracking skin. The ointment helps in restoring a pleasant, soft and supple feeling to the skin.
Scientists from various countries like China, Japan, Russia and United States are working on the extracts of sea cucumbers. According to them, sea cucumbers might prove to be useful in stopping the growth of cancer cells.

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