Sea cucumber, as a treasure of the ocean, has long been regarded as a nourishing holy product. It is rich in protein, trace elements, and unique active substances, with extremely high nutritional and medicinal value. However, sea cucumber is not suitable for everyone. Especially the following eight groups of people should pay high attention when consuming sea cucumber.
Nutritional Composition of Sea Cucumber
Sea cucumber contains rich nutrients, including protein, calcium, potassium, zinc, iron, selenium, manganese, and other active substances.
In addition, sea cucumber also contains other active components, such as sea cucumber saponin and Stichopus acid mucopolysaccharides composed of amino sugars, aldehyde amino sugars, and fucose. It also contains 18 amino acids and no cholesterol.
Is Sea Cucumber a “Heaty Food”?
Sea cucumber is a “heaty food.” “Heaty food” is a term in traditional Chinese medicine that refers to nutritious or stimulating food that may induce certain diseases (especially old diseases) or worsen existing diseases. Heaty foods include mushrooms, seafood, vegetables, fruits, poultry, and livestock, and sea cucumber falls under the category of seafood heaty foods.
Sea cucumber has high nutritional value, rich in protein, essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and trace elements, low in fat and cholesterol, helpful for promoting body repair, enhancing immunity, improving brain function, and preventing cardiovascular diseases.
So many people consume sea cucumber, what are the benefits? Surprisingly, there are so many benefits.
1. Nourishing the Stomach and Spleen
Sea cucumber is believed to have the effect of nourishing the stomach and spleen. According to traditional Chinese medicine, sea cucumber nourishes yin, moisturizes dryness, benefits qi, and nourishes blood. The polysaccharides in sea cucumber can promote gastrointestinal motility, increase appetite, and improve digestive problems and weak spleen and stomach.
2. Enhancing Immune Function
Sea cucumber contains a certain amount of lysine, which promotes human development, helps enhance immune function, and improves central nervous system functionality. It also contains rich protein, which is essential for boosting immunity.
3. Providing Nutrition
Sea cucumber is rich in protein, various amino acids, minerals, and vitamins. Protein is an important component of body tissues that provides energy and maintains normal bodily functions. Sea cucumber also contains abundant collagen, which helps maintain skin elasticity and delay aging.
4. Promoting Sleep
Consuming sea cucumber has a strong promoting effect on improving sleep and enhancing memory. Arginine content in sea cucumber is higher compared to other organisms, providing special effects on neurasthenia and significantly improving sleep. Elements like niacin, calcium, taurine, and lysine in sea cucumber are important for relieving brain fatigue, enhancing memory capabilities.
5. Anti-aging and Skincare
After a period of consistent sea cucumber consumption, people find that their skin becomes tighter and smoother. Sea cucumber contains a large amount of collagen, which, when consumed adequately, improves skin elasticity and tightness, reducing wrinkles and fine lines.
“Sea cucumber” should not be consumed randomly, especially for these 8 groups of people who need to pay particular attention.
1. Patients with Infectious Diseases
Patients with infectious diseases, such as colds, tonsillitis, etc., have compromised immunity. Consuming sea cucumber may impact the body’s immune function, hindering recovery. Therefore, patients with infectious diseases should avoid consuming sea cucumber.
2. Pregnant and lactating women
Although sea cucumber is rich in protein, minerals, and vitamins, some components may have adverse effects on the fetus or infant. Especially a substance in sea cucumber can cause fetal abnormalities or affect infant growth and development. Pregnant and lactating women should be cautious in consuming sea cucumber to avoid harm to themselves and their baby.
3. Individuals with Kidney Insufficiency
Sea cucumber contains a high proportion of protein, beneficial for healthy individuals. However, for individuals with kidney insufficiency, high-protein foods can strain the kidneys, leading to worsening conditions. For example, patients with kidney disease may experience elevated blood urea nitrogen levels, causing fatigue, nausea, and other symptoms after consuming high-protein foods.
4. Individuals with Weak Spleen and Stomach
Sea cucumber is rich in protein and fiber, which may be hard for individuals with weak spleen and stomach to digest. Excessive consumption of sea cucumber can burden the gastrointestinal tract, causing indigestion, bloating, and other digestive problems. Therefore, individuals with weak spleen and stomach should consume sea cucumber in moderation to avoid overloading.
5. Infants and Young Children
Sea cucumber is a highly nourishing food with health benefits and rich protein and trace elements. Due to the underdeveloped digestive system in infants and young children, they may experience difficulties in absorbing the nutrients in sea cucumber, leading to digestive issues, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea, which can significantly impact growth and development.
6. Gout Patients
Although sea cucumber is nutritionally valuable and effective in nourishing the body, aiding in kidney protection, it may not be suitable for patients with gout. Sea cucumber has a high purine content, roughly around 25%, which is not ideal for gout patients who need to reduce purine intake. Regular consumption of sea cucumber can exacerbate the accumulation of uric acid crystals, affecting blood circulation in a short period, increasing kidney burden, elevating uric acid levels, and worsening gout symptoms.
7. Individuals with Excessive Liver Fire
Sea cucumber is a nourishing food and a significant supplement that contains abundant protein and nutrients, but not suitable for individuals with excessive liver heat. Individuals with excessive liver fire are inherently fiery, and consuming sea cucumber, a large supplement, may aggravate liver heat, potentially leading to nosebleeds.
8. Individuals Allergic to Sea Cucumber
Sea cucumber is rich in protein components. Individuals allergic to protein or those who experience allergies after consuming seafood should refrain from eating sea cucumber. Otherwise, consuming sea cucumber may trigger allergic reactions, resulting in symptoms such as skin itching, skin redness, throat swelling, diarrhea, vomiting, and other abnormalities.
Further reading: How much sea cucumber is suitable to consume in a day?
Consuming about 50g of sea cucumber per day is relatively appropriate. Sea cucumber is a high-protein, low-fat, low-cholesterol nutritional product with benefits such as tonifying the kidneys and yang, beautifying and rejuvenating, enhancing memory, and boosting immunity.
The appropriate amount of sea cucumber varies for different age groups. Generally, a medium-sized sea cucumber is sufficient for the nutritional needs of a healthy adult man per day, with a recommended daily intake not exceeding 100g. However, for the elderly, pregnant women, and children, adjustments should be made accordingly.
In conclusion, sea cucumber, as a precious food ingredient, has undeniable nutritional value. However, while enjoying its deliciousness, it’s essential to consume it sensibly based on individual body conditions. For the eight groups of people mentioned above, extra care and caution should be taken when choosing to consume sea cucumber.
