Everything You Need To Know About Sea Cucumbers
All families have a stand-out member that seems to outshine everyone else. Some families have great athletes, musicians, or academics. The Carey family has Mariah, the Williams have Serena and Venus, and the Einstein family has Albert. The echinoderm family has the sea cucumber.
Sea cucumbers can be found in all the oceans around the world. There are over 1700 different species of sea cucumber. They have been eaten and used as medicine for thousands of years. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, they were referred to as “sea ginseng,” because they are so nutritious. They get their name because they have long cylindrical bodies shaped like cucumbers. They don’t have brains, but what they lack in intellect they make up for in nutrients.
I would definitely consider sea cucumber a superfood, although it is unlikely that most people would want to introduce it into their daily diet. I suggest using Deep Blue Health Immuno 5+ Sea Cucumber supplements instead.
Deep Blue Health uses sea cucumbers harvested from the floors of the Pacific Ocean. Specifically, they are sustainably harvested in Aotearoa New Zealand and off the coast of Fiji.
Sea Cucumber Nutrients
What about potential health issues that can benefit from nutrients found in sea cucumber? Here are some, to name a few:
- Angiogenesis
- Cancer
- Tumors
- Hypertension
- Inflammation
- Osteoarthritis
- Antibacterial
- Antiviral
- Antioxidant
- Antithrombotic
- Wound healing properties
What about sea cucumber helps my immune system?
The chondroitin sulfate and triterpenoids are the substances in sea cucumbers that help your immune cells. Sea cucumber is very high in protein and collagen which makes them an ideal food or supplement for joint, muscle, and skin health. Collagen is excellent healing food and a supplement for Leaky gut. The triterpene glycosides or saponins are the compounds that have been shown to kill cancer cells in a lab setting.
The amino acid glycine is conditionally essential which means your own body produces it. However, it is crucial for many body functions and your body may not be able to produce enough glycine in times or stress, illness, or growth. Glutamate is another conditionally essential amino acid.
Both glycine and glutamate are needed for cells to make glutathione and natural killer cells (NK). Natural killer cells are like the body guard cells for your immune system. They are responsible for attacking and killing viruses, bacteria, and tumor cells.
Studies show that cancer patients have low arginine levels. The consequence of low arginine levels is low T-cells which are responsible for recognizing cancer cells within your body.
It acts as an ACE inhibitor and reduces blood pressure and thins your blood.
Sea cucumbers are high in chondroitin and collagen which are needed for joint aches and pains.
Immuno 5+ Sea Cucumber by Deep Blue Health also contains vitamin B6, vitamin C, zinc and magnesium.
Vitamin B6 is included because it helps your body make new red blood cells and transport oxygen throughout your body. This B vitamin is also responsible for making many immune cells such as T cells and interleukin-2. B6 is vital for the health of your intestinal barrier (gut).
Zinc is included because it helps your immune cells fight infections. Zinc is also used to make immune cells like T-cells and white blood cells. You can read more of the hundreds of benefits of zinc in this past blog post.
Magnesium is included in this formula because it reduces cytokine production. Cytokines lead to inflammation and the resulting damage to cells, tissues, and organs.
Vitamin C, ascorbic acid, is included in this Immuno 5+ also contains Vitamin C as ascorbic acid. It is a critical nutrient for its support for your immune cells and its antioxidant strength. Vitamin C also protects your gut lining and skin cells.
FAQs
What is in Immuno 5+ Sea Cucumber supplements?
After sustainably harvesting sea cucumbers, they are gutted and cleaned. It is important to remove the gut and interior organs to remove any toxin matter. It is crucial to clean and inspect sea cucumbers multiple times because they move along the ocean floor sucking up and accumulating debris. The nutrients are found in the fleshy body of the sea cucumber, not in the discarded interior organs.
After the sea cucumbers are cleaned, they are freeze dried and milled. They are inspected before being encapsulated. There are no solvents, including ethanol or methanol, used to process the sea cucumbers.
100 mg powdered freeze dried sea cucumber (equivalent to 500mg fresh)
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Equivalent Vitamin B6 – 50mg) 60.78mg,
Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 200mg,
d-alpha tocopherol succinate 1210IU/g (Equivalent Vitamin E – 5IU) 4.13mg,
Magnesium amino acid chelate (Equivalent Magnesium- 30mg) 150mg,
Zinc citrate (Equivalent Zinc – 5mg) 16.13mg, and encapsulating materials.
It contains no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. It has been New Zealand laboratory quality tested. This product is made under internationally recognized HACCP Principles and Good Manufacturing Practices.
What species of sea cucumber is used in Deep Blue Health Immuno 5+?
There are over 1500 different species of sea cucumber. Deep Blue Health supplements are made from holothruia atra sea cucumbers that come from the tropical island paradise of Fiji.
Do these sea cucumbers have the same health benefits as those in Japan and Korea?
Research shows that all sea cucumbers have similar health benefits. The ocean surrounding Fiji is much less polluted than Japanese and Korean waters.
Is it a tablet or capsule?
It is an easy to swallow gelatin capsule. The capsule is made from beef gelatin. If you are allergic to beef, you can open the capsule and swallow the contents. The capsules dissolve within 15-30 minutes.
Do I need to take Immuno 5+ Sea Cucumber on an empty stomach or with food?
It doesn’t matter either way. You can take when and how it is convenient for you.
Can I take this supplement if I am allergic to seafood?
Please check with your practitioner and proceed with caution as sea cucumbers are considered seafood.
What is the recommended dose?
I recommend starting with 4 capsules per day and lowering down 2 capsules per day once symptoms improve.
Reviews
Great product, great price and great service.
“Just started taking this as it was recommended to us by a friend. Best price I could find on this product." - Scott K.
“Was recommended these capsules by my integrative doctor" - Sharon M
“Sea Cucumber has helped but not totally stopped the pain. I hope in the future it will totally stop the pain in the hip." - Patricia B.
What do sea cucumbers eat?
Sea cucumbers move along the seafloor and eat algae and microscopic marine animals. They are compared to earthworms because they can regrow their body parts, including their organs.
What is a sea cucumber?
They are not vegetables. They are shaped like a cucumber and that is how they got their name. Sea cucumbers use their tentacle-like tube feet for moving and for eating. They are invertebrates. They are squishy echinoderms. They are related to starfish, sea urchins and sand dollars, but their skin is much softer and leathery. They range in size from 1 inch to over 6 feet in length. Their body tissue is gelatinous and has the consistency of cooked okra or eggplant.
Can you eat sea cucumbers?
Yes you can eat sea cucumbers. In Asia, they are a delicacy.
How to cook sea cucumber?
Here is a great primer on how to cook and clean dried sea cucumber. Unless you are in Asia, you will be hard-pressed to find fresh sea cucumbers, but you will be able to purchase frozen or dried ones. This looks like a delicious recipe for braised sea cucumbers.
Where to buy sea cucumbers?
Your best option for finding frozen sea cucumbers is your local Asian market. I recommend using a picture on your phone to specify what you are looking for. You don’t want anything to get lost in translation. You can purchase dried or dehydrated sea cucumbers online.
Are sea cucumbers edible?
Sea cucumbers are edible and frequently found in Asian cuisine. Medical studies have used sea cucumber supplements to achieve results in cancer, and decreasing fungal, viral and bacterial infections.
What eats sea cucumbers?
Larger fish and crabs will eat sea cucumbers. Asian cultures enjoy them as a delicacy.
What does sea cucumber taste like?
Sea cucumbers have a very neutral taste. They have a texture similar to cooked mushrooms and are often served with them.
How do sea cucumbers move?
Sea cucumber have tiny tube feet on their underbellies. They move slowly along the ocean floor. Some species of sea cucumber can move more quickly by swimming.
According to the culinary blogs I read, sea cucumber actually tastes pretty good. However, if you are looking for therapeutic doses of the nutrients in sea cucumbers, you will need to rely on a high quality supplement like Deep Blue Health Immuno 5+ Sea Cucumber.
For a customized plan for strengthening your immune system or using Deep Blue Health Immuno 5+ schedule a consult with me, Carly Neubert BA, NC.
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3210605/#b12-marinedrugs-09-01761
