Can You Eat Sea Cucumber and Are There Health Benefits?

Sea cucumbers are sea-dwelling invertebrates and part of the echinoderm animal group alongside more familiar sea creatures like sea urchins and starfish. You can eat sea cucumbers and they supply a lot of nutrients and aid in fighting wounds and tumors and they help protect the brain.

If you’ve ever seen a sea cucumber, you might be surprised to learn that people actually eat them. And not only that but they’ve been considered a delicacy in China since the days of the Ming Dynasty. They've traditionally been reserved for special occasions, like weddings and Chinese New Year parties.

So, what are the health benefits of eating sea cucumber? Should you give it a try? And is a sea cucumber a vegetable?

Sea cucumbers are not actually vegetables, despite their name. They're sea-dwelling invertebrates and part of the echinoderm animal group alongside more familiar sea creatures like sea urchins and starfish. But unlike starfish, sea cucumbers don't have spines.

Their long cylindrical shape resembles that of a cucumber, but the resemblance ends there. They have leathery skin and tube-like feet that help them feed and move their bodies along the ocean floor.

There are more than 1,000 species of sea cucumber, and their appearance varies considerably from species to species due to differences in habitat and diet. The following species are considered the most valuable:

• Thelenota ananas
• Stichopus hermanni
• Holothuria fuccogilva
• Thelenota anax
• Actinopyga mauritiana

The prices of sea cucumber vary significantly depending on the market and the sea cucumber itself, but one 2017 study found that the spiky sea cucumber called Apostichopus japonicus was selling for up to $1,892 per kilogram.

Over the years, sea cucumbers have evolved an interesting strategy for defending themselves against predators: evisceration. During evisceration, sea cucumbers eject parts of their own organs to frighten crabs and fish. These expelled parts then regenerate within a few days.

Sea cucumbers range in size from only 4 inches to a staggering 10 feet long. The average lifespan of a sea cucumber is between 5 and 10 years.

Now that you know a sea cucumber is most definitely an animal and not a vegetable, you’re probably wondering — are sea cucumbers healthy?

Sea cucumbers have many health benefits thanks to the following vitamins and minerals:

• Vitamin B1. Also known as thiamine, vitamin B1 can help treat metabolic disorders, thiamine deficiency, and poor appetite.
• Vitamin B2. You’ve probably seen vitamin B2 referred to as riboflavin. Riboflavin is crucial for healthy skin functioning and lining the digestive tract.
• Vitamin A. Some people take vitamin A to improve their vision and treat certain eye disorders.
• Calcium. Calcium is crucial for proper bone and teeth development. It can help with indigestion and reverse hyperkalemia, a condition caused by too much potassium in the blood.
• Zinc. Zinc is essential for your immune system, healing wounds, blood clotting, and thyroid function.
• Iron. Iron helps your red blood cells deliver oxygen to cells throughout your body.
• Magnesium. Lower magnesium levels are associated with problems like high blood pressure, osteoporosis (the loss of bone density), stroke, and heart disease.

They also contain a high amount of protein and a variety of vital therapeutic compounds:

• Collagen. The sea cucumber’s body wall protein consists of about 70% collagen, which plays an important supportive role in connective tissue and skin elasticity.
• Bioactives. Bioactive peptides can protect against cancer cells. Bioactives like triterpene glycosides can lessen body pain, protect nerve tissue, and boost your immunity.
• Carotenoids. Carotenoids are converted to vitamin A within the body, which can lower breast cancer risk, decrease cataract development, and prevent pregnancy-related deaths. Sea cucumbers likely obtain carotenoids from their main food sources — phytoplankton and seaweed particles.
• Fatty acids. Fatty acids provide energy and energy storage for your muscles, heart, and organs. Consuming fatty acids can reduce your risk of coronary heart disease and sudden cardiac death.
• Amino acids. Without amino acids, your cells couldn’t work properly — they’re crucial for a functioning body and muscle growth.

Sea cucumbers have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a range of ailments, including fatigue, joint pain, and tumors. More recently, scientific studies have confirmed the following health benefits of sea cucumbers:

• Wound healing. Sea cucumber species like the Stichopus hermanni contain high amounts of sulfated glycosaminoglycan, which has been shown to heal more than 60% of wound areas on rats within 12 days.
• Tumor fighting. Types of triterpene glycosides present in sea cucumbers have been shown to contribute to the death of tumor and leukemia cells.
• Neuroprotection. The sea cucumber’s neuroprotective properties can help protect motor function and encourage regeneration following acute injuries.
• Antimicrobial properties. Sea cucumbers serve antifungal purposes and can treat conditions like candidiasis by preventing microbial growth.
• Antioxidants. Antioxidants like vitamin D, enzymes, and vitamin E protect your body from damage caused by oxygen. 

Overall, sea cucumbers can be a healthy addition to a balanced diet.

The sea cucumber has a neutral taste, so it won’t taste like much without added spices and seasonings, not unlike tofu. One hurdle for those not used to eating sea cucumber might be its slimy appearance and gelatinous texture.

Sea cucumbers are safe to eat for most people, but there are a few things to keep in mind. For instance, sea cucumbers can thin your blood, so those taking anticoagulants or blood-thinning medication should avoid it. People with seafood allergies should also steer clear of this ocean dweller.

If you do choose to eat sea cucumbers, make sure they’re either farmed or sustainably sourced. Populations of tropical sea cucumbers are dwindling, particularly the more desirable edible types. They're at risk of overfishing and vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.

Recent research has discovered that sea cucumbers can feed (and thrive) on fish farm waste, which keeps the ocean floor clean and provides nourishment to a valuable food source for humans.