Sea cucumbers and things you may not know

(Baonghean.vn) - Becoming a food sought after by gentlemen because according to the conceptMany people think that sea cucumber can nourish yang and strengthen the kidneys. But they do not know that sea cucumber is used to nourish yin. With this wrong thinking, there have been cases of misunderstanding leading to unfortunate results.

1. Is sea cucumber really good for yang?

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Many documents, even the famous magazine of the Ministry of Health, also say that sea cucumber has a warm, aphrodisiac, and kidney-tonifying nature. This belief has been passed down through generations among the people. Many Chinese people flock to enjoy sea cucumber because they believe it is a "natural aphrodisiac".

Vietnamese people also consider sea cucumber wine as a valuable medicine to treat male impotence. But recently, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Huong - Chairman of the Vietnam Oriental Medicine Association emphasized the opposing opinion that: sea cucumber is cold, nourishes yin, good for women but not yang!?

According to his analysis, marine species with scales are yang, and without scales are usually yin. To answer the "question" of why sea cucumbers can still be found in traditional aphrodisiac remedies, Mr. Huong emphasized: In aphrodisiac remedies, there are always about 8 yang-tonifying ingredients and 2 yin-tonifying ingredients. That is why sea cucumbers nourish yin but are present in aphrodisiac remedies.

Because of its negative properties, if men use it too much, it will definitely have the opposite effect. For it to be beneficial for men, it needs to be "transformed" into medicine and the doctor must base on each person's cause to have the appropriate medicine. It should also be noted that the concept of aphrodisiac in its original meaning is healthy body, not necessarily sexual problems. At the same time, sea cucumber is also not good for people with chronic colitis, obesity, dysentery.

2. Where is sea cucumber nutritious?

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Sea cucumbers are compared to ginseng because they contain many good nutritional components: protein up to 55% while fat is only about 2%. In particular, sea cucumbers have many amino acids such as glycine, arginine, leucine, alanine, glutamine, tauri and many trace elements: in 1kg of sea cucumber there are up to 192mg of iron, 64mg of copper, so it increases red blood cells, improves oxygen absorption, and enhances memory.

Sea cucumbers also contain holotoxin, which has anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties, so they help wounds heal quickly. Therefore, people with weak bodies, postpartum women, and anemia are very suitable to use sea cucumbers for nourishment.

Sea cucumber is also a material expected to cure incurable diseases. Recently, modern medicine has discovered the ingredients chondroitin and saponin that have pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects. Modern medicine has injected these ingredients in sea cucumber to make medicine and they hope that in the future they will make a useful contribution to the fight against cancer.

The Vietnam Institute of Chemistry of Natural Compounds (Vietnam Academy of Science & Technology) has also researched and discovered three compounds in white sea cucumbers in Vietnam's sea, namely holothurin A3, A4 and holothurigenin B, which inhibit liver cancer cells, epithelial cancer cells and uterine lining.

Speaking of beauty, sea cucumber is a “secret” to anti-aging. That is because in the composition of this “sea cucumber” there is selenium (5.5-14mg/kg) which has the effect of relieving stress, eliminating free radicals during the movement of the human body. That is why the rumor that “eating sea cucumber makes the skin rosy, stays young” is completely scientifically based.

3.Benefits of women when eating sea cucumber

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Sea cucumbers have been known as a beauty elixir because more than 60% of the sea cucumber's composition is collagen, which helps increase the lifespan of cells - directly participating in cell regeneration and preventing the aging process. On the other hand, the testosterone content in sea cucumbers is also quite high, this is a hormone that helps improve and regulate female hormones, enhancing the endurance and health of women.

Sea cucumber contains very high protein content, the protein composition includes 18 types of precious amino acids that are essential for the body, including arginine - an amino acid that is essential to enhance the body's immune function, help reduce inflammation, reduce symptoms of body weakness, increase blood circulation, help prevent colds, strengthen the immune system and provide energy for the body.

In addition, sea cucumber also contains nicotinic acid, taurine, potassium, nickel and other nutrients that help quickly eliminate fatigue and regulate the function of the nervous system... Using sea cucumber every day will keep you healthy and beautiful.

4. Benefits of using sea cucumber for pregnant women

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Sea cucumber contains a lot of protein and little fat. Protein composition includes 18 types of amino acids, including valuable amino acids that are essential for the body such as glycine, phenylalanine, threonine, arginine, leucine, alanine, glutamine, tauri... Sea cucumber also contains many beneficial trace minerals such as zinc, iron, copper, iodine, chromium... Nutritionally, sea cucumber is essential for the nutritional needs of pregnant women.

Sea cucumbers contain the necessary elements for the body's hematopoietic function, helping to treat anemia in pregnant women and reduce the risk of catching a cold. Sea cucumbers contain the necessary iron mineral, while sea cucumbers contain Holothurin, which can stimulate the development of red blood cells in the bone marrow, which has the function of hematopoiesis.

In addition, when pregnant women have uneven progesterone levels, it can easily lead to infection with some harmful bacteria. Sea cucumbers contain Holothurin, which can inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria and fungi (Trichophyton, Mucor, Candida, Aspergillus and trichomonas), helping to enhance the mother's immunity and the healthy development of the fetus.

Sea cucumber also contains large amounts of unsaturated fatty acids DHA and EPA, which are essential for the development of fetal brain nerve cells, as well as iodine to help develop fetal intelligence.

Pregnant women are encouraged to use sea cucumber from the very beginning of their pregnancy, it is not only beneficial for their health but also for the healthy and full development of their unborn child.

5. Benefits of eating sea cucumber for the elderly

Regulating blood lipids, regulating blood sugar, and preventing aging, eliminating fatigue, improving immunity, enhancing disease resistance of sea cucumber… These are the wonderful benefits of sea cucumber for the elderly.

Sea cucumber is nutritious, high in protein, low in lipid and cholesterol-free: an ideal tonic for people with diabetes, coronary artery disease, nervous breakdown, and blood tonic (often used for cases of anemia). Supports the treatment of cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure in the elderly.

6. Sea cucumbers are also poisonous.

Consumers should be cautious when purchasing sea cucumbers for use, as not all sea cucumbers are safe. Illustration photo

There are about 1,100 species of sea cucumbers in the world. But not all of them are edible. In China's waters, there are 150 species, of which only 28 are edible.

In Vietnam, there are about 50 common species such as black sea cucumber (Holothuria vagabunda), white sea cucumber (H.scabra), breast sea cucumber (Microthele nobilis Selenka), jackfruit sea cucumber (Actinopyga echinites Jaeger), green jackfruit sea cucumber (Ctinopyga caerulea Samyn), amber sea cucumber (H. thelenota), pomegranate sea cucumber The Lenota Ananas... Among them, white ginseng is considered the most valuable.

Large, long ones with spineless skin are of lower quality than those with sticky meat and many spines. Although they belong to a noble family, among the total living species, there are also many poisonous species such as sea cucumbers Stichopus variegates, Holothuria martensu… These sea cucumbers contain the toxin lanostane, a very strong enzyme inhibitor. Therefore, they can cause poisoning and death if used.

Kim Ngoc

(Synthetic)