Sea cucumber has long been considered a delicacy in Asian cuisine, but it is only in this recent decade that science has verified the therapeutic benefits of sea cucumber. The meat of the sea cucumber is relatively tasteless, but tends to absorb the flavours of aromatics and sauces very well. For a seemingly bland and uninteresting sand dwelling sea creature, the sea cucumber packs a mighty nutritional and therapeutic punch. The list of conditions that sea cucumber is potentially very good for, is very long indeed. In medical terms, the list includes: angiogenesis, cancer, tumours, hypertension, inflammation, and are also considered to contain effective antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, antithrombotic, and wound healing properties.

Over the centuries sea cucumber have been prized for its restorative qualities. It's a good general tonic also with properties thought to enhance male potency and stamina. Sea cucumber is both a functional food, rich in nutrients and trace elements, and a delicacy in its own right. The nutritional analysis of sea cucumber makes for some impressive reading. They are vitamin rich with Vitamin A, Vitamin B1 (thiamine), Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (niacin) and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc.

The therapeutic properties and health benefits of sea cucumbers can be linked to the bioactives such as triterpene glycosides (saponins), chondroitin sulfates, glycosaminoglycan (GAGs), sulfated polysaccharides, sterols (glycosides and sulfates), phenolics, cerberosides, lectins, peptides, glycoprotein, glycosphingolipids and a range of essential fatty acids and amino acids.

While Sea cucumber is used to treat a broad spectrum of conditions, it's thought to provide immune support against many types of cancer, relief from joint pain and inflammation — especially for osteoarthritis suffers, reduces high blood pressure, and is a powerful antioxidant. You won't have to partake of a Chinese banquet to get your RDA of sea cucumber, unless that is also how you like to enjoy your sea cucumber. Instead, you can purchase freeze dried capsules of Deep Blue Health Sea Cucumber. No unusual textures to deal with, just a glass of water and a couple of capsules every day.

Effective Immune Support

Sea cucumber protein is rich in amino acids such as glycine, glutamic acid and arginine. Glycine can stimulate production and release of IL-2 and B cell antibodies. These antibodies perform an important task of engulfing foreign bodies within the human body.

Glycine and glutamic acid are essential elements for cells to synthesize glutathione which can stimulate activation and proliferation of natural killer cells. Natural killer or NK cells are important for the rapid response of the body's immune system, attacking viruses and tumours, and forming an adaptive immune response against infections and secondary infections. The role of NK cells is becoming increasingly important in research for potential cancer therapies.

Research has found that cancer patients have low Argenine levels, which is thought to suppress the development of T-cells: another antibody that are an important front line defense against tumour cells. Taking sea cucumber may supplement the body's Argenine supply to promote the activation and proliferation of T-cells.

Sea cucumber also contains cytotoxic compounds that may be useful to directly combat a variety of tumor cells. In particular sea cucumber are a source of Triterpenoids which “are known to exhibit cytotoxicity against a variety of tumor cells”. Sea cucumber contains at least four Triterpenoids which have shown promising results against breast, pancreatic and bowel cancer, and also leukaemia.

For these properties alone sea cucumber provides an impressive range of actions that may support the immune systems of cancer compromised patients. People who are genetically predisposed to bowel cancer but are otherwise healthy may take sea cucumber to assist the prevention of cancerous cells proliferating in the colon or bowel.

Joint Support and Relief

Another group of bioactive substances, mucopolysaccharides and chondroitins have been identified in sea cucumbers. People suffering from arthritis and connective tissue disorders can often be lacking these compounds. Sea cucumber is rich in mucopolysaccharides, chondroitins and also collagen, as the major proportion of the sea cucumber body wall protein is comprised of collagen. Collagen is universally recognized as a necessary component of healthy functioning connective tissue.

Sea cucumber-derived chondroitin sulphate can be used to ease joint-pain and other arthritis-based inflammation. It is recommended that a 3 g/day serving of the dried sea cucumber is medicinally effective in significantly reducing joint pain1. The mechanism of action of chondroitin sulphate is similar to that of glucosamine sulphate; a compound found in many formulations used for easing osteoarthritis pain and inflammation.

Other Conditions

Sea Cucumber is also an ACE inhibitor, it reduces blood pressure and thins the blood. Refer to your doctor if you are taking any medication for heart conditions first.

Deep Blue Health Sea Cucumber

Our sea cucumber is sustainably wild harvested from populations in the Pacific Ocean. You can be assured that our product is from one of the purest oceans in the world.

The list of sea cucumber benefits is immense. Try Deep Blue Health Sea Cucumber for yourself, or give it to someone you care about. We think you'll be pleasantly surprised by the results of taking this very humbly named sand dwelling creature.