Sea urchin is not only a delicacy but also a very healthy dietary product. Sea urchins are eaten in Italy, America, New Zealand and other countries, but they are especially popular in Japan. The Japanese annually consume at least 500 tons of pure sea urchin roe, as well as in the form of additives to various dishes. Why is sea urchin caviar so attractive for them? What health benefits do sea urchins have? Let’s find out.

Is sea urchin good for your health? Sea urchin is very good for your health because it increases the adaptive capabilities to increased physical exertion, accelerates the body’s recovery in case of overwork, stimulates hematopoiesis processes, normalizes the level of leukocytes, increases the level of hemoglobin and erythrocytes in the blood. 

But these are not the only health benefits of sea urchins. These creatures are extremely nutritious and good for your health. Sea urchin’s useful and medicinal properties are since they eat algae, which nourish meat and roe with an exclusive composition of minerals, vitamins and other substances. Let’s dive into all the health benefits of sea urchins.

Sea Urchin Health Benefits Ultimate Guide

Sea urchin’s nutritional value per 100 g: 13.8 g of proteins, 4.3 g of fat, 2.5 g of carbohydrates. The product is low-calorie, 100 g contains only 86 kcal. Roe is slightly higher in calories — 104 kcal per 100 g. The product’s glycemic index is only 15 units, which makes it an acceptable product for people who have diabetes.

Sea urchin roe helps to eliminate toxins, radionuclides and other harmful substances from the body. The product helps to recover from chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Sea urchin’s roe appeared on the menu of the Japanese after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Sea urchin also improves the central nervous system’s functioning, normalizes mood, and successfully combats stress and depression.

What are the benefits of sea urchin? The benefits of sea urchin include:

• Sea ​​urchin roe is powerful support for the nervous system during periods of stressful overload, moments requiring increased concentration of attention and long periods without the possibility of sleep;
• Sea urchin activates the work of the human reproductive and circulatory systems, strengthens the capillaries of the brain, serving as powerful prevention of stroke and sclerosis;
• Sea urchin protects from seasonal epidemics of respiratory infections in large cities and stabilizes the function of the endocrine system;
• Sea urchin promotes the rapid removal from the body of toxins, drugs and heavy metals, including radioactive substances.

The composition of sea urchin roe is impressive as it contains:

• Vitamin A improves the functioning of the organs of vision.
• Vitamins of group B, which are involved in the work of all vital systems of the body. The sea urchin holds the record for vitamin B12 content. Its amount is four times higher than in the beef liver.
• Vitamin E normalizes the functioning of the reproductive system and improves the skin, nails, and hair.
• Vitamin D takes the most active part in the exchange of mineral elements, improves the skeletal system’s condition, and promotes cell regeneration.
• A huge amount of micro and macro elements: calcium, magnesium, potassium, iodine, phosphorus, sodium.
• Beneficial fatty acids for the activity of our brain and the cardiovascular system: Omega-3 and Omega-6.
• Amino acids: glycine, phenylalanine, glutamic acid.

Studies have shown that sea urchin roe increases the adaptive capabilities of a person to increased physical activity, accelerates the body’s recovery in case of overwork, stimulates hematopoiesis, normalizes the level of leukocytes, and increases the level of hemoglobin and erythrocytes in the blood. And all this is since sea urchin’s roe contains many various fatty acids, phospholipids, carotenoids and prostaglandins. They stimulate many physiological processes in humans.

Another effect of sea urchin roe is associated with an excess of free radicals, which are believed to cause many diseases and even aging. They damage cell membranes, their lipid structures, disrupting homeostasis. Their uncontrolled formation is opposed by active substances contained in sea urchin roe.

According to scientists, the proportion of proteins in sea urchin roe is 18-20 percent. These are easily and quickly digestible proteins with a wide range of amino acids. Sea urchin contains about 30 percent of polyunsaturated fats, including deficient omega-3 and omega-6, iodine and vitamins A, E, D, B, PP. One sea urchin contains up to 30 grams of roe, which is one tablespoon. Scientists emphasize that sea urchin caviar is not a treatment but prevention of exacerbation of chronic diseases.

Sea urchin roe is a powerful natural immunomodulator and ensures the body’s normal functioning, despite aggressive external factors. Therefore, it was included in the diet of Japan’s inhabitants after the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Also, sea urchin caviar improves the cardiovascular system’s functioning, reproductive system, thyroid gland, and normalizes blood pressure.

Sea urchin roe can rightfully be called the “elixir” of youth. There is no wonder that there is an ancient ritual of body rejuvenation in Japan when every inhabitant eats sea urchin caviar before eating. Most importantly, eating sea urchin roe does not have any side effects unless you are allergic.

Regular sea urchin roe eating has a beneficial effect on the skin, smoothes fine wrinkles, has a good effect on hair and nails, normalizes blood pressure and successfully fights stress. Sea urchin roe contains lecithin, which supports brain function and improves liver function.

Even after irregular consumption of sea urchin roe, an improvement in mood is noted, fatigue is sharply reduced, and the body’s defences increase. The systematic sea urchin consumption leads to the normalization of cholesterol, improves the functioning of the endocrine and genitourinary systems, normalizes blood pressure, and increases immunity.

Are sea urchins harmful to humans? Sea urchins can only be harmful if you have an individual intolerance, which can cause an allergic reaction. Sometimes sea urchin can cause anaphylactic shock (severe allergic reaction) if you step on it. The poison injected into the tissues will not kill you because there is too little of it.