Sea cucumbers have been used as a food source and medicinal ingredient in Asian and Middle Eastern countries for centuries.

In fact, they have been fished from the Pacific Ocean for over 170 years (1).

These slug-like animals are used either fresh or dried in various dishes, though the dried form is by far the most commonly used.

Dried sea cucumber, known as bêche-de-mer or trepang, is rehydrated and added to recipes like soups, stews, and stir-fries.

Sea cucumbers can also be eaten raw, pickled, or fried.

They have a slippery texture and bland taste, so they’re usually infused with flavor from other ingredients like meats, other seafood, or spices.

They’re often combined with produce like Chinese cabbage, winter melon, and shiitake mushrooms.

Sea cucumber is also used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it’s believed to have healing properties and used to treat ailments like arthritis, cancer, frequent urination, and impotence (2).

Creams, tinctures, oils, and cosmetics infused with sea cucumber extract, as well as oral sea cucumber supplements, are also popular in traditional Chinese medicine.

While some species of sea cucumber contain bioactive substances with pharmacological potential, no strong evidence supports these purported benefits of sea cucumbers in general.

Due to high demand, many species of sea cucumber are overfished, and some are threatened with extinction in the wild. Make sure to choose farmed sea cucumbers or species from sustainable fisheries.

SUMMARY

Sea cucumber is a popular ingredient in Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Sea cucumbers are an excellent source of nutrients.

Four ounces (112 grams) of the Alaskan yane sea cucumber delivers (3).

• Calories: 60
• Protein: 14 grams
• Fat: less than one gram
• Vitamin A: 8% of the Daily Value (DV)
• B2 (Riboflavin): 81% of the DV
• B3 (Niacin): 22% of the DV
• Calcium: 3% of the DV
• Magnesium: 4% of the DV

Sea cucumbers are very low in calories and fat and high in protein, making them a weight-loss-friendly food.

They also contain many powerful substances, including antioxidants, which are good for your health.

Sea cucumbers are high in protein, with most species comprising 41–63% protein (4, 5).

Adding protein sources to meals and snacks helps keep you full by slowing the emptying of your stomach.

This can help you eat less and stabilize your blood sugar levels (6).

Foods rich in protein, such as sea cucumbers, may be especially beneficial for people with diabetes who are looking to control their blood sugar levels (7).

Plus, diets rich in protein may benefit heart health, help lower blood pressure, and improve bone density (8, 9).

SUMMARY

Sea cucumbers deliver an impressive amount of nutrients and beneficial compounds, including protein, antioxidants, and B vitamins.

Sea cucumbers have been linked to a number of potential health benefits.

Cancer-fighting properties

Sea cucumbers contain substances that may help fight cancer cells.

For example, one test-tube study showed that triterpene diglycosides found in Vietnamese sea cucumbers had a toxic effect on five types of cancer cells, including breast, prostate, and skin cancer cells (19).

Another study found that ds-echinoside A, a type of triterpene derived from sea cucumbers, reduced the spread and growth of human liver cancer cells (20).

While these results are promising, more research is needed to determine the efficacy and safety of using sea cucumber to fight cancer cells.

Antimicrobial properties

A number of test-tube studies have demonstrated that black sea cucumber extract inhibits the growth of bacteria, including E. coli, S. aureus, and S. typhi, all of which can cause illness (

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