WHY WE AVOID IT:

It breathes through its anus, can liquefy its body and acts as the vacuum cleaner of the ocean. These sausage-shaped animals with leathery skin are a delicacy in many parts of Asia. As a food, it has a slippery texture and a bland taste. Kind of like phlegm.

WHY WE SHOULD EAT IT:

Sea cucumbers may taste bland, but don’t let that fool you; these weird animals have several notable health benefits, including cancer prevention. They contain large amounts of compounds known as triterpene glycosides that have anti-tumor activity. In addition, they contain a different class of compounds that inhibit blood-vessel formation that feeds tumors. Double whammy.
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Sea cucumbers have also garnered interest as anti-inflammatory drugs. They contain things like mucopolysaccharides, chondroitin and glucosamine, a cocktail that can help relieve arthritis disorders. Researchers have also found that the fatty acids found in the sea animals are very valuable for tissue repair and wound healing. This is crucial for the sea cucumber. When threatened, they violently contract their muscles, causing some of their internal organs to spew out of their anus and into the face of their attacker. The missing body parts are quickly regenerated. The usefulness of such rapid healing properties has spawned a few pharmaceutical companies to develop healing extracts, creams, oil or cosmetics.