Benefits of the sea urchin, and information about the properties of the sea urchin, a characteristic sea food that few people still dare to try.
Although it is becoming a wider gap in many kitchens and there are already many people who consume it regularly, even today it is very common that few actually dare to try it.
The sea urchin is a food that belongs to the echinoderm family, known by the name Paracentrotus lividus. It is characterized by having mobile spines, and an ambulacra skin that helps it to move along the seabed.
At the moment in countries like Spain there is no gastronomic tradition related to this food (if we compare it with other seafood), but for example in Catalonia it tends to be highly valued.
Regarding the best season for sea urchins, it is possible to find them in the market and in fishmongers throughout the year, although their best season is from November to April.
Nutritional properties of the sea urchin
Sea urchins stand out from a nutritional point of view for their very high content of good quality proteins, therefore providing the majority of essential amino acids.
Its fat content and therefore its caloric value is really low, so that 1 kilogram of sea urchins provide only 68.7 kilocalories and only 0.3 grams of fat.
It also provides minerals (mainly iodine, iron and phosphorus), and with regard to its vitamin content we can highlight above all the presence of vitamin A.
Sea urchin benefits
Due to its high content of good quality proteins, its consumption is very interesting in athletes, thus becoming an ideal food for the development of muscles. While for its low fat and caloric content, it is interesting in weight loss diets.
It also provides a good amount of iron, so that it helps prevent or treat iron deficiency anemia. It is very rich in iodine, which is why it helps prevent hypothyroidism (precisely for this reason, its consumption is not recommended in case of hyperthyroidism).
It helps to lower blood pressure, while it is useful to maintain good skin health and to take care of vision.
