Millions of older pets suffer from arthritis and joint pain. Could the answer to the problem be a sea cucumber supplement?
What Is Sea Cucumber?
The word sea cucumber sounds kind a bit odd. Is it seaweed? Is it something else?
Actually, the sea cucumber isn’t a plant – it’s a marine invertebrate. It’s related to sea urchins and starfish.
There are a few different scientific names for sea cucumber:
- Staurocucumis liouvillei
- Mensamaria intercedens Lampert
- Cucumaria frondosa.
People in Asian countries love sea cucumber and consider it a delicacy.
They dry it and use it in soups and other dishes.
Eastern practitioners also use a sea cucumber supplement as natural medicine.
Sea Cucumber in Traditional Chinese Medicine
The common Chinese name for sea cucumber is haishen or hai shen.
Translated, haishen basically means “ginseng of the sea.”
However, in traditional Chinese medicine, some practitioners call sea cucumber fangcishen or fangshen.
Sea cucumber has become quite popular in Eastern medicine.
Eastern practitioners use sea cucumber to help, among other things:
- constipation
- fatigue
- frequent urination
- impotence
- joint pain
Traditional Chinese medicine also considers sea cucumbers “salty” and “warming” and associates it with the Heart and Kidney meridians.
Sea Cucumber Supplements from a Western Perspective
Sea cucumbers are packed with healthy nutrients that help pets in several ways.
Some examples of these nutrients are arginine, chondroitin, mucopolysaccharides, and Frondosine A, which may help with aging and immunity.
Immunity
Sea Cucumbers contain several amino acids, including arginine.
Arginine is vital to your pet’s health because it activates and promotes T-cell growth.
T-cells are the central regulators of your pet’s immune response system.
Consequently, arginine helps overall immunity.
Sea Cucumber also contains:
- collagen
- bioactive amino acids
- lipids
And, all three ingredients may also reduce fatigue.
Arthritis and Joint Health Challenges
Sea cucumber also supplies a large amount of chondroitin and mucopolysaccharides.
Pets suffering from arthritis and joint pain are often deficient in both compounds.
Using a sea cucumber supplement helps pets feel better by supporting the deficiency.
Sea cucumber also contains the popular ingredient Frondoside A.
Scientists are currently studying Frondosine A for its beneficial effects on inflammation, oxidation, hypoglycemia, and tumors.
In fact, a PubMed listing, “High-Value Components and Bioactives from Sea Cucumbers for Functional Foods–A Review” by Mar Drugs in 2011 explains many benefits.
Here are a few ways a sea cucumber supplement can help your pet’s joints:
- Anti-inflammatory properties: Sea cucumbers contain bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory properties, such as triterpene glycosides and chondroitin sulfate. These compounds may help reduce joint inflammation, which is beneficial for conditions like arthritis.
- Collagen production: Sea cucumbers are a rich source of collagen, a structural protein found in connective tissues, including joints. Collagen provides strength and support to joints, and consuming collagen-rich foods like sea cucumbers may help support joint health and promote the production of new collagen.
- Lubrication and cartilage protection: Sea cucumbers contain substances like mucopolysaccharides and glycosaminoglycans, known to have lubricating properties. These substances can help improve joint mobility by reducing friction between the joint surfaces. Additionally, sea cucumbers may help protect and support the health of cartilage, the flexible tissue that cushions the joints.
- Antioxidant activity: Sea cucumbers possess antioxidant compounds that help combat oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can lead to inflammation and damage to joint tissues. By reducing oxidative stress, sea cucumbers may contribute to joint health by protecting the cells and tissues in and around the joints.
So, why aren’t more people using a sea cucumber supplement to help their pets?
It’s probably because most people aren’t familiar with sea cucumber supplement benefits!
Or, maybe they don’t know of a trusted source.
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