Sea urchins: what they are and how they are consumed

These invertebrates live on rocky bottoms (up to30 mdeep), in areas wherePosidonia oceanica abounds. This plant is one of the main sources of nourishment for sea urchins, which are also among the few marine species able to feed on it directly.

In popular parlance, a distinction is made between “Male hedgehog” and “Female hedgehog“. Only the second lends itself well to food purposes, while the first is not consumed as it is inedible. However, we must not believe the false myth that sees the sea urchins divided into two sexes. In fact, these invertebrates arehermaphrodites. The “Male hedgehog” is actually the speciesArbacia lixula, while the one usually identified as female belongs to the speciesParacentrotus lividus.

The edible part of Paracentrotus lividus is represented by itsown gonads. To consume them, it is necessary to open the calcareous shell that covers the hedgehog, being very careful not to touch themobile spinesthat cover the surface. The most traditional recipes see sea urchins consumed together withpasta or rice, but often they are also consumednatural and raw (in the following paragraphs we will deepen this aspect better).

What benefits can they bring to the body?

The orange flesh of hedgehogs has a lowcalorie intake. In fact,100 gof product contains an average of110 kcal.

It is a food low infatand rich inproteins, essential fatty acidsand minerals such as:

• Zinc;
• Phosphorus;
• Iron;
• Magnesium;
• Potassium;

All these elements bring numerous benefits to the human body. Potassium, for example, enters the sodium/potassium balance, counteracting the action of sodium and reducing blood pressure. Phosphorusandzinccontribute to bone health, while iron is a fundamental element in hemoglobin and counteractsirondeficiency anemia. Moreover, the gonads of the Ricci are also rich inB vitamins, which contribute to maintaining excellent energy levels for the body.

Contraindications on the consumption of sea urchins

Like molluscs such as Mussels , Oysters or clams , sea urchins that live in highly polluted waters can host various pathogens and/or substances harmful to the human body .

The sea urchins found on the market are fished in the open sea, in areas where water pollution is certainly less frequent. However, the very high demand for sea urchins at bargain prices has led, over the decades, to the proliferation of smuggling of this food. Those who practice poaching prefer to find sea urchins in coastal areas which most of the time do not havegood water quality .

Among the diseases that can be contracted following the consumption of contaminated sea urchins we find:

• Hepatitis A ;
• Hepatitis E ;
• Cholera (derived from the bacterium Vibrio cholerae );
• Typhoid (caused by the bacterium  Salmonella enterica );

The first two diseases listed cause serious damage to the liver and, if not properly treated, can lead to the Death of the individual. Cholera, on the other hand, is a disease that until a few centuries ago was one of the main causes of death in many countries of the world.

The practice which sees the raw consumption of these invertebrates with a simple splash of lemon juice is strongly discouraged, just as it is not recommended to add them to spaghetti or rice without adequate cooking. In fact, lemon does not eliminate pathogens, which are eliminated only with adequate cooking.

Furthermore, Ricci should be consumed in moderation, as their abuse is strictly correlated with hypercholesterolemia (excessive presence of cholesterol).

How to reduce the risks by eating sea urchins

In the light of what has been stated in the previous paragraphs, we can conclude that sea urchins are not a harmful food for the body if eaten well cooked and in not excessive quantities.

If you still buy them whole, you should clean them very carefully and pay attention to the freshness of the product and the areas where they were caught. It is advisable to be wary of sellers who offer sea urchins at too competitive prices, because they could derive frompoaching .

Those suffering from food intolerances or high cholesterol should abstain from the consumption of this food, or at least moderate it significantly.