When we say sea pineapple, we’re not talking about SpongeBob’s rocking underwater abode. No, we’re talking about a new delicacy taking the culinary world by storm. Said to have a chemical-ish taste and an ammonia smell, top food gurus deem the sea pineapple as the perfect pairing for sake. Apart from food connoisseurs, this strange underwater habitant is catching the eyes of health fanatics as well, thanks to one vitamin that’s great for the brain.
What is Sea Pineapple?
The appearance of a sea pineapple makes you think, do people really eat those? They’re spiny on the outside and have an orange tinge to them, yet slimy on the inside. Asians have consumed them for many years, with larger productions taking place in the early 80s. Today, you can find them on top of plates in some of the fanciest restaurants and markets around Asia.
Where Does it Come From?
Sea Pineapples live in cold and shallow waters of South Korea and Japan, mostly attached to rocks. There are a few different species of the creature as some have adapted to colder water temperatures found around Japan. While they have gained some popularity in the United States, most of the consumption comes from Japan, with more than three-fourths of the entire production heading there.
Why Should you Chow Down on Sea Pineapple?
While the taste and texture don’t speak highly of the Sea Pineapple, its nutrients do. Studies found that this strange-looking culinary superstar boasts brain-healthy vitamins and nutrients like plasmalogen. This Korean delicacy is high in plasmalogen and contains a structure that mimics that of the human brain. This power-phospholipid makes up the membranes of the nervous and immune systems, constituting a large quantity of white matter in the brain.
If you’re still wondering why the Sea Pineapple is like a miracle, it has to do with the body and how it processes it. For instance, studies showed that, when consumed in excess, the body had higher levels of plasmalogen in the blood and liver. In other words, eating it can increase the presence in the body. Later, scientists discovered that it’s promising in the battle against Alzheimer’s, making it an eye-catching substance. It’s not a cure but, it holds the key to understanding more about the brain and mysterious white matter.
Don’t Let the Texture Scare You
With the breakthrough research of plasmalogen and the brain, people see the Sea Pineapple as much more than just a weird underwater creature. Now, it’s becoming a target for researchers in the fight against brain-damaging diseases. So, even if the texture and the overall appearance make you gag, don’t miss out on the benefits. Ingesting even just a little will help keep your brain and tissues healthy, preventing early-onset dementia and Alzheimer’s as you age. While it’s not a cure, it’s a promising substance, making a splash in both the culinary and medical worlds.
