Have you ever tried pasta with squid ink? While the squid ink can turn your mouth and teeth black, the delicious flavor of squid ink still makes many people want to keep eating it.

Besides common pasta, squid ink is also commonly used in paella and other European dishes. While squid ink is often used as a seasoning, it’s actually rich in nutrients. Do you know its health benefits?

Nutritional Value of Squid Ink

Squid ink is a defensive weapon used by cuttlefish, blurring their vision and allowing them to escape. While it’s used as a weapon, squid ink also contains a variety of nutrients, including enzymes, catecholamines, amino acids, and minerals like iron and copper.

The most important component of squid ink is melanin, a substance found in the human body that determines the color of our skin. What health benefits can consuming cuttlefish ink offer?

Antibacterial Effects

Scientists believe that cuttlefish ink can help fight certain harmful bacteria and viruses. One study showed that cuttlefish ink extract effectively eliminated bacteria that may cause tooth decay, such as Streptococcus transaminiferus and Streptococcus lactis.

Another study also showed that cuttlefish ink can fight bacteria that may cause food poisoning, such as E. coli and Listeria monocytogenes.

Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Effects

Research has shown that cuttlefish ink can provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, helping to reduce free radicals in the body.

Excessive free radicals in the body can cause cell damage and increase the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. The polysaccharides in cuttlefish ink are a powerful antioxidant.

Anti-Cancer Potential

Scientists believe that cuttlefish ink has the potential to shrink cancer tumors and prevent the spread of cancer cells in the body because of its excellent antioxidant properties.

Some scientists believe that the polysaccharides and proteins in cuttlefish ink can help slow the growth of cancer cells, particularly breast, lung, and prostate cancers. Furthermore, the amino acid glutamate found in cuttlefish ink is thought to help alleviate some complications of cancer treatment.

Can help lower blood pressure and boost immunity

Research has shown that cuttlefish ink contains vasoconstriction-converting enzyme, an enzyme that dilates blood vessels and thus lowers blood pressure. Furthermore, cuttlefish ink is believed to promote the growth of immune cells and help strengthen the body’s immune system.

Cuttlefish ink culinary uses

Cuttlefish ink has a wide variety of culinary uses. Perhaps the most common is adding it directly to pasta or risotto as a pasta or rice sauce.

You can also mix cuttlefish ink into homemade pasta by adding a few drops of cuttlefish ink to the noodles when you add the eggs. This will turn the noodles black.

In addition to the common uses mentioned above, squid ink can also be added to a variety of dishes. For example, the black curry recipe below is a very creative dish. In addition, some experts believe that squid ink is particularly suitable for pairing with fish, shellfish, and shrimp dishes. You can also try adding squid ink to other favorite dishes.