Do you remember the first time you ate caviar? You’d probably heard about these tiny little black pearls, so exquisite in flavour and texture that people pay enormous sums of money for a small serving. And then you tasted it. Mildly salty maybe? But smooth and creamy with a clearly discernible hint of the ocean.
But what you may not know is that the little mound of ‘black gold’ often found glistening on top of mini pancakes has some incredible health benefits too.
Most people associate black caviar with swanky cocktail parties, champagne or possibly vodka. But it's much more than just a party appetiser. Black caviar – which by definition is the salted roe of sturgeon fish - contains a multitude of vitamins and minerals that nourish the unborn fish, and these nutrients have a beneficial effect on human’s immune functions.
For many years, caviar was prescribed to help alleviate symptoms associated with depression. Well, wouldn’t you feel better if someone gave you caviar? But it’s not as fishy as it sounds: studies show that high doses of fatty acids like omega-3 – and caviar is rich in omega-3s – helped to alleviate depression and bipolar disorder.
Selenium, an important trace mineral which helps support cell growth and boost immune functions, can also be found in caviar. It works with vitamin E as an antioxidant to protect cells from damage caused by free radicals and other compounds in the body that may lead to heart disease.
That said, it’s probably not a good idea to rely too heavily on sturgeon caviar to give your immune system a boost. It's relatively high price doesn’t make it the ideal prescription for everybody.
“Caviar is a seriously delicious indulgence”, says Attilus Caviar owner, Igor Stopnikov. “but it’s also incredibly good for you in moderation. People just don’t realize the many valuable ways in which science uses the components of these delightful little eggs, for example in treating Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and depression. It was also once considered ‘nature’s Viagra’ too, you know!”
The following nutritional values are based on 1 tablespoon of caviar:
Calories: 40
Fat: 3g / 4% DV
Carbohydrates: 1g / 0% DV
Protein: 4g / 8% DV
Sodium: 240mg / 10% DV
Vitamin B12: 3.2mcg / 53% DV
Selenium: 10.5mcg / 15% DV
Cholesterol: 94.1mg / 31% DV
Omega-3 fatty acids: 1.086 g
