Why is Marine Phytoplankton important?
There are more than 40,000 different species or strains of phytoplankton that scientists have classified
in our oceans today. One quarter of all vegetation on planet earth (both land and sea) consists of marine
phytoplankton. In the wild, phytoplankton is invisible to the naked eye. However, under certain
conditions, this micro-alga can actually be seen from a space satellite.
Phytoplankton is food for the worlds largest and longest living animals and fish, including blue whales,
bowhead whales, baleen whales, gray whales, humpbacks, and right whales. These species live between 80 and
150 years old and maintain great strength and endurance throughout their lives. The largest fish, a
phytoplankton eating whale shark, lives for over 150 years, grows up to 14 meters long, weighs up to 15
tons, and is sexually active until its death.
According to NASA, phytoplankton produces between 50% and 90% of all the oxygen in the air that we
breathe, depending on the season. It also absorbs most of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, helping to
maintain a balanced ecosystem, which is essential for all life. There are billions of tons of carbon
dioxide residing on the seabed, which have been transported there by phytoplankton, after which it
eventually sinks down to the bottom of the ocean.
More than 99% of all creatures that live in the ocean depend, either directly or indirectly, on
phytoplankton for their survival. Thanks to these amazing micro-algae, some species of whale can enjoy an
active and reproductive life of up to 200 years!
Unlike any other food, phytoplankton is being hailed as the new superfood, as it is 100% nutritionally
useful and bio-available to the body; when you eat it, nothing is wasted. Most food such as fruits,
vegetables, nuts, grains, meat and fish, actually contain less than 50% nutritional value that is useful
to the body. During the digestive process, humans produce a significant quantity of waste by-products from
conventional foods, which in turn produces toxicity and stress in the body, particularly if the gut, liver
and other organs are not functioning correctly. Over time, this toxic stress overload can lead to illness
Doesn't it make sense that if you are suffering from something serious the best thing you can give your
body is the most nutritious food on the planet?
hence the record levels of drugs being prescribed nowadays. As Hippocrates, the famous Greek Physician
physician once said, "Let food by thy medicine, and let medicine be thy food."
The primitive character of this micro-algae's cellular structure gives it a number of advantages as a food
source over more complex plants and animals. For starters, the body can absorb practically the entire
organism, with minimal indigestible structures. By contrast, typically less than half the dry weights of
raw fruit and vegetables have any nutrient value. What's more, marine phytoplankton exhibits superior
photosynthetic efficiency, using light approximately three times more efficiently than other plants.
Micro-algae are among the most productive organisms on the planet. Logic says that the lower you get on
the food chain, the more nutritious the food. You cannot get any lower on the food chain than marine
Marine Phytoplankton phytoplankton are is Nature's nature's gift to assist us on our journey to optimal
health and wellness through balanced nutrition. Dr. Jerry Tennant, MD, from the Tennant Institute of
Integrative Medicine, explains that the micronutrients and electrolytes in marine phytoplankton are
exactly what human cell membranes need to carry out their metabolismfunction optimally. Not surprisingly,
the composition of human plasma, or the fluid surrounding cell membranes, is similar to that of sea-
water. Relying solely on land-based food sources may lead to deficiencies in these micronutrients and
Containing a wide range of trace elements, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, chlorophyll, enzymes and
cellular materials, marine phytoplankton promotes and maintains optimum health by boosting and supporting
all systems within the body.
Nutrigenomics and Phytoplankton
Powerfully supporting our DNA and
jumpstarting gene production
Nutrigenomics-the understanding of how food benefits our health-is finding that marine phytoplankton can
directly affect on our genes and brain neurons.
Scientists examining how common chemicals found in food affect health by altering the function or
structure of a person's genetic make-up are, now examining marine phytoplankton.
They have found that the high density of nutrients in algae and marine phytoplankton is extremely
important, and helps maintain human cell membranes, structure and function. This is vital for cell
detoxification, and for the overall metabolism of human cells. Many diseases are the result of specific
mechanisms gone awry, all of which center on cell membrane function and structure. Inflammation,
oxidation, toxicity, and mitochondrial dysfunction keep cell membranes from doing their job effectively.
Marine phytoplankton contains high levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory micronutrients to fuel
metabolism and detoxification. They also stoke the fires of the mitochondria, where cells make the energy
required to function.
Marine Phytoplankton may help Chronic Disease
According to Dr. Jerry Tennant, MD, there are two basic theories of how to improve the health of people
with chronic disease, and keep them healthy.. The first is to find a drug that will substitute for a
broken "gear" in the body, or to repair the "gears" mechanically (surgery). The other is to give the body
the nutrients it needs to manufacture new cells, as well as the frequencies that allow the body to heal
For those wishing to support the latter theory, it has been difficult to determine what is actually needed
to make new cells. Often you will hear of a "new herb from Africa," or a "fruit from China" that will
magically heal everything. Such findings are often useful for some but not predictable for most. Dr.
Tennant's feelings have always been that "our Heavenly Father would not design a body that requires
unusual potions from far-away places" to make us healthy. The elements and electrolytes in phytoplankton,
a basic building block of life, are virtually tailor-made for the human body, helping it to perform as
There are few products that provide all, or even most, essential amino acids, more Omega 3's than fish
oil, Vitamin A, Selenium, Iodine and others than marine phytoplankton, to help the body come back into
balance. It may be no coincidence that the composition of human plasma is similar to sea water. With our
over-reliance on land based food sources, we have developed deficiencies in micronutrients and trace
elements. The nutritional properties from the algae contain over 200 species of marine phytoplankton on
land. This allows for a unique blend of phytonutrients which that promote proper metabolic functions.
Marine phytoplankton provides:
General Nutrition —
Contains ultra-potent lipids to enhance brain
Cardiovascular Health —
Supports a healthy heart
Clinically tested to reduce cholesterol
Blood Sugars —
Stabilizes blood sugar levels
Neurological Support —
Mental alertness, ADHD, Parkinson's, and
Joint health —
Relieves pain and inflammation
Skin Care —
More effective than Lutein
Liver Health —
Supports a healthy liver
Promotes better sleep
Marine Phytoplankton's Anti-Cancer Effects
At the University of Rhode Island, professor Yuzuru Shimizu is examining metabolites of single-celled
plankton called dinoflagellates, which National Cancer Institute tests have shown have cancer-fighting
potential. Shimizu is developing a culturing system to ensure an adequate supply of these sea-based
organisms showing anti-tumor properties.
More specifically, plankton could prevent skin cancer; scientists from Heinrich Heine University in
Germany and TNO Nutrition and Food Research Institute in the Netherlands have reported their findings
supporting this claim in the latest edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).