Can Humans eat Marine Phytoplankton?
Beyond the superb nutritional profile of the phytoplankton, its tiny size is behind some of its potent health benefits.
Many people consider it to be the single most impressive plant species ever studied when it comes to human nutrition.
Phytoplankton are the smallest plant-based organisms on the planet, 5-7 times smaller than a human red blood cell and, as a result, it is is absorbed by the human body in a way which bypasses the mitochondrial system. This makes it appropriate for many health conditions where poor absorbption is a factor. (2)
This critical factor may explain the life-changing benefits many people report when ingesting it. Testimonial after testimonial recounts people who have spent thousands of pounds on health supplements without taking anything that has affected them so radically.
Put simply, phytoplankton is a supplement the body can absorb.
Please bear in mind, however, that ingesting a cheaply produced pond grown plankton is not going to deliver you these benefits.
There is a reason this kind of supplement hasn’t made it to the human food chain beyond the last decade, it requires complicated technology to produce in its purest state. As time goes by, the scale of production will bring the price down but for now, it is a premium supplement for those looking for the ultimate health giving green powder. Click here to read our marine phytoplankton reviews.
What are the Benefits of Marine Phytoplankton?
Phytoplankton’s mixture of life-giving nutrients and bio-availability make it a powerful health supplement. Its holistic benefits may offer support in some of the following areas:
- Mood: Depression, Stress, Anxiety, and Cognitive Function
- Skin complaints like Psoriasis and Eczema
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Adrenal Burnout
- Thyroid Dysfunction
- Leaky Gut
- Protects against Radiation and Environmental Pollutants
- Prevents Assimilation of Heavy Metals
- Immune System Support (increases CD3 immune booster cells)
- Supports the body’s detoxification pathways
- Supports the heart via high levels of antioxidants and Omega 3
- Improves Mental Clarity and Focus
- Profoundly Energising
- Anti inflammatory
- Helpful in Pain Relief
- Excellent for the Eyes due to high levels of beta-carotene
- Promotes blood sugar balance
- Aids with asthma
- Reproductive Support / Hormone Balancer (partially due to its magnesium)
- Great for dogs and cats, too
What is a Phytoplankton Bloom?
Although it can achieve incredible biomass in a short space of time, for much of the year, wild strains have their growth constrained by imperfect growing conditions in the marine ecosytem. These sensitive species depend on just the right combination of nutrients and light, so when the right weather conditions arise their growth has a pace and magnitude which is one of nature’s most extraordinary phenomenon.
Phytoplankton is considered the most potent mechanism by which carbon dioxide is transferred from the atmosphere to the ocean. As such is a vital sequestration system for planetary CO2 and its health closely linked to that of the planet.
Does Marine Phytoplankton Really Work?
We’ve all read articles which suggest that ‘multivitamins just create very expensive urine.’ While individual absorption rates vary widely, there’s little doubt that a proportion of everything ingested into the body is simply not available to be absorbed. The key factor here is ‘bioavailability’ and, in that field, there is quite simply nothing like it.
With the rest of the foods we ingest, it is the human body’s mitochondrial system which breaks everything down into proteins, sugar, fats etc. and then eventually into nucleotides: the energy currency of the cell. This process known as mitochondrial nucleotide synthesis results in ATP (adenosine triphosphate) which supplies our bodies with the energy we need to function.
According to studies by longevity expert David Wolfe, phytoplankton, containing the smallest particle size of all microalgae, simply bypasses this whole system, delivering ATP directly to cells. For people suffering from Chronic fatigue syndrome, or even everyday exhaustion, this makes it very useful.
A teaspoon of plankton powder in water gives has the potential to give you real useable natural energy, without any of the ‘high’ offered by something like coffee.
SummaryPlankton’s bioavailability means a high propotion of its nutrients, including the phospholipids and omega-3 fatty acids, are able to cross the blood- brain barrier, stimulating significant neurotransmitter production and offering the deep mental clarity with many consumers of phytoplankton powder comment upon.
An Antioxidant Superfood Containing SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE
Rapidly gaining in popularity amongst people looking for alternative support in healing from cancer, phytoplankton offers some powerful antioxidant benefits, possibly due, in part, to the microalga pigments. But it’s as a source of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), an enzyme that appears to breakdown harmful oxygen molecules in cells, it really shines.
This primary internal antioxidant has incredible properties in disarming what are called ‘superoxide radicals’ – rogue oxygen molecules with a prevalent role in many diseases.
Although there are detailed studies showing that increased levels of SOD have a direct correlation on human longevity, the problem has always been that Superoxide Dismutase cannot survive the human digestive tract, it is killed by stomach acid. This is where planktons extraordinarily small cell size, once again plays a vital role allowing direct sub-lingual absorption!
Put simply, plankton offers you the best natural source of Superoxide Dismutase that can be perfectly absorbed.
Nutrients
- Amino Acids – Contains the 9 amino acids the body cannot make.
- Vitamins – A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, C and D
- Minerals – All 72 trace minerals in one of the highest levels of any known food
- Chlorophyll (type A)
- Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids (Eicosapentaenoic omega 3 essential fatty acids) Highest plant source of the long-chain, omega-3 essential fatty acids EPA. (NB while many sellers claim it contains DHA docosahexaenoic acid aswell, the truth is it contains 0.05 to 1.5mg of DHA per 1 gram, meaning a very low trace amount.)
- Astaxanthin, Canthaxanthin, Zeaxanthin, Beta- carotene – powerful antioxidant carotenoids
- Complete protein
- Micronutrients and Electrolyes
- Alkalises System – Nutrients are pH 8-8.5 and highly alkaline
- Source of Glyconutrients which play an important role in good cell-to-cell communication
Production
Our plankton is produced in a state of the art closed loop tubular photo bio reactor in Germany. Only the purest filtered water is used, via glass tubes, rather than the cheaper plastic used by certain competitors.
This system is really the Rolls Royce of algae production, with quality control and a sheer passion for what we do at the heart of the process. We produce small batches of what we believe to be the most potent, biologically pure and health-giving phytoplankton on the market today. If would you like specific product information, such as a nutritional analysis, please email us and we’ll be happy to send it.
Many people also ask us for ingredient lists but there isn’t one! It’s pure 100% plant and nothing else.
What are the Side Effects of Phytoplankton?
We’ve written a whole piece on this here but, other than possibly inducing a healing reaction as it’s healing magic begins, we feel this is a gentle supplement with little or no reportable side effects other than superb whole-body health!
As with anything you should take careful advice from your healthcare professional if you have particular medical conditions.
Buying cheap supplements from ocean ponds does carry the risks of pollution, considering how serious the degradation and toxicity of our marine environments now is. In addition to saying that ocean grown plankton can’t be trusted, we also feel that most of the cheaper commercially produced supplements, even those grown inland, carry risks. Growing phytoplankton in an open pond is only really appropriate for bio-fuel purposes, in our opinion, as they are too prone to contamination.
Phytoplankton Powder Vs Liquid
Until someone shows us a single benefit of any kind to phytoplankton liquid, we’ll continue to produce only our carefully dried and cultured powder, with incredible attention to detail. There’s a reason, to our minds, that spirulina liquid or blue-green algae liquid are not commonly seen items on health shop shelves. Put simply, powder represents the best means of preserving the nutritional components for human health.
Start Your Journey to Exceptional Mind/Body Health
Dosage
1/2 teaspoon of marine phytoplanton per day should be enough to get you started.
Most people find it affects them most strongly at the beginning and then, as your body starts to come to balance, you need to up it 1-2 teaspoons to achieve the same effects.
We’re basing this on 1/2 teaspoon being approximately 1g of powder.
What is the Best Brand of Phytoplankton?
We have tested every single plankton supplement available in both the US and within the EU and our conclusion, hands down, is that The Health Factory’s product is the best. We could have sold any and probably sold a lot more due to lowest cost, but once we tried this it was a no brainer.
It is a premium product, more expensive than many, but for a very good reason. Many of our customers have tried one of the cheaper supplements on the market before trying ours but, without exception, none have reverted back afterwards.
As of 2022, we are adding Phytality to this very top level recommendation. Phytality is a new addition to the market and are producing a phenomenal multi-strain phytoplankton that ranks with the very best.
Your body is the only vessel you’re going to get to carry you through this life – so why give it anything less than the best?
An Amazing Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Supplement
Phytoplankton offers a range of exciting benefits for pregnant and nursing women.
As one of the world’s most nutrient dense foods, it is a convenient way to ensure your system is deeply nourished, as well as boosting energy levels. It promotes deeper and longer sleep cycles, reduces body aches and, in the case of breastfeeding mothers, appears to have a powerful affect at increasing milk production.
There is of course interesting studies about the use of EPA and foetal brain development. (ref)
Leaky Gut
The biggest issue for people with leaky gut is their inability to absorb the very nutrients they try to take to heal themselves. When your intestines become permeable your liver also has to work ovetime to filter out all the toxins, and inevitably inflammation follows. Unsurprisingly, leaky gut is enormously common in age of processed food and too many antibiotics.
Although not a standalone cure, we believe it offers a powerful support to anyone healing themselves for this. It’s complete absorbability make it unique amongst supplements, added to which it’s alkalinic and anti-inflammatory.
Is The Health Factory Strain ‘Nannochloropsis Gaditana’?
Well that would be telling. Although this particular strain has achieved some notoriety as one of the most potent strains being used in the health industry, the one selected by The Health Factory is it’s own special secret. Just try it and feel the difference!
Grey Hair or Hair Regrowth?
Now here’s a strange one. We’ve been getting a number of questions recently from customers who want to know if our product reduces grey hair or even cures baldness. To be honest, this is a new one to us and we can only attest that it hasn’t in our case. That said, the ability of the product to deliver it’s benefits to people who’ve struggled with absorbency is something we’re confident of.
It is also highly beneficial for the skin and since hair is another overall indicator of the body’s state of health it stands to reason that optimum hair health might be something promoted via a regular spoonful or two of plankton. If anyone has scientific evidence or case studies to support its efficacy in this area we would be interested, please do send it through to our email.
Is Marine Phytoplankton Vegan?
It is 100% vegan in origin, offering the highest known plant levels of phospholipid EPA. The EPA in is packed with polar lipids, which are a particular type of Omega-3 (PUFAs) with can be easily absorbed by mammals. Vegan EPA from phytoplankton benefits blood plasma fatty acids
Marine Phytoplankton for Dogs
Yes, plankton is brilliant for dogs and we’ve written a full article about the benefits of phytoplankton for dogs here.
In fact, a good proportion of our sales come from pet owners who’ve tried everything to help their animals find great wellbeing, but are now finding this unique supplement can add some very unique to the mix. We get emails every month from owners who’ve been blown away by the fairly rapid changes in vitality, joint discomfort and general health of their dogs after a few weeks of the powder mixed with their food.
Phytoplankton vs Spirulina
We are commenly asked whether phytoplnkton is the same as spirulina. It is not. Phytoplankton is a salt water micro-algae, whereas spirulina is a freshwater cyanobacteria. As highly nutritious green powders both are great for your body, we prefer phytoplankton for its incredibly absorbency.
We’ve written a full article on this subject here.
EPA or DHA
Our product is what you might call an ‘ultra premium’ plankton supplement, the crème de la crème. It is the result of years of lab testing in order to select a strain which is exceptionally high in Omega 3 EPA Phospholipids (ref).
Phospholipids are the more bio-available form of Omega 3 oil, much touted in supplements like Krill Oil.
Produced in a glass tubed German bioreactor, our plankton supplement is also higher in natural complex minerals and nutrients than any other tested strains. This supplement is packed with PURE EPA OMEGA 3 oil, and is in the fact the highest vegan or vegetarian source of this important fatty acid!
If you’re seeking a pure EPA supplement there’s little doubt that fish oil contains a more concentrated amount. However, the much documented state of our seas and the heavy metals found in fish oils make this is an unwise choice, in our opinion. As a whole food source of vegan EPA its benefits are as a total nutrient source, not merely for supplemental EPA.
Similarly, there is very minimal DHA in our product. We can obtain between 0.05 to 1.5mg of DHA per 1 gram service. We regard this as a very low trace amount and therefore do not focus on promoting the DHA content in our Phytoplankton.
It’s packed with good stuff, easy for your gut to absorb, and just offers many more benefits, however.
Iodine Content
Iodine is typically found in macro-algae / seaweed, but NOT in Marine Phytoplankton (marine micro-algae). Additionally, we do not add any iodine in our liquid medium (production process), which is made up from filtrated and purified tap water. Based on this, any accidental input of trace quantities iodine is virtually impossible to get into our Phytoplankton product.
Bulk Discounts
We do try to support people who are facing particular health conditions so if you are planning on buying larger quantities per month just drop us an email and we can let you know how we could help.
Customer Reviews
We now have 100’s of positive customer ratings and reviews. Please click the Yotpo widget in the side of the page to or simply visit our testimonials page.
We also hold regular production promotions via our Facebook page.
SummaryChoosing a phytoplankton grown in the highest quality glass bio-reactor is the starting point for any sensible buying decision. Following on from that you need to be assured of quality control throughout every stage of the process, including the drying and packaging.
That’s just one of the many reasons, we’re confident that the Health Factory is the current best choice on the market.
Article Sources
(1) Oxygen Production – https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/source-of-half-earth-s-oxygen-gets-little-credit#:~:text=Phytoplankton%20absorb%20both%20across%20their,%2C%20grasses%2C%20and%20other%20plants.
(2) Smaller than a Blood Cell – https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/expeditions/you-wanted-to-know-what-are-these-phytoplankton/#:~:text=They’re%20made%20of%20calcium,2%20and%2025%20micrometers%20across.&text=Each%20individual%20Ehux%20is%20super,a%20human%20red%20blood%20cell.
