What Are Plankton and Phytoplankton?
The word "plankton" is derived from the Greek word "planktos", meaning "wanderer" or "drifter". Although some forms of plankton can swim up to several hundred feet a day, their positions and physiological requirements are primarily established by currents, temperatures, light conditions and nutrient concentrations of the body of water where they live. By definition, "plankton" organisms are unable to resist ocean currents so they are generally found there. Plankton is primarily divided into two broad functional groups: 1) Phytoplankton (plants); and 2) Zooplankton (animal).
Phytoplankton comes from the Greek terms, phyton or "plant" and planktos, meaning "wanderer" or "drifter". Phytoplankton are microscopic plants that live in the ocean, freshwater and other terrestrial based water systems. There are many species of phytoplankton, each of which has its own characteristic shape, size and function. Marine species of phytoplankton grow abundantly in oceans around the world and are the foundation of the marine food chain. Marine Phytoplankton is the producing autotrophic component in the ocean. An autotroph (from the Greek autos = self and trophe = nutrition) is an organism that produces complex organic compounds from simple inorganic molecules and an external source of energy, such as light or chemical reactions of inorganic compounds. Autotrophs are considered producers in a food chain. Plants and other organisms that carry out photosynthesis are phototrophs (or photoautotrophs).
Phytoplankton serves as the base of the aquatic food web, providing an essential ecological function for all aquatic life. Phytoplankton forms the beginning of the food chain for aquatic animals and fixes large amounts of carbon, which would otherwise be released as carbon dioxide. There are about 5,000 species of marine phytoplankton. Marine Phytoplankton is the basis of all other life forms on the planet Earth. Diatoms are especially important, as they are estimated to contribute about 45% of the total oceanic primary production. These diatoms utilize the nutrient-rich ocean waters and in conjunction with photosynthesis, their microscopic cells contain high concentrations of essential nutrients. Marine phytoplankton is a major source of the Earth's oxygen supply. Phytoplankton are useful indicators of high nutrient concentrations due to their propensity to multiply rapidly in the right environmental conditions.
Most phytoplankton are too small to be individually seen with the unaided eye. However, when present in high enough numbers, they may appear as a green discoloration in the water due to the presence of chlorophyll within their cells. Chlorophyll a is the primary photosynthetic pigment of all oxygen-evolving photosynthetic organisms, and is present in all algae.
Amazing Health and Wellness Properties and Benefits
It is fairly common knowledge that eating closer to the base of the food chain or web transfers more energy and nutrients to the human body.
So what does this mean for the ability to consume at the base of the marine food chain? First, we must realize that because of the over manufactured and processed state of our foods, the closer we can consume and eat to the primary producers the more efficient and the higher the quality of the nutrients we will receive.
Nature's design and its associated makeup and characteristics of whole plants benefits humans. The plant kingdom holds many secrets to health that we are only beginning to discover and the wellness benefits offered by phytoplankton are no different.
Most of our human health problems are due to a breakdown in cellular communication, leading to a lack of energy production. Consequently, the bodily function and composition of cell membranes throughout the body are critical for well-being. It is also believed that our body can heal itself when properly nourished, and nothing nourishes the body like marine phytoplankton.
The cell membrane becomes an extremely important part of cell communication and function. The cell membrane is the interface between each cell and its environment. Cells are very dependent on the environment we maintain in our bodies. This environment is created by our own unique lifestyles. Poor quality foods, polluted air and water, can provide poor and sometimes toxic environmental conditions that can lead to compromising cell membrane function. The structure and function of cell membranes are extremely important for receptors to successfully receive messages generated from other cells, thus coordinating cell metabolism and functions. Nutrition provides not only the fuel needed for cell function, but also the molecules cells need to be structurally well functioning.
The micronutrients and electrolytes contained in plankton are what human cell membranes require to carry out their metabolism. Plankton also has an alkaline pH, which is extremely important given the acidity of our daily diets that are usually high in refined sugars and meats. The high density of nutrients found in phytoplankton is important for maintaining the function and structure of the human cell membrane which in turn is vital for cell detoxification and for overall metabolism.
In addition, Planktonic algae contain high levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory micronutrients that fuel metabolism and detoxification processes.
A New Generation Wellness Product on the Horizon
A pristine Pacific Northwest beach is the home of an one-of-a-kind sea farm where Tom Harper created and maintains the exclusive, patent-pending process of growing and harvesting Marine Phytoplankton.
FrequenSea™, a product of ForeverGreen™, is an amazing ionic and whole-food tonic, containing a majority of all of the elements necessary to promote beneficial cellular activity and for maximizing your ability to metabolize at the cellular level. With nutrient dense phytoplankton, you are better able to reduce inflammation, oxidation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and toxicity that may compromise cell communication.
Bev Storer writes about human and pet nutrition. For more information about FreqenSea and the new generation of phytoplankton supplements, please visit http://www.PhytoplanktonTonic.com or for a video about the history of FrequenSea, visit http://www.phytoplankton-news.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bev_Storer
By Bev Storer
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