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Fish Aren't the Only Way to Get EFAs from the Sea
By John Austen

Question: What type of sea life gives you more essential fatty acids than any fish (or fish oil), and is also more easily absorbed by your body?

Answer: The grasses that grow in the sea, which the fish eat.

Phytoplankton, also known as micro-algae, provides an abundance of protein (containing 22 amino acids), EPA and DHA (the omega-3s that you thought only come from fish), and omega-6, omega-7 and omega-9 fatty acids.

The first step in the food-chain. The lives of all animals that live in the sea depend on is microscopic marine plants called phytoplankton for nourishment – energy and minerals. Phytoplankton has the unique ability to transform sunlight, inorganic minerals and carbon dioxide into protein, carbohydrates, essential fats and countless other phytonutrients, making it a naturally whole food.

Consider the greatest threat to global warming that nobody ever talks about. Even if animals couldn't eat it, we would still die without it. It supplies our atmosphere with 90 percent of its oxygen. That means that most of the world's oxygen doesn't come from majestic old growth forest or lush tropical jungle, but tiny ocean plants. Taking this into consideration, scientists and politicians touting global warming should be much more concerned with keeping our oceans healthy.

Remember your high school biology class? "Phyto" means plants which use external energy to live, instead of breaking down organic matter to get their energy like other plants (and animals). Through the process of photosynthesis (photo=light; synthesis=build), these microscopic, single-celled plants nourish the entire food cycle of the world's oceans. Like plants growing in soil, phytoplankton contains lots of chlorophyll, which gives them their dark green colour. Chlorophyll is used by plants for photosynthesis, in which sunlight is used as an energy source -- It fuses water molecules and carbon dioxide into proteins, carbohydrates and essential fats, making plant food. Phytoplankton (and all land plants) uses these nutrients as "building blocks" to grow. And fish and humans eat plants to get these same nutrients.

Seeing isn't believing. Phytoplankton includes all algae that are too small to be seen with the eye. Other groups of algae are macro-algae; larger types including kelp. Like their land-based relatives, phytoplankton requires sunlight, water and nutrients for growth. Because sunlight is most abundant at and near the water's surface, phytoplankton remains there. It's called “plankton” because it drifts in the water, rather than staying put, like most plants with roots.

It's three billion years old. Anything that old must be good for the planet, and for everything that lives on it. Another reason it's good for us is because it is very alkalizing - well beyond what you can get by eating lots of vegetables. If you eat a substantial amount of animal protein (including fish) you probably know that you are moving the body into an acidic state. Being acidic increases your risk of disease. Phytoplankton helps restore the body's natural acid/alkaline balance. In addition, research has shown that it may be oxygenating from the inside out (remember the amount of oxygen it produces). This might also be a key to creating an environment within the body that is not conducive for diseases to take hold.

Why is micro-algae absorbed better than fish oil? Though fish oil is not digested well by everyone, this is not the only reason. EPA and DHA are important parts of fats when they are found in the phospholipid portion of the fats (lipid is fat). Phospholipids are needed to transport the fats into your system, particularly your brain. The EPA and DHA in phospholipids (algae) are better used than EPA/DHA in oils because they can more easily cross what is called the blood/brain barrier to your brain. This barrier protects the brain from most foreign substances that come near it, not allowing them inside. In other words, the transfer mechanism to your brain, where you need these essential fats the most, is more efficient with micro-algae.

Of course, micro-algae isn't the only natural super food from the sea. Macro-algae, like kelp and other types of sea plants, is an incredible source of organic minerals, vitamins, and other essential nutrients. Kelp contains over 60 essential minerals and trace minerals, and being a sea plant, these minerals are in the most bioavailable (absorbable) form possible, making kelp the finest source of organic minerals on the planet. Organic minerals are the only form that the body can incorporate directly into the cells and tissues (unlike the ones you take in supplement form that come from other sources).

Consider eating more from the sea. The important cellular nourishment provided by sea plants, not just sea animals, will dramatically assist your body's ability to heal itself. Try making it a regular part of your healthy diet.