But I'm not a Turnip, Why Do I Need a Seaweed Supplement?

BUT I’M NOT A TURNIP…why do I need a				America. Plant scientists have even developed
seaweed dietary supplement?				hybrid grains and vegetables that can grow in
“Knowledge of the oceans is more important				fertilizer alone. However, it’s clear, NPK
than just a matter of curiosity. Our very survival				fertilizers can not possible contain all the
may hinge upon it.” President John Kennedy,				microelements and growth regulators needed for
1961				maximum development. This makes you wonder
The answer to this question will open a fascinating				whether synthetic supplements for humans have
window with new respect for what Mother				about the same effect.
Nature has truly provided in the richest biome on				The answer to the first question is plants grow
Earth, the ocean. This article is about amazing				bigger and stronger with seaweed extracts
research on how liquid seaweed extracts help				probably because of better nutrition. From a
plants to grow strong and stay healthier longer.				personal perspective, it was wonderful to ascribe
Your appreciation will also grow tenfold for the				healthier plants to seaweed extracts as
whole value of the amazing gardens of the sea				“visible” tangible objects produced in a
and their place in the total ecology of the earth				season. How else can we actually see the effects
including human biology…				of total nutrients on living organisms? Certainly not
Two main questions surface of elemental				on complex human long term cycles where we
importance both to plants and humans:				use supplements in blind faith hoping they produce
1. What do you know about the valuable features				some results.
of seaweed extracts for plants?				Now even a basic understanding that plant and
2. What do you know about the benefits of				human physiology are inter-related at the cellular
seaweed supplementation for people?				level begs the second question:
So, what is the connection between any plant				Can people receive benefits by using liquid
food and our body? Of course, you can argue				seaweed extracts as dietary supplements?
that you’re not a turnip, a cucumber, a				Your own research will more fully answer this
tomato or any other plant…the point is the				question. But as a start, here are a few points to
balance of elements outside and inside your body				consider.
is crucial to cellular structure and optimal health.				People have used seaweed traditionally for
First, the turnip starts off absorbing all the				millennia for food, medicine and other restorative
essential nutrients from soil and second, when you				benefits. Ocean water contains quantities of all
eat it, the nutrients are integrated into your				known elements (replenished from run offs and
body’s cells. If you never eat a turnip, of				leaching). It can even be said that ocean water is
course, you’ll never have turnip biochemicals				becoming more enriched as land soils become
in you, but if you do eat turnips, then your cells				more depleted. Seaweed has an exceptional
will contain turnip molecules. Our bodies can only				nutrient-rich matrix with no major nutritional
be constructed by what we eat (or drink). As				deficiencies. It thrives in this rich solution of sea
humans we cannot produce primary food				water containing at least 70 micronutrients)
biochemically through photosynthesis, water and				including several not found in land based plants.
minerals from the soil. Our bodies rely totally on				These micronutrients are micro in the sense that
the nutrient database found in soil, unless by				only very small amounts are required for
chance we could grow roots for direct absorption.				enzymatic activity.
Unfortunately, for decades, our mass agricultural				.
soil has successively become more depleted and				Brown seaweed contain vitamins common to land
lacking in total nutrients. Hence, the need for ways				plants, thirteen in all, including the vitamin B family,
to supplement soil, plants and our bodies becomes				Vitamin C, betacarotene, Vitamin E (as a
integral to whole health.				tocopherol)pantothenic acid, folic acid, and Vitamin
Always remember there is a one to one				K.
relationship between plant health and human				The most complex of seaweed constituents are
health. Healthy plants will give us healthy cells.				nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium,
Undernourished plants will give us undernourished				magnesium and sulfur. It contains all known
cells.				minerals and trace elements such as iodine,
Here’s the amazing window of knowledge,				sodium, iron, zinc, copper, molybdenum, cobalt,
once opened, can’t close on old thoughts				boron manganese, magnesium in its natural state.
Liquid seaweed extracts, safe and non-toxic,				Trace elements are made available by natural
applied to plants are very beneficial to their				chelation or combining a mineral atom with an
growth. Decades of field observation and practical				organic molecule
experiences are short of breathtaking in noting				Seaweed has 20 highly bioavaible amino acids. It
how liquid seaweed extracts benefit plants.				contains exceptional saccharides in the form of
Plants treated with seaweed extract show the				glyconutrients, complex sugars and starches, but
following benefits…				is extremely low in fat and calories. Other key
Plants tend to develop a resistance to pests and				components include chlorophyll, laminarin, fucoidan,
disease (such as red spider mites, aphids, scabs,				furanone and lignans.
mildew and fungi) In fact, disease controlling				No wonder vegetables and fruits do so well when
qualities of seaweed came as a complete surprise				sprayed with seaweed from seeds to maturity to
to many agricultural scientists.				senescence!
Seaweed helps plants produce special hormones				Can we look to seaweed then as a source of
(specialized chemical substances) which are the				supplementation for humans and even
main internal factors controlling growth and				pharmaceutical benefits through medical botany?
development known as auxins gibberlins, cytokins,				Scientific curiosity and research are turning again
indoles. This is one way to explain the daily rapid				to the sea and are discovering some exciting
growth of two feet a day for certain seaweed				results.
Seaweed stimulates beneficial soil microbial activity.				The answer that counts at the end is a personal
Plants grow substantially larger root masses.				choice of a dietary supplement, perhaps one of
Healthier roots make more nutrients available to				the most important choices for everyone’s
the plant and resist root diseases. It is a known				health. Modern bioscience now shows that the
fact that soil fungi and bacteria produce natural				body requires at least a 100 nutrients daily for
antibiotics which hold down the population of plant				maximum structure, function, defense and repair.
pathogens. The higher organic matter in soil				Are a handful of manufactured pills less expensive
produces more antibiotics. In plant physiology the				and sufficient to best supply this vital synergy of
subject of controlling plant disease by introducing				nutrients? Or do we look at the bounty of what
substances into the plant itself is known as				Mother Nature has provided in evolutionary
chemotherapy..an interesting correlation to our				wisdom. Do we think egocentrically, like children,
human application. .				how can we act on it or improve it? Or do we let
Seaweed treated plants have stronger and				Nature work her mastery on us and improve
hardier vascular systems. For example, tomatoes				us--- as it has done inherently, immemorially,
increase their size by 37% more and cucumbers				through the connection of air, water, soil, plants,
by 41%.				food, nutrients, cells, well-being, and freedom from
Seaweed helps plants to better withstand				disease.
stressful conditions such as improved cold				So, I’m not a turnip but my body and health
tolerance. Seaweed sprays are the best				are inclusive of everything I eat, fortunately
treatment to prevent threat of frost damage.				mostly plants, including turnip which I enjoy.
Plants delay senescense or deterioration of cells				My personal reverence for seaweed has
and tissues that result in rotting and help to				increased so much as valuable gardens of the sea
increase shelf life.				after learning and seeing the benefits of seaweed
Seeds soaked in seaweed extract germinate				extracts on plants. It is another way of validating
more rapidly, have larger root masses, and more				my personal good fortune to have discovered a
rapid stem and shoot development				unique liquid seaweed extract used as a dietary
Plants absorb nutrients through their leaf and				supplement…exactly what I believe can help to
stem tissues as well as by root intake. Seaweed				provide total nutrients at the same time in the
extract can be absorbed equally effectively				right ratio with innate immune support ingredients.
through roots by soil drench or foliar spraying. In				The body has amazing innate healing abilities if
contrast, little benefit has been demonstrated by				provided with total nutrition…and, I believe, the
spraying highly concentrated NPK fertilizer on the				ocean’s nutrients are in a bottle in my fridge
leaves directly or other chemicals. It is interesting				and delicious.
to note that soils supported by synthetic				Your requests for resources, scientific studies,
fertilizers comprise over 90% of agricultural land in				questions and comments are appreciated.

JapanCook

But I'm not a Turnip, Why Do I Need a Seaweed Supplement?