5 Reasons You Should Add Phytoplankton to Your Dog’s Diet
Even the tiniest amounts of phytoplankton can boost your dog’s health. This post from Dogs Naturally Magazine shares 5 ways your dog can benefit from this superfood.
Phytoplankton are tiny, microscopic plants that are the base of the food chain in the ocean. All ocean life depends on phytoplankton.
Phytoplankton is one of the most valuable sources of nutrition on earth and it’s incredibly high in nutrition and health benefits. And when it comes to our dog’s health, phytoplankton isn’t just any old seaweed … this stuff is seriously potent.
Phytoplankton are single-celled organisms that contain nearly every nutrient your dog needs. Its whole nutrition fuels the entire ocean and it can fuel your dog with:
- Essential fatty acids
- Trace minerals
- Chlorophyll
- Antioxidants
- Essential amino acids
- Protein
- Carotenoids
- Vitamins
Giving your dog even the tiniest amounts of phytoplankton can boost his health, and as researchers are finding out, it fights cancer and other diseases too.
5 Reasons To Feed Your Dog Phytoplankton
Here are just some of the reasons you should add phytoplankton to your dog’s diet.
#1 Helps Dogs With Digestive Issues
Phytoplankton is a whole food that delivers a highly concentrated source of balanced nutrition … and this means your dog can absorb this nutrition without having to digest it first.
Usually, your dog’s digestive system has to break down food before the body can use it for energy. But because phytoplankton is made up of tiny nanoparticles, the body’s mucous membranes (like the gums) can absorb it. This means phytoplankton delivers energy directly to the body’s cells.
Dogs with leaky gut syndrome, EPI, digestive upset and bowel disease will have trouble getting proper nutrition from their food.
#2 Can Replace Toxic Fish Oils
Fish aren’t born with high levels of omega-3 fats. Just like your dog, they need to get omega-3 in their diet. And they get it from phytoplankton.
Phytoplankton contains the Omega-3 essential fatty acids DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). And it contains nearly double the amount of omega-3 fats by weight as fish oil.
Omega-3 fatty acids support the immune system and cognitive function, as well as heart, skin and joint health. Omega-3s can also help reduce inflammation in the body, minimizing the risk chronic disease.
But fish oils oxidize when exposed to oxygen and this actually increases inflammation in your dog. And fish contain mercury and other heavy metals, PDBs and other toxins, and Pacific fish are suffering from the effects of radiation. These toxins all get passed to your dog and outweigh any benefits from the omega-3 fats. And fish oil is not sustainable and creates dead zones in our oceans.
#3 Most Dogs Are Mineral Deficient
Most dogs (as well as people) are deficient in trace minerals. One important reason for this deficiency is the widely used pesticide glyphosate (Roundup), which chelates (binds to) trace minerals such as copper, iron, cobalt and manganese.
Trace minerals are essential to good health as they support critical biological functions including digestion, growth and hormone regulation, enzyme function and thyroid health. And manganese deficient dogs are much more likely to develop joint disease and cruciate tears.
Trace minerals can prevent and reverse serious disease: selenium has been shown to prevent cancer tumors; magnesium supports heart, joint and neurological health; and iodine regulates thyroid function.
Phytoplankton contains a wide and balanced array of trace minerals that your dog can easily absorb and use.
#4 Fights Cancer And Disease
The body naturally produces free radicals through metabolism as well as due to environmental factors like pollution. These are unstable atoms that can damage cellular health and cause cells to die. Free radicals build up in the body like rust and they are the cause of all disease and premature aging.
Antioxidants are molecules that can prevent this cell damage. They have anti-aging effects as well as helping to prevent cancer, heart disease, eye problems, and immune system issues.
National Cancer Institute tests and studies, including one by professor Yuzuru Shimizu at the University of Rhode Island, have shown phytoplankton to have cancer-killing potential due to its antioxidant properties.
In fact, phytoplankton contains what’s known as the king of antioxidants, Superoxide Dismutase (SOD). SOD is the body’s most powerful antioxidant enzyme … it protects cells and helps remove toxins, including heavy metals from the body.
Researchers found that the longest-lived animals, like sea turtles, contain large amounts of SOD, while shorter-lived animals, such as mice, contain only small amounts. So SOD can be an important addition to your dog’s diet!
SOD uses a process called dismutation to deactivate a free radical called superoxide, turning the free radical into hydrogen peroxide, which then breaks down into harmless oxygen and water. SOD is said to be 3,500 times more potent than vitamin C.
Phytoplankton is considered the best bioavailable source of SOD, making it a powerful antioxidant and detoxification agent … especially compared to other antioxidant sources like berries and vegetables that must be digested before the body can use them.
#5 Supports The Liver
Because phytoplankton is absorbed on the cellular level, the liver gets a break from digesting food.
The liver is the master organ for detoxification in the body and is vital for the absorption of nutrients. As your dog ages or experiences health problems, the liver can lose its ability to accomplish these jobs, making it even more difficult to absorb vital nutrients.
Phytoplankton can deliver nutrients that help restore liver health, without making the liver work for those nutrients.
Choosing Phytoplankton
A good quality phytoplankton source should be:
- Sustainably grown on land with sunlight, free of radiation, heavy metals or other toxins
- Watered with filtered ocean water
- Non-genetically modified (GMO), vegan and without fillers
Dosage
Due to its high bioavailability, you’ll only need a small amount: about 1/16 teaspoon a day for any sized dog (unless the phytoplankton contains fillers).
Whole Body Benefits
Phytoplankton is a superfood that can:
- Support mobility and joint health
- Manage skin issues and allergies
- Improve cellular function … leading to healthier organs (like the liver and thyroid), reduced inflammation, improved digestion, increased energy and stamina, reduced hyperactivity and anxiety
- Help with detoxification
Phytoplankton is just now being researched for its health and nutrition benefits. It truly is the king of antioxidants and quite possibly the “king of all supplements.”
Source: 5 Reasons Your Dog Needs Phytoplankton – Dogs Naturally Magazine
