Have you heard about phytoplankton, Mother Nature’s superfood from the sea? It’s a sustainability superhero, believed to have been the first living single-celled organisms on Earth and responsible for over half of the Earth’s oxygen production!

In this blog we dive deep on these ancient, microscopic marine plants to uncover what makes them one of the most nutritionally diverse wholefoods on the planet.

Essential fatty acids, or EFAs, are vital for good health. However, they are not produced naturally in the body, so therefore humans, like all animals, must take them in via their food. A single gram of ULTANA Phytoplankton contains more than 120mg of EFA’s, and over 50 per cent of these EFAs are long-chain omega-3 lipids, including EPA.

Most importantly, the majority of ULTANA’s omega lipids are present in the more bioavailable ‘polar-bound’ lipid form. Polar-bound lipids, which are also found in krill oil, have been scientifically proven to be better quality in terms of bioavailability to the body, compared to fish oil lipids that are generally in the lower quality ‘triglyceride’ form.

Phytoplankton contains potent xanthophylls, including zeaxanthin, a powerful antioxidant that has been shown to support eye health by defending the macular region of the eye. ULTANA Phytoplankton contains 56 mg of zeaxanthin per one gram serve, which is the recommended daily intake for an adult weighing approximately 75 kg. It is also an excellent source of carotenoids, betacarotene and chlorophyll.

Phytoplankton provides a broad spectrum of essential vitamins, including vitamins C, E and the B-group – B1, B2, B6, B8, B9 and, most importantly, B12. Historically, it has been difficult to find vitamin B12 in a plant-based wholefood form that is suitable for vegans and vegetarians. No longer! ULTANA Phytoplankton contains 2 mcg of vitamin B12 per one gram serve, which is nearly the recommended daily intake for adult men and women (2.4 mcg of vitamin B12 per day).

Phytoplankton offers a broad spectrum of minerals that come from the sea – magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron and zinc. These minerals promote good health and wellness; they are also responsible for maintaining, or assisting with, body functions that are required to sustain life. The body cannot receive or process vitamins without a sufficient supply of minerals; likewise, minerals will be largely ineffective if not supplemented with a vitamin-rich diet, so it is important to eat a diet that is high in both.

Compared to seaweed or other microalgae products, phytoplankton is low in iodine, providing a solution for people who wish to obtain marine minerals, but cannot tolerate high levels of iodine.

Phytoplankton contains full spectrum amino acids and, most importantly, all nine of the essential amino acids. These are called ‘essential’ for a good reason: the body cannot produce them, so we need to take them in through our food. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, which is required for nearly all essential biological and physiological functions, ranging from growth and tissue repair to digestion and nerve health.