An existence without plants is a feat that humans are unlikely to achieve. That is one of the greatest problems with space travel; keeping plant-life alive and producing. Learning how to keep plants alive and healthy may also be the greatest key for long distance manned space travel. There are many relationships that exist between plants and humans. They support each other, in a cycle we can proudly call Earth. In fact, it is the plant’s ability to absorb the Sun that makes it the primary food source for humans and animals alike.
Phytochemicals are the true secret to the relationship between plants and humans and our subconscious obsession with consuming them. These antioxidant chemicals are what their name suggests; a chemical bearing the fruits of light. Some of these chemicals affect the production or reduction of hormones. Muscles repair themselves better with the abundance of phytochemicals. (Matthew G. Kadey, 2013) A lot of phytochemicals can be reduced to elements, suggesting that they are basically Sun-charged organic molecules. Many of these molecules have been found to clinically improve diseases, tumors and sickness. Even Hippocrates used phytochemicals (Salicin - willow tree) to treat his fever patients. (Fujita, 2014) This suggests that plants play a significant role in keeping humans alive, making their immune systems stronger and nurturing the activity of their nervous systems.
Another important organic ingredient that plants offer humans is fiber. Fiber, as we all know, helps with our digestion and absorption. And there’s good reason for that. Carnivores have much smaller intestines, whereas more vegetarian omnivores (like chimps) and herbivores have intestines that are 6 times longer. This fiber helps regulate blood-sugar levels, strengthen muscles and reduce overeating.
Plants are the only organism that has an abundance of both primary and secondary metabolites. Many medicines are derived from plants, and the chemicals can be secondary metabolites that the plants use to ward away antigens and predators. Plants play a pivotal role in the water cycle. Using transpiration, plants move water from the soil up into the atmosphere. Plants transform carbon dioxide, with the aid of sunlight, into oxygen, which humans need in order to survive. Plants are pivotal geologically. They carve habitats and were a form of shelter for thousands of years before metal and other forms of material were used to construct buildings. The climate is affected by plants as they are a global carbon storage and delivery system.
It is safe to say, humans absolutely need plants to exist!
References
References
Kadey, Matthew G., (2014). Vegetables: 3 Fantastic Reasons Why You Should Be Eating Them
. Muscle & Fitness. Retrieved from http://www.muscleandfitness.com/nutrition/gain-mass/vegetables-four-fantastic-reasons-why-you-should-be-eating-them
Phytochemical. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved August 5, 2014, from
Phytochemical. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved August 5, 2014, from
Kounosuke Fujita, Yuji Nomura,1 Masahiko Sawajiri,1 Pravat K. Mohapatra,2 Hany A. El-Shemy,3 Nguyen T. Nguyen,4 Masashi Hosokawa,5 Kazuo Miyashita,5 Teruo Maeda,4Hirofumi Saneoka,4 Shohei Fujita, and Takayuki Fujita (April 17, 2014). The extracts of Japanese willow tree species are effective forapoptotic desperation or differentiation of acute myeloid leukemia cells. Pharmacognosy Magazine, volume 10, 125-131. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4048558/
http://www.bgci.org/plantconservationday/whyplantsimportant/ Retrieved August 5, 2014
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