Human Photosynthesis

Human Photosynthesis

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Ayahuasca

Original Poster:

27,428 posts

286 months

Monday 13th May 2019
quotequote all
So, plants can convert sunlight to carbohydrate. Will we ever develop the technology where humans can use photosynthesis to fuel ourselves? No, I don’t mean by growing plants and eating them, I mean by direct human photosynthesis.


Stuart70

3,988 posts

190 months

Monday 13th May 2019
quotequote all
No

67Dino

3,630 posts

112 months

Monday 13th May 2019
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Not impossible but the issue is Surface Area to
Volume ratio. Given the energy requirements we have as fast-moving organisms our skin surface area wouldn’t capture nearly enough sunlight to power us. We’d need to grow huge solar panel-like appendages (i.e. ‘leaves’) to capture enough sunlight, and that would make moving about a bit difficult.

Found an article on the subject here...
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/3dk4bv/human-ph...


Edited by 67Dino on Monday 13th May 06:42

Dr Jekyll

23,820 posts

268 months

Monday 13th May 2019
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One of Gillian Mckeith's strange ideas was based on this.

She reckoned that if you ate plants with lots of chlorophyll this would increase the oxygen content of your blood. Not considering that A) oxygen gets into your blood through your lungs not your stomach and B) if you have enough sunlight in your stomach for photosynthesis to occur, blood oxygen concentration is no longer your main problem.

Beati Dogu

9,193 posts

146 months

Monday 13th May 2019
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We can partly synthesise vitamin D in our skin with sunlight UV. The liver and kidneys do the rest.

While not exactly photosynthesis, it’s pretty damn important.

Toaster

2,940 posts

200 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
quotequote all
Ayahuasca said:
So, plants can convert sunlight to carbohydrate. Will we ever develop the technology where humans can use photosynthesis to fuel ourselves? No, I don’t mean by growing plants and eating them, I mean by direct human photosynthesis.


Stuart70 said:
No
Beati Dogu said:
We can partly synthesise vitamin D in our skin with sunlight UV. The liver and kidneys do the rest.

While not exactly photosynthesis, it’s pretty damn important.
Totally agree guys its not possible convert sunlight in to carbohydrates in the Human body

Ayahuasca I would suggest if you are interested in how the human body gets its energy, how it uses it and why Photosynthesis will not work go to the library and get out a few books:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ACSMs-Advanced-Exercise-P...
https://uk.humankinetics.com/products/periodizatio...
https://www.amazon.in/Samson-Wrights-Applied-Physi...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kinanthropometry-Exercise...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kinanthropometry-Exercise...

Enjoy wink






Toaster

2,940 posts

200 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
quotequote all
Dr Jekyll said:
One of Gillian Mckeith's strange ideas was based on this.

She reckoned that if you ate plants with lots of chlorophyll this would increase the oxygen content of your blood. Not considering that A) oxygen gets into your blood through your lungs not your stomach and B) if you have enough sunlight in your stomach for photosynthesis to occur, blood oxygen concentration is no longer your main problem.
Interesting Gillian describes herself as a nutritionist and writer no mention of being a dietitian on the HCPC register https://www.hcpc-uk.org/check-the-register/ I am sure she is very interested and knowledgable on aspects of food, but increasing oxygen uptake is usually through exercise (or maybe in an ambulance with being given oxygen wink

CrutyRammers

13,735 posts

205 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
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ISTR that one of Robert Heinlein's books explored this idea.
But yeah, we don't have enough skin, is the main problem.

TwigtheWonderkid

44,678 posts

157 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
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Dr Jekyll said:
One of Gillian Mckeith's strange ideas was based on this.
Ahhh...Dr Gillian McKeith, or to give her her full title.....Gillian McKeith.

Toaster

2,940 posts

200 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
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CrutyRammers said:
ISTR that one of Robert Heinlein's books explored this idea.
But yeah, we don't have enough skin, is the main problem.
Erm no, it’s not about enough skin !

Monty Python

4,813 posts

204 months

Wednesday 15th May 2019
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Not unless we suddenly go green (literally), and given the way the human body is set up to obtain sustenance it's hard to see how it would integrate in a functional way.

jet_noise

5,800 posts

189 months

Wednesday 15th May 2019
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TwigtheWonderkid said:
Dr Jekyll said:
One of Gillian Mckeith's strange ideas was based on this.
Ahhh...Dr Gillian McKeith, or to give her her full title.....Gillian McKeith.
He did!