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Essay The Importance of Plants

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Humans depend on plants in numerous ways. One reason we depend on plants is for consumption. Plants have the unique ability of producing their own food through a process called photosynthesis. In this process, plants are able to produce macromolecules such as carbohydrates that cannot be produced in animals or humans. In humans, the only to gain these macromolecules is to consume plant matter, or consume plant-eating animals (herbivores).
When humans consume plants, the carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins that are broken down through two forms of cellular respiration. The two processes of cellular respiration displayed in humans are anaerobic or aerobic. The deciding process used depends on the presence of oxygen. Cellular respiration …show more content…

This means that humans not only need plants for eating, but also need their created oxygen to break the food down efficiently.
In humans, cellular respiration also produces heat also needed in the body for thermoregulation, Thermoregulation that is an example of temperature homeostasis in humans, requires heat energy to maintain a relatively constant internal temperature. All the heat energy that is needed for survival would not exist without plants.
Water is also a requirement in humans, and is needed for the body to balance fluid through osmoregulation. By consuming plants, the water that they contain will also be transferred to the consumer. An example of this could be in the consumption of coconuts. Coconuts usually contain a good supply of water. The water found in young coconuts contains electrolytes and a pH level similar to human blood. This could be beneficial by providing fast hydration and are normally found in warm tropical climates where hydration is a major concern.
Other then being used for consumption, plants also provide shelter from the environment. Trees provide shade, which creates a cooler temperature that helps prevent dehydration. They also provide fruit and shelter for animals for human consumption. Trees are also cut up into wood for building houses and making tools needed for hunting and protection from predators. Humans have an advantage over animals because of our greater intelligence that permitted the discovery of tools. Without

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