We are facing the greatest public and pet health crisis of our time. Over 55 percent of pets and humans are overweight, and not only in our province but in all of North America. What do we do about it? It’s time to cut out as much processed kibbled or canned pet foods, which are loaded with inflammatory, high-glycemic carbohydrates, and start feeding our pets fresh, whole foods! Even a teaspoon a day of something fresh in your pet’s bowl is one teaspoon less a day of something processed.
Looking for something easy, fresh and local to add that isn't meat? Then why not try Nova Scotian kale! It’s a low-calorie food you can add to your pet’s diet with a ton of benefits. The dark, vibrant greens in kale leaves are rich in carotenoids, which travel throughout your pet’s body (and yours!) to scavenge free radicals and clean up the bad stuff that might be floating around inside.
And according to renowned holistic veterinarian Dr. Deva Khalsa, “Kale is also rich in elements that reduce the risk of cancer. Scientists have found that certain specific compounds found in kale clear carcinogenic substances more quickly. One study found that when dogs with cancerous tumors were fed kale, their tumors were smaller and grew more slowly than those in dogs not fed kale.”
Kale is a low-calorie, high-fibre and no-fat food. It’s great for aiding in digestion and elimination due to its great fibre content. It also contains 121 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids and 92.4 milligrams of omega-6 fatty acids. These essential polyunsaturated fats contain anti-inflammatory properties.
To support even newer fresh food science and confirm the benefits of kale in pet nutrition, Dr. Jean Dodds’ new book, Canine Nutrigenomics: The New Science of Feeding Your Dog for Optimum Health, has the following entries:
•“Certain compounds in cruciferous vegetables have demonstrated the ability to stop the growth of cancer cells for tumors . . . Cruciferous vegetables including broccoli cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and bok choy and kale.”
•“Isothiocyanates are phytochemicals that exert anti-cancer effects on the epigenome by inhibiting cancer cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis. Isothiocyanates are found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, radish, turnip and watercress.”
Now of course this doesn’t mean you should feed bucket loads of kale to your pets either! We need to be careful, as kale contains oxalates. Oxalates are present in many fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, including green leafy vegetables like kale. Too many oxalates in one’s diet can cause calcium oxalate crystals and potentially form into kidney stones. But we’re talking a lot of kale here!
“Many people warned against feeding green leafy vegetables to dogs due to the presence of oxalates,” writes Dr. Dodds. “However, few ‘experts’ on this topic mention that many other foods, such as sweet potatoes, certain types of beans, beets, brown rice, buckwheat, and peanuts also contain high levels of oxalates, as do corn, wheat and soy, which we know are all found in commercial pet foods!”
The moral of story: If by adding just a spoonful of something fresh to a potentially highly processed diet can help reduce the cancer risk that is soaring in our pets today, would it not be worth it?
]]>We are facing the greatest public and pet health crisis of our time. Over 55 percent of pets and humans are overweight, and not only in our province but in all of North America. What do we do about it? It’s time to cut out as much processed kibbled or canned pet foods, which are loaded with inflammatory, high-glycemic carbohydrates, and start feeding our pets fresh, whole foods! Even a teaspoon a day of something fresh in your pet’s bowl is one teaspoon less a day of something processed.
Looking for something easy, fresh and local to add that isn't meat? Then why not try Nova Scotian kale! It’s a low-calorie food you can add to your pet’s diet with a ton of benefits. The dark, vibrant greens in kale leaves are rich in carotenoids, which travel throughout your pet’s body (and yours!) to scavenge free radicals and clean up the bad stuff that might be floating around inside.
And according to renowned holistic veterinarian Dr. Deva Khalsa, “Kale is also rich in elements that reduce the risk of cancer. Scientists have found that certain specific compounds found in kale clear carcinogenic substances more quickly. One study found that when dogs with cancerous tumors were fed kale, their tumors were smaller and grew more slowly than those in dogs not fed kale.”
Kale is a low-calorie, high-fibre and no-fat food. It’s great for aiding in digestion and elimination due to its great fibre content. It also contains 121 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids and 92.4 milligrams of omega-6 fatty acids. These essential polyunsaturated fats contain anti-inflammatory properties.
To support even newer fresh food science and confirm the benefits of kale in pet nutrition, Dr. Jean Dodds’ new book, Canine Nutrigenomics: The New Science of Feeding Your Dog for Optimum Health, has the following entries:
•“Certain compounds in cruciferous vegetables have demonstrated the ability to stop the growth of cancer cells for tumors . . . Cruciferous vegetables including broccoli cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and bok choy and kale.”
•“Isothiocyanates are phytochemicals that exert anti-cancer effects on the epigenome by inhibiting cancer cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis. Isothiocyanates are found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, radish, turnip and watercress.”
Now of course this doesn’t mean you should feed bucket loads of kale to your pets either! We need to be careful, as kale contains oxalates. Oxalates are present in many fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, including green leafy vegetables like kale. Too many oxalates in one’s diet can cause calcium oxalate crystals and potentially form into kidney stones. But we’re talking a lot of kale here!
“Many people warned against feeding green leafy vegetables to dogs due to the presence of oxalates,” writes Dr. Dodds. “However, few ‘experts’ on this topic mention that many other foods, such as sweet potatoes, certain types of beans, beets, brown rice, buckwheat, and peanuts also contain high levels of oxalates, as do corn, wheat and soy, which we know are all found in commercial pet foods!”
The moral of story: If by adding just a spoonful of something fresh to a potentially highly processed diet can help reduce the cancer risk that is soaring in our pets today, would it not be worth it?
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You may be asking yourself: “Why would I want to add spice to my pet’s food?” At Planet Paws, we are always researching ways to improve your pet’s wellbeing through food, and we made an amazing discovery: a spice that promotes health and heals the body!
“Leave your drugs in the chemist's pot if you can heal the patient with food.” – Hippocrates Turmeric is pronounced “Too”-meric, not “Tur”-meric as it is spelled. Why? Well, etymology is the study of the history of words, and there was a widespread view that words should show their history in the way they were spelled. It was originally Old French ”terre-merite”, which had been reduced to turmeric. “Sadly, it has remained the same over the centuries and has stumped many poor children in those super tough Spelling Bees. So thank you to the creative individual who put the “B” at the end of comb and the “R” in turmeric… *sigh.*” – Pet Nutrition Blogger, Rodney Habib I’ve personally been adding turmeric to my food for certain health benefits. I know that turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory and detoxifier for humans, but I had never thought of giving it to my dogs until now. Let’s back up a little. If you cook, you may already be familiar with turmeric, but for first timers, here’s a quick culinary lesson to get us started. The turmeric herb, a member of the ginger family, is most commonly known for its deep orange color and is used for cooking, herbal medicine and dyes. Native to Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian countries, it has been a staple in cooking for thousands of years. Today it is a key ingredient in most curry dishes as well as yummy Thai, Indian, and Persian plates. Ayurvedic and Chinese medicines have long known the benefits of turmeric for the body, inside and out. “Ay….ur…vedic medicine?” Quick explanation. An ancient Ayurvedic proverb reads: “When diet is wrong medicine is of no use. When diet is correct medicine is of no need.” Ayurvedic medicine is the traditional medicine of India, originating over 5000 years ago. How is this relevant today? Because it doesn’t just look at the aspect of treatment, it looks at prevention and using elements like nutrition, exercise and lifestyle factors to re-establish balance in the body. What we eat is a key component of this holistic healing approach. Spice of Life. OK, back to turmeric. So we know that it’s a spice. It’s orange. We cook Eastern and Asian food with it. But why is it so good for our pets? The bio-active compound (active ingredient or healing properties) of turmeric is “curcumin” (not to be confused with a different spice called cumin). Curcumin is responsible for its bright orange color as well as a host of health benefits. This prime ingredient acts as a spice, but also as a pain reliever. For this reason, it’s a great food additive for pets that suffer from ailments and illnesses which cause pain. But it’s also beneficial in many other ways! Let’s look a little closer at Eastern medicine to understand how it is used to maintain good health. Traditional Asian medicine used turmeric for its ability to detoxify the body, purify the blood, stimulate bile production in the liver, disinfect wounds, and as a stomach tonic. In addition, they used it to treat diarrhea and other stomach ailments, as well as to eradicate ringworm. (Yes, people get gross fungus, too.) In Afghanistan and Pakistan, turmeric is applied to wounds to cleanse and stimulate recovery, keeping harmful bacteria away. Anti-Everything. Western medicine is finally catching up with Eastern practice. Turmeric is now being researched extensively for pharmacological use in treating and/or reducing symptoms related to a wide range of health conditions. The National Institute of Health is conducting 19 clinical trials on turmeric and curcumin. A paper written for the American Academy of Pain Management discusses the health benefits of turmeric. “Turmeric is one of the most potent natural anti-inflammatories available,” says Dr. Randy J. Horwitz, the medical director of the Arizona Centre for Integrative Medicine and assistant professor of clinical medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Dr. Horwitz also cites a 2006 University of Arizona study that found this potent anti-inflammatory to reduce the symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Clinical studies have shown that curcumin in turmeric is a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals which cause the painful inflammation and damage to joints affected by arthritis. This is pretty significant for our senior K9 friends that may be suffering from the aches and pains associated with arthritis and aging in general. The anti-inflammatory properties, combined with the fact that turmeric is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent, suggests that it’s also useful for disinfecting and treating skin injuries. Research suggests that when using it topically, mix it with honey. This creates a paste that you can easily apply to wounds. We talked about raw honey before, so you probably already know that honey also has high antibacterial properties. Of course, you will have to keep an eye on your furry friend as the combination of turmeric and honey may also be a tasty treat. Heart Health. Another concern with our senior pets is ensuring heart health. Like us, our pets are susceptible to blood clots and excess cholesterol. You may have heard of LDL (bad cholesterol) and HDL (good cholesterol). Well turmeric has been found to lower LDL levels which support both heart and liver health. In addition, turmeric helps to thin the blood, reducing the risk of deadly clots that can lead to strokes and heart attacks. It’s important not to thin your dog’s blood too much, but the right amount can be helpful. If your pet is on medication, especially those that thin the blood, check with your vet for the appropriate dosage. The Great Detoxifier. What about the liver? Yes, turmeric is good for that too. Our environment is becoming more and more toxic and that not only affects us, it impacts Fido as well. Our pets are susceptible to toxins in the environment and in their food, especially commercially produced kibble and treats. The liver plays a significant role in removing toxins from the body. Think of the liver as the main industrial centre for the body. It’s involved in nearly every biochemical process required to run the body. The body’s abilities to clot blood, to breakdown harmful toxins, and to remove waste and store energy, are all affected by the liver. It is a major player in your pet’s digestion, storing vitamins and producing bile which is necessary to break down fat. It’s a pretty important piece of machinery for your pet’s overall health. Curcumin is believed to stimulate bile production necessary for the digestion of fat in the liver. Active dogs need at least 20% fat in their diet; therefore, bile production is critical for good health. In short, turmeric boosts the liver’s ability to metabolize fat and remove waste from the body. As with any pre-existing condition, if your pet already suffers from liver disease, you should consult your vet before treating with turmeric as some studies indicate that turmeric may aggravate existing problems. Anti-Cancer Properties!!! One of the most interesting discoveries I made while investigating the benefits of turmeric is that there are now reports coming out claiming that turmeric may help in the fight against cancer! This powerful antioxidant plays a significant role in preventative medicine. But wait, there’s more! In a study at UCLA, doctors found that curcumin seemed to block the cancer promoting enzyme that stimulates the growth of head and neck cancer. The Department of Small Animal Clinical Scientists has conducted studies that show that curcumin can inhibit tumor growth and may even shrink existing tumors. This has to do with the spice’s amazing ability to shut down blood vessels that feed tumors. Antioxidant properties are also helpful in reducing the negative side effects of chemotherapy. Now, we are not saying turmeric is the only thing you should do to prevent, control and/or treat cancer; however, it certainly has us excited about its anti-cancer properties. Other Uses. If we haven’t already convinced you about the health benefits of turmeric, here are a few more uses: • Aids in the treatment of epilepsy • Helps relieve allergies • Helps in preventing the formation of cataracts • Used in treating depression (Yes, dogs can get depressed too) • Kills parasites • Heals stomach ailments, aids in digestive disorders, and reduces gas and bloating • Acts as a binding agent and therefore great for treating diarrhea (Make sure you have lots of water available for your pet to drink!) • Aids in fat metabolism and weight management • High in fiber and rich in vitamins and mineral So How Do I Feed It? The suggested dosage is approximately 15 to 20 mg per pound of body weight in dogs, 150-200mg for cats. A simpler way of looking at it is an 1/8 to a 1/4 teaspoon per day, for every 10lbs of dog weight. Make sure your pet has lots of water to ensure that they don’t get constipated. You can feed the powder, which is most commonly available, or crushed or fresh root. Sprinkle it right on top of your pet’s food and mix or, if you home cook, you can add it to the recipe. Quality varies and if you are buying turmeric in a local supermarket, it may be grown using nasty pesticides and herbicides. This lowers the potency. If possible, try to get high quality, organic turmeric. Be sure to store it in a tightly sealed container, kept in a cool, dark and dry place. According to Dr. Demian Dressler, DVM known as the "Dog Cancer Vet" and author of Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog's Life Quality and Longevity: “[…] curcumin has some bioavailability problems. This means that the stuff doesn’t, to a large extent, get absorbed into the blood after it is taken by mouth. However, there are ways around this. Curcumin does not dissolve well in water. This is one of the things that limit its absorption. You can overcome this by mixing it with lecithin and water and making a slurry. Lecithin is available online. It is very, very gooey, so you must add some water to the curcumin-lecithin (about 4 parts water to 1 part lecithin). You can put some low sodium bullion, or similar agents, in it for flavor. Many of the commercial preparations have bromelain with it to enhance blood levels. No problem. Doses are approximate, and taken from human literature. For a large dog, use about 2 grams twice a day." Is There Anything Else I Should Know? Remember how turmeric is a bright orange color? Well, the ancient monks used turmeric as a dye to stain their robes. Moral of the story: be careful and mix it in well with your pets’ food, because your pets might end up with turmeric mustaches! Turmeric is a binding agent, so ensure that your pet has lots of water to reduce the likelihood of constipation. Our research didn’t find many contradictions to taking turmeric medicinally. However, if your pet does have a pre-existing condition, is currently on medication, has a planned surgery, or is pregnant, it’s advisable to talk to your vet before feeding. Spice up yours and your pet’s life with a little turmeric! |
35 Awesome Uses for Coconut Oil:
1. Winter moisturizer for paws, nose and ears
2. Can protect the liver from toxic antibiotic drugs
3. Reduces Hairballs
4. Reduces Cancer risks
5. Rub into the skin as a basic lotion
6. To support healthy thyroid function
7. To help increase sun tolerance and avoid burning
8. Topically to kill yeast or yeast infections in pets
9. It’s high Lauric acid and MCFA content helps boost metabolism
10. Gives your pet a shiny, glossy coat
11. Topically, can help skin heal faster after injury or infection
12. Can help sooth psoriasis or eczema
13. There is some evidence that regular ingestion of coconut oil can help prevent or reverse Alzheimers
14. Can be used as a natural suncreen
15. Is energy boosting
16. There is some evidence that coconut oil helps digestion and may even kill intestinal parasites or yeast
17. Mix a tablespoon with a tablespoon of chia seeds for an all-day energy boost (do NOT take this at night!)
18. Can help improve insulin levels
19. Coconut oil and a drop of oregano oil helps improve gum health
20. Awesome for high-temperature cooking than olive or vegetable oils (doesn't go carcinogenic!)
21. Is an immediate source of energy when eaten and isn’t stored as fat
22. As a naturally antibacterial skin cream
23. It’s anti-inflammatory properties can help lessen arthritis
24. Can stimulate hair growth
25. Can help speed weight loss when consumed daily
26. Can be used to speed healing of fungal infections when taken internally and used externally
27. It has been shown to increase absorption of calcium and magnesium
28. Some evidence shows that the beneficial fats in coconut oil can help with depression and anxiety
29. For pets struggling with skin issues when used externally
30. Some evidence suggests that the beneficial fats in coconut oil are helpful for those with Autism
31. A tablespoon taken before each meal can help improve digestion
32. Many use it as an anti-aging facial moisturizer
33. Can be used internally and externally to speed recovery from UTIs
34. When taken regularly, it can help fight candida
35. Ingesting coconut oil daily can help with allergy symptoms
COCONUT OIL KILLS BACTERIA, VIRUSES AND FUNGI IN/ON YOUR PET!
Ranked in the top 10 most important food medicines, coconut oil is a must add to your pet’s diet! With over 13 Evidence-Based Medicinal Properties, the one we love the most is its yeast-bustin’ abilities!
Almost 50% of the medium-chain triglycerides found in coconut oil are lauric acids, saturated fatty acids that our bodies convert into monolaurin. Monolaurin is one of the natural world's greatest antivirals, antibacterials and antifungals. Because they come from natural sources, these fatty acids pose no danger to your pets' bodies, unlike man-made antibiotics and anti-virals.
Coconut has been used for wound healing for thousands of years. A new study published in the International Journal of Dermatology confirms that coconut oil aides in treating atopic dermatitis, a chronic skin condition characterized by scaly and itchy rashes.
Furthermore, one study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food found that “coconut oil is extremely effective at killing Candida albicans, a common yeast infection in humans.” Another study published in the Journal of Bacteriology discovered that “coconut oil can help kill Staphylococcus aureus, which is a common cause of skin conditions and respiratory diseases.”
The recommended dosage for feeding is:
• ½ teaspoon for every 10lbs of body weight daily
Or, if using topically, just rub the oil on your hands and apply to your pet’s coat (remember not to over do it!).