Media hype about antioxidants benefits for pets and people is swarming! Press releases dictated by pet food corporate giants warn dog and cat owners about the many dangers of feeding human food to pets, thereby protecting their bottom line, regardless of actual validity. Pet owners are desperately seeking the truth about what’s best to feed their cherished companions. Trying to sort out pet food facts can be confusing and many pet owners have unanswered questions about exactly what’s right and what’s not.
Are there human foods naturally rich in antioxidants, that are both safe and beneficial for your pet’s health? ORAC or what is referred to as the oxygen radical absorbance capacity is what pet nutritional experts use to determined the antioxidant value of a specific food. A recently published a study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, offered the foods listed below as having very high antioxidant qualities.
Top Antioxidant Rich Food Sources for Pets & People:
- Beans: Red kidney, Pinto and Black beans(dried)
- Berries: Small red beans (or Mexican red bean-dried), Cranberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Strawberries
- Prunes
- Apples: Red delicious, Gala and Granny Smith
- Pecans
- Plums and Black plums
- Russet potatoes (cooked)
- Cabbage
- Broccoli
- Barley grasses
Feeding dogs and cats high quality, home-made pet diets and choosing fresh organic pet treats, helps dogs and cats benefit from the wide range of antioxidants, these nutrients offer.
For example, raspberries and strawberriescontain ellagitannin, a substance that helps prevent the growth of cancerous pet cells. Pecans contain potassium. Pinto beans and kidney beans contain high amount of folate, or vitamin B9, which lowers homocysteine levels, implicated in heart disease. Blueberries contain anthocyanis, shown to protect pet brain cells.
Most antioxidant rich foods lose some of their antioxidant properties when cooked or processed, the exception being tomatoes.Tomatoes contain lycopene, which is actually enhanced by cooking. Research indicates that proper pet diets alone do not appear to be sufficient to maintain the antioxidant levels, needed to prevent pet disease or optimize health and wellness in dogs or cats Adding natural, comprehensive, balanced pet vitamin supplements to your dog and cat’s diet daily is extremely beneficial not only to prevent disease but also to optimize your dog and cat’s health, wellness and longevity. Why spend your hard earned dollars at the local veterinary emergency clinic because of tainted pet food? When it comes to to your pet’s health, take a little extra time, research and do your homework. Don’t be fooled by fancy pet food labels or scared by marketing hype directed at dog and cat owners by the corporate pet food giants.