#nutrition is one of the more contentious animal health topics. if not the most. it's so exhausting | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

whatchamagadget · 7 years ago

Text

What Are Some Good Sources of Calcium for My Dog?

Why is Calcium Important for Dogs?

Calcium is an essential mineral for dogs and humans alike. It’s responsible for conducting electrical impulses, sending signals, contracting muscles (especially the heart), not to mention keeping those teeth and bones strong.

When dog’s don’t get enough calcium they can suffer the same consequences as us – they need ultimate pet nutrition. Notably the condition rickets (where bones become soft and fragile), muscle twitching, restlessness, stiffness, lethargy, convulsions, and osteoporosis.1

Now, regular canned dog food should contain adequate amounts of calcium. However, like all processed foods, ingredients can also lose their nutritional goodness through processing.

The good news is that this essential mineral is found in so many natural foods. If you’re feeding your pup a raw diet it’s particularly crucial to know what those foods are.

A Note About Phosphorus

Your dog requires more calcium than phosphorus to maintain optimal health and ultimate pet nutrition. But popular foods like boneless meats (especially organ meats) are much higher in phosphorus than calcium.

Traditionally, wild dogs would eat an entire animal which would provide plenty of calcium from the bones of the creature. But today, dog’s aren’t necessarily getting enough bone.

So if you’re feeding your dog a raw diet, adding some bone meal or crushed eggshells can be of help to level up that calcium. 2 But we shall delve into that a little more below.

Calcium-Rich Foods That Dogs Can Eat

1. Eggs

Eggs are rich in protein, fatty acids, and of course calcium and they’re rather handy as a snack or a treat. Just make sure they’re cooked as raw eggs can carry salmonella as well as lead to a biotin deficiency in dogs. 3

Eggs are slightly higher in phosphorus however, so don’t go overboard. Betters yet, egg shells have shown to contain even greater amounts of calcium.

What you’ll need to do is crush the eggshells and then sprinkle a little (about half a teaspoon) onto their food. Some people prefer to boil the shells first (for the same salmonella reasoning) and then crush them using a mortar and pestle or food processor. 4

2. Cheese

While some dogs may have issues with lactose-intolerance, cheese is a pretty good choice of human food for dogs. In moderation.

Cheese contains plenty of calcium, protein, vitamin A, B vitamins, and fatty acids. But it’s high in fat, and some cheeses can be very salty. Low-fat cheese like mozzarella or cottage cheese are your best choices. And, look for versions that are low in salt. 5

Cheese is also a great tool for hiding pills when your dog is required to take medication.

3. Yogurt

Yogurt is wonderful source of calcium for dogs because it can be easily mixed in with their meal. It’s especially helpful for softening very dry food.

Do be picky with your choice of yogurt and steer clear clear of those that are high in sugar (like flavored yogurts), especially if your dog is overweight.

Yogurt also contains plenty of beneficial bacteria that can help to balance your pup’s intestinal flora, much as it does your own.

4. Fish

The best fish for boosting calcium include salmon, tuna, sardines, and trout. Always cook your dog’s fish – raw fish isn’t great on their stomach and it may carry bacteria.6 You should remove all the fish bones, or to play it safe, grind the fish up.

Fish contains plenty of omega-3 fatty acids which are wonderful for promoting healthy skin and coat. They can also decrease cholesterol levels in the blood, and combat inflammatory conditions like allergies and arthritis.7

5. Bones

Which brings us to bones. An age-old dog food that’s become a contentious topic in today’s society – are they safe for your dog to eat or not? One thing’s for sure – they’re a huge source of calcium.

Yes, certain dog bones can be dangerous but rather than avoiding them altogether, it’s about being informed.

Chicken, turkey or pork bones – or any kind of cooked bone – are absolutely off-limits. They can easily splinter into shards that pose a dangerous choking hazard and can injure your pup’s mouth, throat or digestive system. Instead, seek out raw meat bones with plenty of muscle meat still attached to them. Never give your dog a bone when it’s hungry. It’s best to watch the clock and it back off them after 15-20 minutes. You can refrigerate it for a few days and reuse it. 8

But don’t assume that very large bones are a safer option. They can break a dog’s teeth.

Bottom line: Eating bones is not without risk, but there are definitely benefits – like calcium – that are great assets.

If you want to play it safe, crush up bones using a grinder or food processor and then add to your pet’s meal. You can also purchase prepackaged bone meal. Just don’t cook bones beforehand as this can cause a loss of nutrients.

A Most Essential Mineral

Calcium is essential to your canine’s health and wellbeing and these 5 foods show just a few simple ways to help support that intake. You may also like to look into some high-calcium vegetables and legumes such as broccoli, spinach, and beans.

Of course, any concerns that you may have surrounding whether your dog needs more calcium, or how to best feed it to them, should be discussed with your vet.

Sources 1.https://ift.tt/2HnxkzB 2.https://ift.tt/2qTKLMA 3.https://ift.tt/2HnyZ86 4.https://ift.tt/2BS2RlX 5.https://ift.tt/2Hmr8b3 6.https://ift.tt/2qTKMQE 7.https://ift.tt/2HnXjHe 8.https://ift.tt/2qTKNnG

#OhGizmo!

0 notes

robertsmorgan · 8 years ago

Text

6 Healthy Lifestyle Changes to Make Today

Over the years, I’ve helped thousands of people make better choices for themselves and their health. People from all backgrounds say they feel sick, tired, and depressed. What’s truly scary is that people begin to accept that feeling as normal.

It doesn’t have to be that way. You don’t have to, nor should you, resign yourself to feeling perpetually run-down and exhausted. Some of the most effective ways to improve your health are simple and accessible to almost everyone. You don’t need a lot of money; you just need the drive to cultivate healthy habits.

When people ask me what the best medicine is, do you know what I tell them? The best medicine is a prevention-based lifestyle.

6 Tips for a Healthy Lifestyle

The six simplest things you can incorporate in your life are sunshine, clean air, fresh water, sleep, exercise, and most of all— a clean, healthy diet. That’s it. Improving these six things can improve anyone’s health. They require no fancy equipment, no special training, no 16-disc instructional DVD set, no payment plan. You can start improving your life yourself, today, right now.

1. Get Some Sunshine

Soaking up the sun has received a lot of bad press in recent years, and everyone now associates the sun’s UV rays with wrinkles and skin cancer. While it’s true that you shouldn’t spend all day in the sun, we’ve swung too far in the other direction, and people are quick to reach for chemically-suspect sunscreens or avoid the sun entirely. In reality, UV rays account for only about one-tenth of 1% of the total global burden of disease. You’re far more likely to get sick from too little sunlight.[1]

Moderate exposure to direct sunshine boosts the health of both your mind and body. In addition to enhancing your mental state, exposure to sunlight directly affects the body’s production of melatonin and can promote more restful sleep. Sunlight is also vital to the body’s ability to produce vitamin D, an incredibly important nutrient that supports cardiovascular health, bone health, and the immune system. In fact, sunlight is the best source of vitamin D, as the nutrient is relatively uncommon in food.

That’s not to say you should ignore the risk of UV-related cancer. As in all things health-related, you must find the right balance. Be smart about your level of sunshine exposure. Try to get at least 15-30 minutes of direct sunlight every day. Avoid sunscreens. At best, they prevent vitamin D production. Worse, many sunscreens contain harsh chemicals that can be absorbed through the skin and cause dozens of health problems. If you are out in the glaring sun all day, make use of shade and wear sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats, and loose-fitting, long-sleeved clothing to avoid sunburn. If you must use sunscreen, only buy organic, mineral and plant-based varieties.

2. Breathe Clean Air

As the old saying goes, you can survive weeks without food, days without water, but only a few minutes without air. Given its extreme importance, it almost goes without saying that the best air is fresh and clean.

Clean air helps prevent respiratory ailments like asthma or allergies and supplies your body with the oxygen that all living cells need. Breathing dirty air can cause big problems.

A lot of people associate poor air quality with smog or industrial pollution. You may be surprised to learn that, according to the EPA, indoor air quality is usually 2-5x worse than that outside. That may be a best-case scenario; in the worst cases, indoor air can be up to 100x more toxic.[2]

Oddly, efficient construction may be largely to blame. It’s energy efficient for a building to be sealed up tight, but it also allows for the accumulation and concentration of air pollutants. These pollutants include the VOCs and chemical fumes that off-gas from furniture, paint, flooring materials, and other indoor building materials.

Don’t think an air freshener is going to “clean” the air. Most air fresheners just release an equally toxic chemical fragrance to mask odors.[3] Instead, get an air purification device for your home, preferably one that uses both HEPA and UV filters. You can also open the windows and get a few houseplants; they’re excellent, natural air filters that release clean oxygen. Better yet, go outside in nature and enjoy the fresh air first hand.

3. Stay Hydrated

By some estimates, 75% of people suffer from chronic mild dehydration.[4] This affects your health in more ways than just feeling a bit thirsty. At a minimum, chronic dehydration causes a severe drop in your energy levels. Worse, since 70% of your body is water, dehydration can negatively affect every process in your body, including bone and tissue regeneration, natural detoxification abilities, immune function—all of it. Even blinking your eyes and the beating of your heart require water.

Madison Avenue marketing wizards spend millions of dollars trying to convince us that water is plain and boring. Instead, they say, we should quench our thirst with overpriced, carbonated liquid candy like soda and energy drinks. Don’t listen. You need fresh water to function; there is no substitute. Coffee, sodas, and energy drinks are not good hydrators. In fact, the caffeine and sugar are diuretics that cause your body to lose water. Avoid.

How much water do you need? Eight cups a day is the standard recommendation. That’s a fairly good rule of thumb, but it doesn’t account for body size or activity level. A better guideline is to drink half your bodyweight in ounces. For example, if you weigh 180 pounds, drink 90 ounces of water per day. Of course, people’s needs differ based on many factors. Body size, physical activity, external temperature, sweatiness, health, and dozens of other factors all affect how much water you need. Start with the half-your-weight rule as a base and add water as needed.

4. Get Enough Rest

Have you noticed that in some circles, missing several hours of sleep a night is considered a badge of honor while sleeping the full, recommended 8 hours is seen as a weakness? This thinking is completely backwards.

Adequate sleep—about 7-8 hours a night for most people—is absolutely necessary for a healthy body and mind. Rest promotes normal hormone levels and neurotransmitter responses. Skipping sleep can lead to poor work performance, car accidents, relationship problems, anger, and depression.[5]

Why are so many people walking around completely exhausted? For most people, the problem isn’t that they’re too busy, it’s that they just need to turn off the TV, put down the phone, and close their eyes. In fact, trying to fall asleep with the TV or other gadgets on will only derail your body’s natural circadian rhythm.[6]

Just put away the smartphone and go to bed. Make your sleeping space as dark as possible. If that’s not feasible, try wearing a sleep mask. It’s a great strategy for blocking out light. And, just as you’ve always heard, aim for about 8 hours of sleep every night.

5. Exercise Often

Exercise is vital to your health and mood. Unequivocally, research shows that your chances of living a long, healthy life are better if you exercise regularly. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services advises that regular physical activity reduces mortality rates of many chronic diseases and helps improve or prevent many illnesses and conditions.[7]

You don’t need to have the physique of an Olympian to see health benefits. Even light to moderate exercise can offer tremendous health benefits. Although forty-five minutes to an hour is better for most people, just 30 minutes of moderate activity a few times a week can boost energy levels, help you sleep better, sharpen your mind, and strengthen your defense against illness.

To maximize the benefits, exercise outdoors. Studies have shown that exercising outside promotes endurance, enthusiasm, pleasure, and self-esteem. It also helps reduce depression and fatigue.[8] One study found that people who exercised outside exercised longer and more frequently.[9] Not to mention that exercising outdoors can also help you get your daily dose of sunshine.

6. Follow a Clean Diet

You may be familiar with the expression, “garbage in, garbage out.” Nowhere is that more true than in regard to the food you eat. Good nutrition is vital to your health. You can exercise and sleep twice as much as anyone else, but without a clean and balanced diet, you will feel down and fatigued.

There are many, many schools of thought on what type of diet is the best. Although there are a few unshakeable principles, it has to be an individual choice. Personally, I both follow and recommend a raw, vegan diet, but everyone has to decide what works for their life.

Most of the animals raised for mass production are raised in squalid conditions and treated inhumanely. Not only is this unnecessarily cruel, it promotes diseased animals that yield toxic animal products. A plant-based diet avoids these dangers, but if you do decide to consume meat and dairy, at least avoid the worst of it. Only consume animal products that are produced organically, in a free range environment, with ethical standards in place.

And, while it’s a contentious topic, I believe there’s more than sufficient evidence to avoid genetically modified food, AKA GMOs.[10] Italy, France, Germany, Greece, and dozens of other countries have limited or outright banned these foods. In the United States, however, they are everywhere. Buying organic food is the easiest way to avoid GMOs. According to both U.S. and Canadian law, a product with the “100% Certified Organic” label, it cannot contain any genetically modified organisms.

Finally, get in the habit of making your own food and avoid the mass-produced food products that are largely found in the center of the grocery store—boxed, packaged, and loaded with junk, especially refined carbohydrates. A few years ago, researchers at Princeton even confirmed that sugar is more addictive than heroin. It’s no surprise Americans buy more soda than water.[11]

Most of your grocery shopping should consist of whole, raw foods. Vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. I won’t say all prepackaged food is terrible for you, but the vast majority of them contain a minefield of suspect ingredients.

There you have it. Six easy, cost-effective tips to transform your health. Have you put any of these into practice? How has it affected your life?

The post 6 Healthy Lifestyle Changes to Make Today appeared first on Dr. Group's Healthy Living Articles.

from Robert Morgan Blog http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/healthy-lifestyle-changes-to-make-today/

0 notes