The Environmental Working Group (EWG)just published the 2011 DIRTY DOZEN and CLEAN 15 list. It is FOR EVERYONE, adults, children and pets.
Briefly, some foods absorb the pesticides that have been sprayed on them. Peeling these will not eliminate the risk of eating pesticide residues. With tight budgets, buy organic foods from the dirty dozen list and conventional products for the Clean 15 list, as these foods don't absorb the pesticides. It will save you money and keep your family healthier. EWG Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 for 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Hill's Pet, CVMA release pet health, wellness study
Good evening everyone. Please don't delete this because it says Hill's. The study is very good and points out some very interesting statistics. Even if you feed the best food you can and your pet family is slim and trim, I'm pretty sure you know of a dog and/or cat that fits in here somewhere. Be an advocate, speak up to these families.
Oh, BTW, I think I'm the statistics on the internet time.
Be well.
Susan
Study on pet health in Canada finds pet owners may not be making proper petfood choices
Hill's Pet Nutrition and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association released a research study on pet health and wellness in Canada, which found that the choices pet owners make regarding petfood and exercise may affect the length and quality of their pet's life.
The study, Canada's Pet Wellness Report, surveyed 1,000 Canadian dog and/or cat owners, and 100 veterinarians, on topics including exercise, nutrition, veterinary care, lifestage-related needs and overall health status.
The study found that pet owners are missing the visible signs of common pet health issues that must be managed in order for pets to live longer, healthier lives.
"Overall, the research suggests that addressing the exercise, nutritional and dental care needs of pets is key to enhancing pet health and wellness in the country," said Dr. Jim Berry, veterinarian and member of CVMA Executive.
Canadian pet owners choose to surf the Internet more than exercise their pets, according to the study. On an average weekday, the study found pet owners spend 48 minutes surfing the Internet and 79 minutes watching TV, as they do playing with or exercising their pets, an average of just 25 minutes. On the weekend, Canadian pet owners surveyed said they only exercised pets for 29 minutes on average, while they spent triple the time watching TV (89 minutes) and 44 minutes online.
"Pet owners need a better understanding of the health implications of inadequate exercise of their pets and the importance of basic decisions, such as what and how to feed them," said Dr. Berry. "Otherwise their pets might be at risk for a range of broader health issues, such as heart disease, diabetes and mobility issues."
The study's findings suggest pet owners also need to adjust how they evaluate what food to buy for their pets and how to properly feed them, so as to maintain a healthy weight. Pet owners said they were 60% more likely to buy petfood based on the food's palatability, versus 30% who said they purchase petfood that will meet the health needs of their pet, regardless of how much the pet likes the food's taste. Findings also showed that just 18% of pet owners feed their pets the amount recommended on the petfood package, and only 17% of pet owners said they actually review the food's ingredient information. Moreover, 44.5% of overall pet owners said they feed their pets by "making food available to their pet(s) at all times," which was more common for cat owners (57%) than dog owners (32%), according to the study.
Veterinarians surveyed said they believe the majority of dogs (55%) and cats (70%) that they see do not receive an adequate amount of exercise to maintain good health. Of all veterinarians surveyed, 63% said they were most likely to cite weight control as one of the most important factors pet owners can control to increase their pet's life, yet only one in 10 pet owners proactively ask them about the proper nutrition for their pet. The majority of veterinarians, 65%, said overfeeding is the most common mistake pet owners make when providing food for their dogs or cats, and that a majority of pet owners are surprised to hear the veterinarian diagnose their pet as obese.
The study, Canada's Pet Wellness Report, surveyed 1,000 Canadian dog and/or cat owners, and 100 veterinarians, on topics including exercise, nutrition, veterinary care, lifestage-related needs and overall health status.
The study found that pet owners are missing the visible signs of common pet health issues that must be managed in order for pets to live longer, healthier lives.
"Overall, the research suggests that addressing the exercise, nutritional and dental care needs of pets is key to enhancing pet health and wellness in the country," said Dr. Jim Berry, veterinarian and member of CVMA Executive.
Canadian pet owners choose to surf the Internet more than exercise their pets, according to the study. On an average weekday, the study found pet owners spend 48 minutes surfing the Internet and 79 minutes watching TV, as they do playing with or exercising their pets, an average of just 25 minutes. On the weekend, Canadian pet owners surveyed said they only exercised pets for 29 minutes on average, while they spent triple the time watching TV (89 minutes) and 44 minutes online.
"Pet owners need a better understanding of the health implications of inadequate exercise of their pets and the importance of basic decisions, such as what and how to feed them," said Dr. Berry. "Otherwise their pets might be at risk for a range of broader health issues, such as heart disease, diabetes and mobility issues."
The study's findings suggest pet owners also need to adjust how they evaluate what food to buy for their pets and how to properly feed them, so as to maintain a healthy weight. Pet owners said they were 60% more likely to buy petfood based on the food's palatability, versus 30% who said they purchase petfood that will meet the health needs of their pet, regardless of how much the pet likes the food's taste. Findings also showed that just 18% of pet owners feed their pets the amount recommended on the petfood package, and only 17% of pet owners said they actually review the food's ingredient information. Moreover, 44.5% of overall pet owners said they feed their pets by "making food available to their pet(s) at all times," which was more common for cat owners (57%) than dog owners (32%), according to the study.
Veterinarians surveyed said they believe the majority of dogs (55%) and cats (70%) that they see do not receive an adequate amount of exercise to maintain good health. Of all veterinarians surveyed, 63% said they were most likely to cite weight control as one of the most important factors pet owners can control to increase their pet's life, yet only one in 10 pet owners proactively ask them about the proper nutrition for their pet. The majority of veterinarians, 65%, said overfeeding is the most common mistake pet owners make when providing food for their dogs or cats, and that a majority of pet owners are surprised to hear the veterinarian diagnose their pet as obese.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Thoughts about increases in allergies - humans and animals
I came across two articles that were interesting, but frightening at the same time. Hopefully we'll have some reader comments and input on this subject.
I have a job because the incidence of food allergies, food intolerances, and immune-mediated disease have risen at a dramatic rate in dogs and cats. In my mind, I attribute this increase to processed foods. Commercial foods in no way resemble the original whole foods that were processed to make pet food. Similarly, hot dogs, nachos, pizza, etc. do not resemble the whole foods from which they are made.
This plays out in our daily lives in many ways. For instance, think about the making of margarine, that we did for years. We learned that in the process of making a solid fat from a liquid fat, we made some "other" molecules, namely trans fatty acids. We now know how bad they are for us.
Several years ago, the "too clean theory" was used to explain some of the increases in asthma and other allergies (including food) in children. But the increases in human and pet cases continue to rise.
Some scientists are looking at molecular changes that occur during the processing of foods for human consumption. For example there has been a rise in the incidence of peanut allergies in the US. It is speculated that the very high roasting temperatures now used to process peanuts, is producing new or unnaturally occuring molecules.
"Boiling Versus Roasting"
Most peanuts in the United States are dry-roasted at high temperatures. It is the high roasting temperatures, some believe, that causes problems by changing the protein structure. "The dry-roasting process makes these peanuts more allergenic," Weinberger said.
"Asians predominantly eat boiled peanuts," Weinberger said. "Asians have a much lower incidence of peanut allergies."
The theory that knowledge and identification of diseases processes enhances reporting of these diseases, and I am sure that this is partly responsible for the increases.
How might the processing of our human and pet food affect our lives?
Scary thoughts.
Susan
I have a job because the incidence of food allergies, food intolerances, and immune-mediated disease have risen at a dramatic rate in dogs and cats. In my mind, I attribute this increase to processed foods. Commercial foods in no way resemble the original whole foods that were processed to make pet food. Similarly, hot dogs, nachos, pizza, etc. do not resemble the whole foods from which they are made.
This plays out in our daily lives in many ways. For instance, think about the making of margarine, that we did for years. We learned that in the process of making a solid fat from a liquid fat, we made some "other" molecules, namely trans fatty acids. We now know how bad they are for us.
Several years ago, the "too clean theory" was used to explain some of the increases in asthma and other allergies (including food) in children. But the increases in human and pet cases continue to rise.
Some scientists are looking at molecular changes that occur during the processing of foods for human consumption. For example there has been a rise in the incidence of peanut allergies in the US. It is speculated that the very high roasting temperatures now used to process peanuts, is producing new or unnaturally occuring molecules.
"Boiling Versus Roasting"
Most peanuts in the United States are dry-roasted at high temperatures. It is the high roasting temperatures, some believe, that causes problems by changing the protein structure. "The dry-roasting process makes these peanuts more allergenic," Weinberger said.
A report in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found that frying or boiling peanuts, as practiced in China, appeared to reduce the allergenicity of peanuts compared with dry roasting. According to the study's authors, this may explain the different rates of peanut allergy seen in the United States and China.
The theory that knowledge and identification of diseases processes enhances reporting of these diseases, and I am sure that this is partly responsible for the increases.
How might the processing of our human and pet food affect our lives?
Scary thoughts.
Susan
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
My clients
There is no big article to post today, but I do have something to say that comes from my heart and is addressed to all of my clients and patients.
Many times, clients have said that I saved their fur child, or that without me their family member would not be alive.
Today is my day to thank each and every one of you. When you found your way to me, it was because you cared so much about your fur family that you were willing to open up your mind to the role of nutrition in health. This is a new field. You Rock!
Secondly, I have many patients that have outlived their anticipated life span. Not by a little, but by years in most cases. It is simply amazing to think about it. But, please know, that the credit goes to you for your fur family member's life. You did all the work, were dedicated above and beyond the requirements of the typical pet family and you never let frustration or bumps in the road stop you.
Maybe the tools came from me, but the life came from you.
Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart. I'll name a few first names of exceptional people: Karin, Joe, Don, Cheryl S., Carol, and Leah. These are just a handful of the hundreds of clients I have had the honor to work with.
Thank you for letting me be part of your family at some time, and thank you for being a blessing in my life.
Best,
Susan
Many times, clients have said that I saved their fur child, or that without me their family member would not be alive.
Today is my day to thank each and every one of you. When you found your way to me, it was because you cared so much about your fur family that you were willing to open up your mind to the role of nutrition in health. This is a new field. You Rock!
Secondly, I have many patients that have outlived their anticipated life span. Not by a little, but by years in most cases. It is simply amazing to think about it. But, please know, that the credit goes to you for your fur family member's life. You did all the work, were dedicated above and beyond the requirements of the typical pet family and you never let frustration or bumps in the road stop you.
Maybe the tools came from me, but the life came from you.
Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart. I'll name a few first names of exceptional people: Karin, Joe, Don, Cheryl S., Carol, and Leah. These are just a handful of the hundreds of clients I have had the honor to work with.
Thank you for letting me be part of your family at some time, and thank you for being a blessing in my life.
Best,
Susan
Monday, June 6, 2011
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