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The holistic approach to pet health care
What is involved with a holistic approach to health?
Holistic health involves much more than simply using herbs or other alternative therapies when one is ill. It is an approach to health in
which one creates an environment that builds strength from the inside to better deal with stresses from the outside.
How is it different from the traditional Western (or allopathic) approach?
Allopathic medicine seeks to cure through alleviating symptoms. The holistic approach seeks to cure an ailment by giving the body the support it needs to cure itself. Nutrition, supplements, body work and a positive, caring environment are all used to not only alleviate sypmtoms, but cure the problem at its core.
Diet is a key factor in holistic health. Nutritionists often call canned or bagged foods "dead foods." This holds true for human food as well as pet food. "Dead food" refers to the loss of nutrition through processing. The loss of beneficial enzymes, probiotic microorganisms,
phytonutrients and vitamins are a few examples of this loss. It is estimated that as much of 83% of nutrition can be lost during processing.
I already feed my pets "premium" pet food.
Great! And we are sure your pets are better off than if they were eating a discounted brand. Still, since traditional pet foods are cooked, vitamins and minerals are destroyed during processing and thus
synthetic nutrients must be added after extrusion and cooking.
How do I know if my pet is getting the proper nutrition then?
Skin problems and gas are usually indicators of diet insufficiencies. While conventional medicines uses drugs to palliate the symptoms. Holistic health addresses the underlying issue and provides the body the proper nutrition to alleviate the symptoms.
Fresh, high-quality food is ideal, but one can supplement your pet's diet without making radical -- and often time-consuming -- changes to how you feed your pet. These supplements provide much of the vital nutrition that has been lost during processing.
Among the nutrition lost during processing:
Enzymes
Responsible for every cellular reaction in the body. Digestive enzymes are responsible for breaking down fats, carbohydrates proteins and soluable fiber. While the body can make enzymes, it is believed to put a strain on the body when it is forced to produce extra enzymes to make up for the ones not present on the food. Enzymes are destroyed in as little as 118 degrees.
Probiotics
The "beneficial" bacteria that line the intestinal tract and are required for healthy digestion. Maintaining optimal pH balance, crowding out unhealthy bacteria and aiding in the manufacture of B vitamins are among the functions the probiotic bacteria. Antibiotics, poor diet and stress all destroy these "good" bacteria.
Vitamins
Essential for countless activities that sustain life. Water soluable vitamins, such as B and C, are destroyed at temperatures beginning at 140 degrees.
Essential Fatty Acids
Essential Fatty Acids, or EFAs, as well as other fats become rancid during processing. EFAs are needed for a strong heart and reproductive system, healthy skin and coat, and strong joint tissues. A shinier and softer coat, less shedding, healthier skin, fewer fleas, and better tolerance to flea bites and other allergens are some of the EFAs' benefits.
Amino Acids
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. They are destroyed and become less biologically available during processing. The amino acids that make up protein can lose from 5 to 60% of their bioavailability depending on the amino acid involved, as well as the type of processing involved.
Phytochemicals
An example of these are vitamin A. While one can take a vitamin A supplement, it will likely be beta-carotene. Foods contain hundreds of carotenes though. An orange with 37 mg. of vitamin C has twice the cancer fighting power of a 1000 mg. tablet of vitamin C. Many of these are lost during processing.
Robbins Pet Care offers a variety of products that can help you provide your pet a healthy life. Many of the products we carry provide healthy, tasty, natural support for common problems without requiring radical changes to how you care for your pet. For help deciding which products might be best suited for your pet, click here.
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Robbins Pet Care. All Rights Reserved. The products sold by Robbins Pet Care are not intended to be the sole source of treatment or to take the place of expert veterinarian care. Please consult with your veterinarian and ask about using a natural and alternative approach for the treatment of your pet.
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