CANINE NUTRITION
Kefir
Kefir! It tops my list of favourite supplements to add to my dog's diet (and my own!).
Let's start with what exactly Kefir is. Pronounced kah-fear, this is a beverage that resembles yogurt. By definition, kefir means "feel good" in Turkish! Kefir grains are used to ferment a liquid, most commonly milk, and the result is a vitamin packed probiotic beverage that has a slew of health benefits so powerful we might as well call it medicine! Chock-full of healthy bacteria, protein, vitamins A, B1, B2, B6 (and B12 depending on which milk was fermented), D, K2 and folic acid, Kefir is also rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and the amino acid tryptophan.
That's all fantastic, but what are the benefits when we add Kefir to our pet's diets? Better breath, less bloating and gas, better digestion (it is FANTASTIC for clearing
up a bout of diarrhea), healthier skin and coat, helps manage histamine levels and relieve allergies, kills unhealthy yeasts...and the list goes on! If this little blurb piqued your interest, here's some more reading on kefir, the benefits of probiotics and information on proper dosages:
I trust that once you start giving this to your dog, either with food or as a little treat in the day, you'll love the changes you see and it will become a regular part of their diet - and maybe your own!
Jaime
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is something I'm sure you've heard is good for us. It's good for our hair, our nails, our skin - the world is screaming out "we love coconut oil!" and the world is RIGHT! I do love it - it goes in my morning smoothie and it goes in my hair and on my face and well, I could go on but we aren't talking about my beauty regimen.
When my dog first came to us, she was itchy and uncomfortable in her skin. She had a skin infection and had been given strong antibiotics to treat it and they weren't working. I knew we needed to treat her issues with food and one of the things I started looking into was coconut oil. While switching her food was important, coconut oil was exactly what her body needed to accelerate healing and fix her skin for now and forever!
Fatty acids in coconut oil are known for being anti-fungal, antibacterial and antiviral and that's a pretty solid base for a supplement that I wanted to use to "fix" her issues. On top of that, coconut oil helps increase energy levels, is a great immune booster (for us, too!) and speeds healing, as well as regulates metabolism to maintain a healthy weight. Need more convincing? Here you go!
"The Health Benefits of Coconut Oil"
"10 Reasons to Add Coconut Oil to Your Dog's Diet"
"The Kitchen Staple Perfect for Your Pet's Skin"
I have a 4 pound tub of coconut oil that sits on my counter and I find myself using it more and more every day for a variety of things. To moisturize, to heal, to cook - it's a brilliant thing to have at hand and I'm certain you'll soon agree!
Jaime