supplement
Why supplement?
Because prevention is the most powerful cure!
by Franco Cavaleri

Not surprisingly, our animals’ health is beginning to mirror our own. Today we’re seeing many of the epidemics that have plagued humans, such as obesity, diabetes and chronic inflammation, and even cancer, manifest at epidemic levels in our pets. If you take a good look around, you’ll find that people really do look like their pets. More accurately, they tend to have similar characteristics, and unfortunately, that includes similar health problems.

Some professionals claim this is caused by the emotional burden that pets absorb from the family environment; the animals manifest similar symptoms as the people. This emotional influence does, in fact, play a larger role than most of us think. But the majority of symptoms are a result of similar eating habits – a heavily processed diet. Research shows that the high glycemic (raises blood sugar dramatically) state of processed food promotes inflammation throughout the body. This inflammation is too small to diagnose but it does increase the incidence of chronic inflammation.

Processed foods, like low quality pet kibbles, tend to be higher in glycemic index than whole foods, and the addition of low cost grain or other starch sources are mostly to blame. These higher glycemic diets have also been linked to insulin resistance, which also increases the risk of obesity.

Obesity and cancer affect a huge number of canines these days, and our felines seem to be suffering from diabetes and obesity in epic proportions. Recent genetic research shows that a greater free radical load on the body caused, in large part, by poor quality food, adversely affects gene function. One of the gene systems pinpointed is directly involved in the production of hormones (prostaglandins) that contribute to inflammation and tumor formation.

What’s the significance of this? It provides a direct scientific link between processed, high glycemic index foods, and diseases like cancer, chronic inflammation, and obesity.

For our animals, these risks increase as they get older. Just like us, our furry companions can tolerate metabolic strains imposed by diet, environment and/or emotion when they are young. But as we age, our ability to produce internal antioxidants to protect us from these strains declines.

Next Page >

Published in the June/July 2005 issue of Animal Wellness