Let Food Be Your Medicine for her: Veggies, Fruits, and Powerful Antioxidants

This is where I want to thank Mother Nature for her beauty and her bounty as we approach harvest time, especially for the abundance of plant-based foods in our culinary landscape—fruits and vegetables. These vital foods carry with them the subtle forces of the sun’s energy known as phytochemicals, which create their colors, tastes, and aromas. These phytochemicals include flavonoids, carotenoids, phenols, vitamins, minerals, fiber, complex carbohydrates, proteins, estrogens, and enzymes that have been proven to benefit our physical and mental health, as well as preventing cancer and other degenerative diseases in people and animals. Equally important are the naturally occurring compounds in fruits and vegetables known as antioxidants. Antioxidants have been linked to a wide range of health benefits including slowing down the aging process, boosting immunity, and protection from free radical damage caused by environmental factors (smoke, smog, solar radiation, herbicides, and pesticides). The quote “Let food be your medicine, and medicine be your food” is especially applicable to plant-based foods.

Some of these plant-based foods are easy to incorporate into your pet’s diet. As an occasional treat or a daily staple, pets can benefit from adding one or more of these foods.

Carrots: According to C.J. Puotinen, author of Natural Remedies for Dogs and Cats, puréed, pressed, and grated carrots, carrot juice and its pulp, as well as finely-minced carrot greens, add a significant number of vitamins, minerals (magnesium, phosphorus) and other healing substances to your dog, cat, bird or rabbit’s diet. Carrots are high in the antioxidant compound carotenoids. Carrots have proven to inhibit processes that may lead to tumor growth. They are best known for their Vitamin A content (alpha-, beta- and gamma-carotene) and the pigments lutein and zeaxanthin which benefit vision. Carrots also boast a low-sugar content—only four grams in a small carrot. Other carotenoid-rich vegetables include winter squash and pumpkin.

Collard Greens: From the cruciferous family of vegetables, on the top ten foods list of The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth™, written by the awesome Jonny Bowden himself, high in vitamins A, C, K, and the minerals calcium, magnesium and potassium, collard greens are a superstar food. Collard greens are also a concentrated source of chlorophyll, the vital energy storage and transport system in plants. The function of chlorophyll in plants is similar to that of hemoglobin in animals. The body easily absorbs chlorophyll, using it for detoxification, wound healing, regulating metabolism, reducing inflammation, and decreasing cancer risk. By adding a small amount to your pet’s diet (even occasionally), you can improve their vitality and health. Other cruciferous vegetables your pet might like are broccoli, cauliflower, and kale. Additional chlorophyll-rich foods include buckwheat, wheat grass, parsley, dandelion greens, and microalgae like spirulina and chlorella.

Fruit: While some nutritionists claim pets cannot eat fruit without digestive upset, others would disagree. Fruits, like vegetables, are high in phytochemicals and antioxidants. They are also higher in sugars, so use small pieces of fruit as an occasional treat, or add smaller amounts to their meals, to prevent blood sugar spikes. Some good choices for our pets include melons, apples, bananas, raspberries, blueberries, papaya, cranberries, and mangos.

Note: Do be aware, though, that some plant-based foods are not appropriate or are even toxic to pets (onions, garlic, grapes, and raisins, for example).

Digesting and assimilating nutrients: Based on extensive research, vet nutritionists note that some dogs and cats may need help digesting the fiber in vegetables. To reap the benefits of nutrients from plants, they must be completely digested and absorbed. Food preparation methods can enhance digestion—steaming, grating, and pureeing will break down the plants’ tough fibers. Juicing removes all fibers, leaving only the phytochemical-rich portion. You can also add digestive enzymes with every meal. Enzymes such as amylase, cellulase, xylanase, pectinase, hemicellulose, and phytase are specific to digesting plants. When making any dietary change or addition, also consider supplementing with probiotics for a while to help your pet’s intestinal flora adapt to these changes.

For more suggestions of plant-based foods for your own benefit, I recommend the book, Healing with Whole Foods, by Paul Pitchford. This reference details not only the nutrients in foods, but also includes their energetic and medicinal values. Many of the same principles in this book also apply to feeding our pets. Caution: some plant-based foods are not appropriate or are even toxic to pets (onions, garlic, grapes, and raisins, for example).

That’s a wrap, Rockstars!