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This recommended article "The Best Antioxidants for Dogs and Cats" is curated and sourced from Adored Beast Apothecary. If you loved this article, please do feel free to share it around.
The Best Antioxidants for Dogs and Cats
It’s a toxic world we live in!
Sorry to start off on such a negative note – but it’s true. Our families (both two- and four-legged) come face-to-face with invisible threats to health on a daily basis. One of the biggest threats are free radicals…
The good news is, there are plenty of ways to challenge those free radicals head-on, to minimize the risk they pose to our loved ones (and ourselves). Today we’re talking about the best antioxidants for dogs and cats. (And all of these are things you can also add to your own healthcare routine!)
Free Radicals and Antioxidants
We mentioned free radicals as one of the biggest threats to overall health. So what are they exactly? Let’s head to the science lab!
Atoms are surrounded by electrons in layers called shells. Electrons want these shells filled, and atoms with full outer shells are stable. Free radicals, however, are “charged” atoms that bond to other atoms to fill their electron “shells” and in an effort to make up the number of electrons in their outer shell, they react quickly with other substances.
And yes, the body does produce free radicals naturally. In fact, when they’re at safe levels they can even be helpful. However, these unstable atoms can do major damage to cells. If they continue to multiply unchecked, it causes something called oxidative stress. Oxidative stress damages your pet’s DNA (and your own), leading to disease. We often refer to this as “biological rusting,” an effect caused by too much oxygen in the body’s tissues. Oxidative stress plays a major part in the development of chronic and degenerative illness such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, aging, cataract, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases.
While some free radicals are ok, too many are an issue, as you can see. Unfortunately, certain things increase the body’s production of them:
- air pollution
- stress
- all medications (including flea and tick medications)
- industrial chemicals
- chemical-based pesticides
- cigarette smoke
- inflammation
- radiation (ex. x-rays)
- processed food
Thankfully, the body can counteract oxidative stress with antioxidants, either by producing them naturally, or via foods or supplements with high antioxidant values. Antioxidants work by scavenging free radicals and destroying them!
The Best Antioxidants for Dogs and Cats
It’s really easy to add antioxidants to your pet’s diet (and your own). Both antioxidant-rich foods and antioxidant-rich supplements can help fight free radicals and the damage they can do.
When it comes to the best antioxidants for dogs and cats, these top our list:
1. Phytoplankton
Phytoplankton is one of the only things on the planet that is absorbed by the body before it gets to the gut. This makes it hugely bioavailable to the body. It is a single-celled organism that offers trace minerals, chlorophyll, essential amino acids, EPA, fatty acids, protein, carotenoids, amino acids and other nutrients.
But when it comes to antioxidants, it really is a superpower. Superoxide dismutase within the cell of phytoplankton has been referred to as the “king of antioxidants.” No wonder some sea turtles that consume 90% of their diet from certain strains of phytoplankton can live until they are 200 – no rust on those guys 🙂
2. Chaga Mushrooms
Several different medicinal mushrooms rank high on the antioxidant scale, but chaga reigns supreme. Like phytoplankton, chaga mushrooms are a rich source of superoxide dismutase. Chaga mushrooms have naturally occurring sugars called beta-glucans that are found in the cell membranes of plants and animals. Extensive research on chaga has been done, and from that we now chaga provides high levels of cellular protection against DNA damage caused by oxidative stress.
Plus, the antioxidant properties are joined by many other properties, making medicinal mushrooms a great addition to any supplement regime.
3. Antioxidants from Food
Some of the richest food sources are things you may already feed on a regular basis. Feeding antioxidant-rich foods is easy, and you can change up what you offer on a daily basis. Plus, if your pet isn’t a fan of one, try another. Obviously these are more for dogs than cats as most cats will turn their noses up at the things on this list.
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Cranberries
- Kale and spinach
- Beets
- Bananas
- Red cabbage
- Sweet potatoes
- Apples
- Pumpkin
- Broccoli
- Artichokes
- Eggshell membranes
- Watermelon and cantelope
Antioxidants for dogs and cats (and us) are so important. No matter what you feed, adding in antioxidants on a daily basis will help your animal fight those invisible invaders and help them fend off illness and disease in the years to come!
You may find more interesting reads from JOOF Holistic Pet today! Look out for loads of information on our product pages, social media, especially our Pet Parent Resources page.
JOOF Holistic Pet, a Singapore online pet store that focuses on the holistic well-being of your beloved furkid. Our recommended products aim to support and improve health, emotional and physical well-being, and help your pet have a better quality of life without compromise. Look out for Essential, Trendy and Premium quality pet products that are specially curated, with the pet parents concerns' as a priority.
This blog first appeared on the Adored Beast Apothecary website, where the article "The Best Antioxidants for Dogs and Cats" was curated and sourced from.
Original source: The Best Antioxidants for Dogs and Cats
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Disclaimer:
JOOF Holistic Pet has curated and reproduced this article in good faith, which may contain an element of consumer opinion, but cannot be held responsible for any information inaccuracies in it or any use assumed from this information by the reader. JOOF Holistic Pet welcomes positive recommendations for holistic healthcare products, but does not necessarily endorse the author’s opinion. We acknowledge each animal is an individual and may react differently to the highlighted product/s, and that there may also be other similar effective products available.
General recommendations made by JOOF Holistic Pet are solely for informational and educational purposes, and are not a substitute for the appropriate veterinary care. It is important to always consult professional help if you have concerns about your furkid’s health.