ELECTRICAL
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LOCATION
San Francisco
EMPLOYMENT TYPE
Permanent
PLANT-BASED PROTEINS
Can dogs obtain enough protein from a plant-based diet?
Yes, a plant-based diet can provide a dog with the same amount of protein as a meat-based diet, and well-balanced plant-based diet can and will cover your dog's protein needs.
Plant-based protein is of higher quality than animal protein and has been shown in scientific studies to prevent a variety of diseases and improve longevity.
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"But haven't plant-based protein lower bioavailability ?"
Proper preparation consequently improves the nutrient availability and digestibility of grains and beans, making them comparable to animal protein but without the inflammatory effects.
Here's all you need know about protein in your dog's plant-based diet, based on science.
THE ROLE OF WHOLEGRAINS
Are grains harmful or necessary for your dog?
The scientific conclusion on this controversial topic.
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Science and historical discoveries shows us that grains and flour through the age, and as far as the Neolitic, are used as the main ingredients in domesticated dogs's diets.
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Science evidence reveals that dogs are biologically evolved to eat, digest, and thrive on a diet high in grains and wheat.
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" Ollivier et al. (2016) confirmed that the gene AMY2B, which encodes for pancreatic α-amylase, an important enzyme involved in starch digestion, increased its expression in ancient dogs during the late Neolithic age." While dogs have 8 to 30 of copy of this genes, wolves possessed only two.
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Further, Ivy et al. (1936) discovered that dog pancreatic juice was comparable in amylolytic activity to duodenal drainage fluid from healthy humans.
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The grain-free diet is based on several incidents invloving contamined grains produced in China in processed pet foods.
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"Grain is a necessary dietary ingredient for a dog, and labels that read 'grain-free' are more harmful to the dog and should not be given unless required for other specific needs." - University of Maine
The importance of vegetables
Fresh vegetables and leafy greens are crucial for a healthy dog diet.
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Study found that dogs consuming vegetables at least 3 times per week, experienced a reduction in cancer risk of between 69-88%. The vegetables highlighted in the study included cruciferous, green-leafy, yellow-orange, tomatoes, green beans, green peppers, celery and peas.
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Chemicals found in plants, called phytonutrients help to protect and repair your dog's cells from damage.
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Phytonutrients in vegetables and leafy greens contribute to the maintenance of good health, not only through their antioxidant activity, but also as anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic agents.
Enzyme Deficiency in cooked or processed foods
Fresh vegetables and leafy greens are crucial for a healthy dog diet.
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Enzyme Deficiency
Dr Edward Howell pioneered digestive enzyme research in the early 20th century. He observed that the body becomes enzyme deficient over time … and that happens because we cook our food. -
He found that the lack of enzymes from cooked food causes shortened life span in people and animals, due to …
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Lowered resistance to stress and disease
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Enlarged pancreas – strained by having to produce more enzymes
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Reduced size of other organs like the brain
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He summarized his findings very eloquently with his famous Enzyme Nutrition Axiom:
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“The length of life is inversely proportional to the rate of exhaustion of the enzyme potential of an organism. The increased use of food enzymes promotes a decreased rate of exhaustion of the enzyme potential.”
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What he meant, in plainer English, was that we use up the enzymes our bodies make. So eventually we deplete our enzyme resources, which shortens our lives. But using food enzymes slows this process.
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And it’s true for your dog too.
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One reason for an enzyme deficiency is your dog’s diet. In theory your dog’s body produces enough enzymes to digest all the food groups … carbohydrates, protein and fat. But because of modern diets, that’s not always the case.
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What Holistic Vets Say
Most dogs eat cooked diets … whether kibble, canned or even home-made. -
Veterinarian Dr PJ Broadfoot said in a 2018 paper:
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“Supplemental enzymes are needed to replace those destroyed by cooking and processing food. Processing and cooking at any heat of approximately 118°F to 129°F (48°C to 54°C), for as few as three minutes, can destroy virtually all enzymes, which results in very little pre-digestion taking place in the stomach. Thus, what’s left of the food mass enters the small intestine largely undigested. This puts the pancreas and other organs of the endocrine system under tremendous stress, since they have to draw reserves from the entire body in order to produce massive amounts of the proper enzymes.”
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Jean Hofve DVM agrees. In a 2013 paper about Digestive Enzymes she made the case for routine digestive enzyme supplementation for all pets.
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“Digestive enzymes can be used for pancreatic and GI issues, but are also beneficial for healthy patients eating heat-processed pet foods.”
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Dr Hofve goes on to say:
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“… recent research shows that in humans with gastrointestinal disease, but more importantly, even in normal individuals, supplementation with digestive enzymes substantially increased digestion in the lumen of the small intestine, and improved the bioavailability of proteins and carbohydrates. Especially in view of the highly processed diet that most of our pets are eating, this implies that most healthy adult dogs and cats can benefit from a digestive enzyme supplement. Digestive enzymes help pets digest and assimilate food better–any food.”
https://www.coursehero.com/file/71133637/EnzymeNutritionpdf/
Homecooked plant-based diet for optimal gut health
Fresh vegetables and leafy greens are crucial for a healthy dog diet.
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Similarity of the dog and human gut microbiomes in gene content and response to diet https://microbiomejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40168-018-0450-3
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