There is still a lot of confusion over free radicals and anti-oxidants. To help clear up the confusion here is a simple way to look at it. Anti-oxidants are the housekeepers of the body. They mop up free radicals and basically keep your body functioning in a more efficient manner. Free radicals are the by-products of cellular metabolism. This process is also called oxidation (Think banana turning brown on your counter). It means that any activity the cell does in the course of a day produces a waste product. These waste products create damage to cell walls by attaching themselves to healthy cell walls. Any increase in activity or anything that creates more for the cell to do will manufacture more waste products and therefore more free radicals. Anything your dog does to increase its metabolic rate, even things that are good for him, like chasing a stick or being out for a run with you, will create more cellular activity and more free radical production. In order to clean up these waste products we need anti-oxidants. One of the reasons I am so passionate in advocating human grade dog food or even gourmet dog food is that they usually contain far more anti-oxidants than in typical commercial food. Pollution, stress, disease, inflammation and food additives are examples of things that cause the body to have to work harder. In today's society toxins are found virtually everywhere in our air, water and food. They exist in foods as preservatives, colors and artificial flavors. They are also found in poor quality foods like moldy grains and by-products that the body cannot digest. Keeping our foods free of these additives will provide less stress on the body. An average 50 lb dog eating commercial dog food eats about 18 lbs of preservatives each year! That takes a lot of work on the body's part to eliminate, resulting in lots of free radicals and potential damage to cells and to DNA. Every year we are discovering more and more about anti-oxidants that are found in whole natural foods. Humans and dogs have similar needs for high quality meats, fresh vegetables and fruits. Look for them in healthy natural dog food or human grade dog foods. A balanced diet of whole natural foods is the best way to ensure the consumption of an adequate amount of useful anti-oxidants. Loading up on synthetic vitamins and synthetic anti-oxidants may actually create further toxicity. This may help explain both the trend toward gourmet dog food for our four-legged friends and the fact that a Whole Foods Market or Fresh Market is popping up in every town and city in America lately. We need to provide less stress for our canine companions. Always purchase human grade, wholesome ingredients. The less processed our foods are, the better! Remember, vitamin, minerals, complex carbohydrate and proteins are all best when used as a team. Taken out of context, they are not as effective. Nature knows best! Keep it natural! Choose a healthy natural dog food or even better a human grade dog food to help keep your pet healthy. It doesn't have to be gourmet dog food but it does have to be healthy natural and good for your best friend. Feed your dog like you know you should eat yourself.
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