Diets for Life

03/10/2022

We are in the process of unveiling our brand new, hi-tech website that will debut shortly. We have a lot of great things planned for Diets for Life. Always remember: Stay ahead of the curve.

05/21/2021

As soon as we get some clearance, we plan to forge ahead with our home-made hummus (Blueberry Splash & Strawberry Coconut Cluster)and market it in area pet stores. The Pandemic has been tough on us but we remain focused and poised to make this a commercial success. Questions? # (609) 586-4815; [email protected]; www.dietsforlife.net

03/11/2019

Apple Cider Vinegar is pretty amazing stuff. It's just fermented apples and water, that's it. So it is safe for virtually every canine. Personally, I like it as a natural anti-tick treatment for my dog. You can spray a 50/50 mixture (ACV to water) to your dog's hair (part hair and spray judiciously) before they go outside. Since tick-borne disease (Lymes) is on the rise (and getting worse all the time) it is imperative to give your furry friend some added protection. Some people also add ACV to their dog's food and water. That's fine. Whatever works for you. ACV is inexpensive too. I pay approx. $ 3.00/ bottle at the supermarket and it lasts around 3 weeks or so. Money well spent.

The benefits of apple cider vinegar and your dog. Here are 3 simple ways apple cider vinegar can help your dog.

02/27/2019

Bone Broth For Your Pet - You Can Do This

I can't think of a better, more highly nutritious food for your pet than some good, old-fashioned bone broth. It's easy to make, not labor intensive and can be done on any budget. Here's what you'll need:

(1) Any type of bones: chicken, turkey, steak, etc.
(2) Apple Cider Vinegar
(3) A large pot, pressure cooker or a reasonable facsimile
(4) Some chunks of grass fed beef, turkey, chicken or you
can exclude the meat entirely and go vegetarian. Your
call here.
(5) Any type of raw - or lightly cooked - vegetables would
be ideal. Some examples: kale, spinach, green beans,
dandelion greens, collard greens, etc.
(6) Some herbs to consider: basil, oregano, cilantro,
parsley, etc.

Can you add other things like beans ? Absolutely. You are only limited by your own creativity. Let's get started.

Add water to your pot, pan or pressure cooker. Turn on burner and keep the flame low. You only want to simmer the mix. Do not bring to a boil. Depending on your mode of operation (pressure cooker or regular pots/pans), you will need to simmer the broth for at least (24) hours. Usually, I cook mine longer (about 36 to 48 hours, at least). I don't own a pressure cooker, so I will simmer the broth for a few hours here and there, turn off stove when I leave the house and re-heat when I come back home. This way, my broth takes at least (36) to (48) hours to prepare. Never, ever leave your stove on if unattended. A pressure cooker can cut your prep time dramatically. Today's high tech pressure cookers can be set to simmer your broth while you are away.
Now add your bones. Just drop them into the simmering water. Next, add a small amount of Apple Cider Vinegar. Some people may use a 1/2 cup (or more) to the mix. I like to use a 1/4 cup. Once again, your call here. The whole idea of the ACV is that it will help extract the all important calcium and magnesium from the bones. The ACV is - in effect - the catalyst that gets everything going.
After (24) hours of simmering, I now add some grass fed beef to the mix. Next, I wait another hour or so and then add the veggies (raw preferred). After that you can finalize the mix with some herbs or whatever else you want to use.
After about (36) hours or so and depending on your ingredients, you will start to see the water foaming up into a frothy mixture. This is good, It means that the broth is teeming with the extracted natural calcium and magnesium. Don't worry if your water doesn't foam up. It just means that the constituents (mix) are still leeching minerals from the bones. Sometimes, your water may not turn into a frothy mix at all - even after (36) hours of simmering. This is often times a result of your mix ratio: ACV to water and the constituents. Rest assured the highly nutritious calcium and magnesium will still be in your final product.
After you are finished, let the mix cool off and then serve to your pet. My dog loves this, hopefully your furry friend will too.

02/09/2019

Now that the canine genome has been mapped out it's interesting to note that many of the same diseases that affect humans also afflict our furry friends. Cancers, heart disease, diabetes, auto-immune disorders, etc. are shared by both mankind and canines to an alarming degree of sameness. Is it Nature or Nurture that determines which genes in the genomes will express themselves?

The first-ever evolutionary tree for dogs shows how contemporary breeds are related.

01/31/2019

Paul Stamets is way ahead of the medical curve with his knowledge on the benefits of polypore fungi that is ideally suited for all living beings - including your beloved pets. Think you can't learn anything on Facebook? Think again. Watch this illuminating video and judge for yourself. This guy is so far advanced it's ridiculous. www.dietsforlife.net

Leading mycologist Paul Stamets (full bio) shares his work exploring the diverse role medicinal mushrooms may have in activating our immune systems and helpi...

12/28/2018

Periodontal Disease and your Pet -

It starts out as mild inflammation of the gums which can include bleeding and a mild staining of the teeth (tartar). If not checked, it can progress further to a weakening of the underlying teeth structure and ultimately to loose teeth (and possible extraction). Fortunately, it doesn't have to be that way. To get rid of the bacteria that cause gum and teeth damage you may want to consider either serving your dog "raw meaty bones" to chew (not to ingest) and/or some daily teeth brushing. If you opt for the 1st choice, make sure you use only hard, organic bones that came from a large animal (steak bone, shank, collar bone, etc.). I would advise against using thinner bones (chicken, other fowl like turkey, duck, pheasant) as they may splinter and get stuck in your pet's throat. I usually put a large, raw meaty bone in the toaster oven and cook it for approx. (3) minutes at the very least. Let it cool and then serve (leaving the meaty gristle on). Once again, the raw meaty bone is intended to help clean your dog's teeth - not to be consumed. If you opt for the 2nd choice (brushing teeth), there are several things you can do. Some like to use a commercial brand of doggie toothpaste (like: Kissable) and apply that with a soft bristle brush. I used to use a commercial brand of toothpaste for my dog (she used to chew raw meaty bones but discontinued the practice as she got older). So, we had to start with a toothpaste. Personally, I don't like the ingredients in most commercial brands. For example, Kissable Doggie Tooth Paste contains the following active ingredients: Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Tetrapotassium Pyrophosphate, Kaolin, Tea Tree Oil and Stevia/Vanilla. I found something better. I now use Unrefined Coconut Oil. I wrap a small piece of gauze around my right index finger and dip it into the coconut oil. Next, I open my dog's jaws and lightly rub the teeth and gums with the coconut oil. The coconut oil is a natural anti-bacterial and can help mitigate the effects of microbials from breaking down on the gums. No need to wash it off. Just let it naturally stay on the teeth and gums. If you can do this on a regular basis, you're going a long way in helping preserve your dog's oral health.

12/21/2018

Palm oil use is causing rainforests to be decimated, and could make the Sumatran orangutan to go extinct. (6622 signatures on petition)

12/16/2018

If you and your pets spend any appreciable amount of time in your yard, you may want to read this article. Moreover, if you spray any kind of herbicide, pesticide or chemical fertilizer on your grass, you are just asking for trouble. Fortunately, there are natural "chelation" methods that can help keep these toxic chemicals from destroying your pet's endocrine and immune systems.

(NaturalHealth365) Natural health experts have long warned that exposure to glyphosate, the active i...

10/04/2018

The skinny on plant protein vs, animal protein.Can a mainstream carnivore (like your dog) who is biologically and physiologically adapted to tear flesh and bones from its prey subsist on plant based protein sources? Yes, it can, but only if all the requisite amino acids (Ten are required in dogs for optimal health) are ingested on a regular basis. Therein lies the problem. Combining different plant sources of protein to ensure optimal amino acid content can be downright challenging and most people won't go there. It's much easier to give your dog some kind of meat and just forget about it. Am I recommending that you give up meat entirely for your furry friend? No, not at all. My whole premise here is that you do have other options. Evidence based research has now conclusively shown that all mammalian species (your dog is a mammal) can not only exist on a plant based diet but also thrive and avoid many - if not all - of the health concerns that arise as we age. Some of the most powerful animals on earth (elephants, gorillas, rhinos, hippos, horses) are plant eaters, Can you gain muscle mass without copious amounts of animal protein? Yes, you can. Once again, it all depends on the assimilation of requisite amino acids. Will my dog go for a plant based diet, complete with nuts, seeds, tempeh, miso. Nori, micro-algae, etc. ? Probably not - at least not at first. I have slowly incorporated small amounts of plant based protein sources into my dog's diet while simultaneously reducing her meat consumption. Has it worked? Yes, it's working well. My dog still eats meat - just much less. Food for thought.

Discover why not all protein is equal, including an explanation of plant protein vs animal protein for cardiovascular health.

10/02/2018

Dr. Barry Sears - a world renowned scientist and reseracher - explains exactly what inflammation is - and what it isn't. Dr. Sears correctly notes that "virtually all allopathic physicians" really don't have any idea what inflammation is. We're talking about cellular inflammation here - not generalized, everyday inflammation (ie: cutting your leg while falling off a bicycle). Inflammation has been implicated in every known modern day malady including: cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's, etc. All of this useful information can be applicable to your pet too. A must read blog for the curious.

Dr. Sears defines the different types cellular inflammation, what causes them, and how anti-inflammatory nutrition can inhibit it.