"NO" THIS OR THAT DOES NOT MAKE THE BEST PET FOOD

Since commercial dry pet foods came to be, corn, wheat and other grains have been used as starch sources to permit the forming of extruded nuggets. Although meat has long been known to be the best source of nutrition for pets, it is more expensive than grains, and meats alone cannot be extruded into a nugget that will hold its shape or dry properly.

So why are there now so many "no corn," "no wheat," and "no grain" products flooding the market? Why would such natural ingredients that have been used by humans for thousands of years all of a sudden become so "dangerous"?

Since most dog foods and cat foods contain grains, it is hard for brands to distinguish themselves. To create a market niche requires some uniqueness. Thus was born the "no corn," "no grain," "no this or that" pet food industry. By saying "no something," the public assumes that the "something" must be bad. The new "no" pet food industry struck fear into the heart of consumers by attaching all the illnesses pets get to the ingredients that they conveniently left out of their foods.

In other words, if you want the best pet food for your pet to be well, you must buy their "no" product. The net effect, however, is "yes" they will get your money, but "no" your pet will not be healthier.

Although a steady diet of corn and grains is unwise - since these are really not the natural foods for carnivores - neither can it be reasonably argued that the starches the "no" companies use (potato, rice, tapioca, etc.) are any better. Some of these substitute starches are not only nutritionally inferior to grains, they can be toxic in sufficient dose.

As a part of a varied diet, various starch sources are fine. But that is not what the "no" companies advocate. They want you to feed only their "no" foods. But if you do that, nothing is gained. Pets will suffer the same diseases they always have from eating a steady diet of heat processed starch-based packaged foods.

There is nothing uniquely hazardous about grain starch sources. There is, however, much potential hazard associated with feeding any one food on an exclusive basis, regardless of its ingredients.

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Thought for the day: "Human liberation will begin when we understand that our evolution and fulfillment are contingent on the recognition of animal rights and on a compassionate and responsible stewardship of nature." – Dr. Michael W. Fox

Word for the day: cholesterol oxides - noun: cholesterol is a normal component of tissue structure and function. It is the starting material for vitamin D and all hormones. It is essential to life. However, when cholesterol in animal products is heated, exposed to light and oxygen, it converts to a very dangerous chemical known as a cholesterol oxide. In my book (Believe The Cholesterol Myth To Your Peril) I explain why cholesterol oxide is the only cholesterol we need to be worried about.