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IT ALL STARTS WITH FOOD (continued) Feeding a fresher, more natural diet from an early age takes a little time and effort, but it is all worth it. A natural, chemical-free diet is often enough by itself to make profound changes in a dog's or cat's health, and many health problems associated with ageing can be prevented. Let's take, as an example, eye problems, such as cataracts. A cataract is any clouding of the normally transparent lens of the eye that impairs vision. This condition is a frequent accompaniment of chronic disease and immune disorders. There is a direct connection between poor, unhealthy diet and cataract development in cats and dogs (and people, too!). Many eye defects or abnormalities can be traced to faulty nutrition, and many more could be prevented. Eye problems are often the first indicators of unhealthy conditions in other parts of the body. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine and its underlying philosophy, the eye and the liver are linked. Many veterinarians notice that cats and dogs with chronic eye problems have a liver imbalance. Cleansing and nourishing the liver usually helps most chronic eye conditions. In TCM the eyes and vision are associated with the wood element of the liver and gall bladder. Three of yang meridians used in acupuncture begin around the eye. These are the gall bladder, urinary bladder and stomach meridians. Though it may sound strange, sometimes the functions of digestion and fluid elimination can affect the eyes. When the liver is out of balance, it tends to influence the spleen/pancreas. This plays havoc with the digestion. Eyes whose surrounding tissues are wet, hot, inflamed and sticky, are the result of a liver and spleen/pancreas imbalance. Many of these problems are worse after eating. A cat or a dog will become extremely thirsty and will drink excessively. Diet is a very important factor in eye health, and poor diet, specifically, denatured, chemical- and preservative-laden food is a major contributor to eye trouble. Liver is affected by what we eat. Our eyes are also affected by what we eat. Many food allergies, especially in cats, can show up as eye discharge or inflammation. In Traditional Chinese Medicine the liver's primary jobs, besides regulating bile flow (also a primary job in Western medicine's view), are considered to be regulating digestion and the flow of qi (vital force). In Chinese medicine theory, the liver regulates the blood, which is not surprising, since the blood and qi work together in the body. Unfortunately, the liver's important work is thwarted by a number of factors: besides having to contend with the digestion of processed and denatured food, the liver also has to deal with food additives and preservatives, pesticides, herbicides and other environmental chemicals found inside and outside our homes. All of these factors can cause the liver to malfunction and become overburdened, contributing to various health problems. An overworked and undernourished liver is known to be the root cause of many diseases. The liver plays an important role in fat metabolism, in the synthesis of fatty acids from amino acids and sugars, in the production of lipoproteins, cholesterol and phospholipids, and in the oxidation of fat to produce energy. The liver also acts as a detoxifier. The liver combines toxic substances (including metabolic waste products and insecticide residues) with substances that are less toxic. These substances are then excreted via the kidneys. Thus, in order for the liver to function properly, the kidneys must also function properly. A high-quality natural diet can help maintain proper liver function. This is why many veterinarians pay special attention to animal companions' diet when treating chronic diseases, and start them on liver supplements. Good natural diet and liver supplements tend to produce strong results. If you decide to feed your companion animal a home-made diet, please keep in mind that cats and dogs are carnivores and need far more protein on a pound-for-pound basis than humans require. They also need more calcium. Healthful natural snacks, flavourings and supplements help to round out a pet's diet, adding both appeal and nutrition. We feed out cats and dogs easy-to-prepare home-made meals and add, among other things, The Missing Link by Designing Health, Inc., and several supplements by Nikken. Nikken Bio-Directed Pet Feline Complete is in powder form and we add it to our cats' food. It contains barley grass, essential fatty acids, beta carotene and a carefully-selected set of other vitamins and minerals. This nutritional complex features top-quality ingredients. The Nikken artichoke/sarsaparilla blend is added for liver support. We give our Bedlington Terriers Bio-Directed Pet Canine Complete with their meals. It also provides liver support. Nikken has a very good formula for older pets suffering from arthritis, Bio-Directed Pet Joint, that contains cetyl myristoleate. Another Nikken product that is popular with our cats and dogs is JadeGreenZymes. In facts, it is a good source of macronutrition for everyone in our family. When we cook food for our companion animals, we use only purified water. It is as important to give purified water to your cat or dog as it is to your companion bird. Pico and Strawbi, an African gray and a red factor canary who share Wellness Universe with our other companion animals, can easily tell the difference between good and bad water. There are many different water purification systems on the market. Nikken produces convenient countertop water purification systems that purify water and then expose it to natural minerals and coral calcium, adding back calcium and minerals to the water, thus producing living water. You can go to Nikken site at www.nikken.com and find out more about Nikken water systems and the above-mentioned supplements. You will find there a whole range of Nikken wellness products. If something catches your attention, contact us, we will be happy to provide additional information. |