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gracielove · 07-24-2012, 02:29 PM

I always fed my other dogs kibble. I had to start looking into dog foods when I got Gracie and she refused to eat kibble. I never really understood ingredient labels on dog food but trusted these companies to do what was best for our dogs. The more I read about the ingredients the more I realized that a dog would not of it's own eat many of the ingredients on that list.

Then I realized that many of the ingredients in some kibbles were much like the breakfast cereals and white bread we eat. No real nutrition in it's self but the natural nutrition is taken out and then replaced with synthetic vitamins that replace the now extinct nutrition that was taken out.

I worked as a nurse for many years and in Family Medicine for the last 15 years. Many of the health problems people are having these days are diet induced issues. We are stressing our bodies by eating processed foods and foods that have been changed by being genetically engineered. High fats, too much and too many forms of glucose as well as chemicals and preservatives have invaded our bodies and caused many issues that a sound diet would prevent. I don't know that we can go back because the food industry has changed so much in the way foods are grown and then processed. Even the farm land that our foods grow in have been stripped of the natural nutrients. Instead of crop rotation, chemical fertilizers are used to make the crops grow.

I am so intent on feeding raw because I feel very strongly that many health issues for humans and animals can be prevented with a good healthy diet that includes fresh fruits, vegetables and meats that have not been contaminated by chemicals or changed by man made means. Just like animals some people's bodies are better able to hold off the destructive effects of a bad diet than others are. It depends on their own genetic strengths and abilities to resist the onslaughts on their systems.

Personally, when I was in my mid 30's I had gained weight and was eating poorly due to taking care of kids and working. Just too busy to eat well. I ate a lot of fast food and things that were easy to make. I slowly just found myself losing strength and even desire to do things. I started to contract illnesses easily and was not myself. At first I thought it was natural aging. Then I decided to go on a diet of eating what I imagined people ate before life became so complex, like some of the things my grandmother would make. I cut out all white bread and most dairy products. No food that came in a box or bag was allowed in the house. I ate mostly fresh fruits and vegetables with very little meat. I did eat as many fruits and veggies as I wanted. The body is able metabolize those and does not store them as fat. Usually if I ate meat it was chicken in my salad and maybe some chicken at supper. I was too busy to get into any serious exercise but I did walk to and from work everyday. Plus I was on my feet most of the day. The weight dropped off me like hot butter. I went down to my normal weight of 103 and felt light as a feather with 100 times more energy. I know what a difference a healthy diet can make. I stopped picking up every illness that came into the office and did not miss work at all. Healthy food is so vital for humans and I feel strongly that it is every bit as much so for our animals.

There are some kibbles out there that look much better than grocery store foods but Gracie does not agree. I would prefer to feed something more convenient but not at the expense of Gracie's health. I have searched and continue to search for another form of doggy health food. ZiwiPeak looks interesting to me. The lady that owns the pet food store I go to showed it to me about a week ago but I haven't really had a chance to study it yet. Some of these companies take grain out and replace it with other things that I don't think are beneficial, so I guess the perfect food may not have been created yet. I do know that what I feed Gracie now I can feed with a clear conscience knowing that they are healthy ingredients that she would want to eat if offered separately. Processed foods are not what any of our bodies were made to survive on. I wish the food industry did not make it so expensive to eat healthy fresh foods. I guess it is one of the downfalls of living in such a modernized society.

07-24-2012, 02:29 PM	#82
gracielove YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NY Posts: 6,582	I always fed my other dogs kibble. I had to start looking into dog foods when I got Gracie and she refused to eat kibble. I never really understood ingredient labels on dog food but trusted these companies to do what was best for our dogs. The more I read about the ingredients the more I realized that a dog would not of it's own eat many of the ingredients on that list. Then I realized that many of the ingredients in some kibbles were much like the breakfast cereals and white bread we eat. No real nutrition in it's self but the natural nutrition is taken out and then replaced with synthetic vitamins that replace the now extinct nutrition that was taken out. I worked as a nurse for many years and in Family Medicine for the last 15 years. Many of the health problems people are having these days are diet induced issues. We are stressing our bodies by eating processed foods and foods that have been changed by being genetically engineered. High fats, too much and too many forms of glucose as well as chemicals and preservatives have invaded our bodies and caused many issues that a sound diet would prevent. I don't know that we can go back because the food industry has changed so much in the way foods are grown and then processed. Even the farm land that our foods grow in have been stripped of the natural nutrients. Instead of crop rotation, chemical fertilizers are used to make the crops grow. I am so intent on feeding raw because I feel very strongly that many health issues for humans and animals can be prevented with a good healthy diet that includes fresh fruits, vegetables and meats that have not been contaminated by chemicals or changed by man made means. Just like animals some people's bodies are better able to hold off the destructive effects of a bad diet than others are. It depends on their own genetic strengths and abilities to resist the onslaughts on their systems. Personally, when I was in my mid 30's I had gained weight and was eating poorly due to taking care of kids and working. Just too busy to eat well. I ate a lot of fast food and things that were easy to make. I slowly just found myself losing strength and even desire to do things. I started to contract illnesses easily and was not myself. At first I thought it was natural aging. Then I decided to go on a diet of eating what I imagined people ate before life became so complex, like some of the things my grandmother would make. I cut out all white bread and most dairy products. No food that came in a box or bag was allowed in the house. I ate mostly fresh fruits and vegetables with very little meat. I did eat as many fruits and veggies as I wanted. The body is able metabolize those and does not store them as fat. Usually if I ate meat it was chicken in my salad and maybe some chicken at supper. I was too busy to get into any serious exercise but I did walk to and from work everyday. Plus I was on my feet most of the day. The weight dropped off me like hot butter. I went down to my normal weight of 103 and felt light as a feather with 100 times more energy. I know what a difference a healthy diet can make. I stopped picking up every illness that came into the office and did not miss work at all. Healthy food is so vital for humans and I feel strongly that it is every bit as much so for our animals. There are some kibbles out there that look much better than grocery store foods but Gracie does not agree. I would prefer to feed something more convenient but not at the expense of Gracie's health. I have searched and continue to search for another form of doggy health food. ZiwiPeak looks interesting to me. The lady that owns the pet food store I go to showed it to me about a week ago but I haven't really had a chance to study it yet. Some of these companies take grain out and replace it with other things that I don't think are beneficial, so I guess the perfect food may not have been created yet. I do know that what I feed Gracie now I can feed with a clear conscience knowing that they are healthy ingredients that she would want to eat if offered separately. Processed foods are not what any of our bodies were made to survive on. I wish the food industry did not make it so expensive to eat healthy fresh foods. I guess it is one of the downfalls of living in such a modernized society.