Antioxidants are a buzzword in the health and wellness community - but what are they? And do animals need them like we do? As it turns out, antioxidants play an important role in maintaining your pet’s health. Let’s look at exactly what antioxidants are and why they should be included in your furry friend’s diet.
What are Antioxidants?
Antioxidants are compounds that protect your pet's cells from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules created as a by-product of normal metabolic processes like breathing, digestion, and exercise. These molecules can cause oxidative stress in the body — damaging proteins, fats, and DNA within cells — which can lead to chronic inflammation and disease. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals before they can cause any harm.
Nutrients that act as antioxidants include vitamins C; E, beta-carotene (a form of vitamin A), selenium, zinc, iron, copper, manganese and carotenoids like lutein and lycopene. They are naturally found in many fruits and vegetables such as blueberries, strawberries, kale spinach or sweet potatoes. They can also be added to pet food or supplements in the form of natural extracts or synthetic forms.
What are the Benefits of Antioxidants for Pets?
Antioxidants play an important role in keeping your pet healthy since they help protect against cell damage caused by free radicals. This helps reduce the risk of age-related diseases like arthritis or heart disease. Additionally, antioxidants may improve immunity by helping strengthen the body's natural defence system against bacteria and viruses that cause illnesses like kennel cough or allergies. And finally, antioxidants may help improve skin health and coat condition since skin cells need protection from oxidative stress just like any other cell type. These hardworking compounds can do so much to keep us and our pets healthy!
Incorporating Antioxidants into Your Pet's Routine
The best way to make sure your pet is getting enough antioxidants is to feed them a balanced diet made up of whole foods that contain natural sources of these nutrients, like fresh fruit and vegetables. Many pets are fed meat or meat-based products on a regular basis; however, meat alone doesn’t provide your pet with all the nutrients it needs. Traditionally, many breeds of dogs and cats ate vegetable and fruits along with meat, so incorporating these (along with the helpful antioxidants they contain) means that they get a balanced diet that keeps their health in check.
Alternatively, you could consider adding antioxidant supplements formulated specifically for pets if you feel that their diet needs additional support - just be sure to consult with your veterinarian first before making any changes.
From boosting immune systems to improving joint health, there are countless ways that incorporating antioxidant-rich foods or supplements into your dog or cat's diet can help keep them healthy and happy. One of the simplest ways is to give them the canine or feline formula from Taste of the Wild. It contains a large range of antioxidant goodness – think vegetables, legumes, and fruits, including sweet potatoes, peas, tomatoes, blueberries, and raspberries - all of which provide nutrients to help support your dog’s overall well-being. Additionally, guaranteed levels of zinc, selenium and vitamin E support the immune system.
With Taste of the Wild you can give your dog or cat the support they need without worrying about any artificial colours or flavours commonly found in many other brands on the market today. We use unique and highly digestible animal proteins, including real venison, salmon, lamb, fowl, or bison and loads of other complete ingredients based on the food sources from your pet’s ancestral diet.
The protein from these meat, fish and fowl sources helps support muscles, organ function, the immune system, healthy skin, and a shiny coat. The result is dog food that helps maintain the sleek condition of good health with a wild taste your pet craves. Plus, it tastes flavourful, wholesome and your pet will love it - so go ahead and indulge them with Taste of the Wild! See our stockists here and find one near you!
