IF YOU’RE NOT FEEDING TURMERIC TO YOUR DOG OR CAT, YOUR PET IS MISSING OUT BIG TIME!
There are literally thousands of studies that show turmeric has some serious health-improving benefits for the body!
But before you get overly excited to spice up your pet’s life - wait a minute! To unlock the full array of the incredible benefits that turmeric has to offer, you must add other ingredients to it!
In this blog, we’ll tell you more about the 4 most amazing benefits of turmeric, and of course, we’re going to tell you exactly how to feed the turmeric so that your pet gets the maximum benefits from it.
Bonus Alert: FREE DIY Golden Paste recipe PLUS feeding instructions!
Article At a Glance
1. What is Turmeric? Is Turmeric Safe for Dogs & Cats? |
2. Four Reasons Every Pet Parent Should Feed Turmeric |
3. The Best Way to Feed Turmeric. (Don't feed before you read this) |
4. FREE DIY Golden Paste Recipe for Dogs and Cats |
WHAT IS TURMERIC? IS TURMERIC SAFE FOR DOGS & CATS?
Yes! Turmeric is safe for dogs and cats!
Turmeric is a spice that comes from the root of the Curcuma longa plant. It’s also a part of the ginger family and has been used as a spice and medicinal herb in India for thousands of years.
The most important compound found within Turmeric is called Curcumin.
When we read about the health benefits of turmeric, there’s a high chance we’re going to be hearing a lot about Curcumin. Curcumin has been shown to help fight and prevent cancer and contains powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial properties.
There are so many incredible reasons you’ll want to be feeding turmeric to your pet, but you have to feed it correctly in order for your pet to get the most benefits!
4 REASONS EVERY PET PARENT SHOULD FEED TURMERIC
1. TURMERIC IS AN ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
Inflammation is a natural occurrence in the body. Short-term inflammation is actually beneficial as it is responsible for fighting foreign invaders and plays an important role when it comes to repairing damage within the body.
Chronic inflammation, however, is incredibly concerning when it begins to attack the body’s own tissues. Chronic inflammation has been found to be a major contributor to many diseases that are common in our pets, such as arthritis, cancer, and more. (1)
Turmeric has been used for centuries to fight inflammation, but the majority of turmeric’s inflammation-fighting powers can be accredited to one of the compounds found in turmeric, called Curcumin. In fact, according to a study, when Curcumin is given at the right dose, it may even be more effective than common inflammation-fighting medications like Advil (Ibuprofen) & Aspirin. (2)
In other words, in the right dose, Curcumin can be more effective than medication that is specifically designed to help reduce inflammation.
Since chronic inflammation can contribute to many chronic diseases, a study shows curcumin may help to address many health concerns such as inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, and arthritis. (3)
2. TURMERIC MAY LOWER THE RISK OF HEART DISEASE
Several studies show that Curcumin can lead to improvement in heart health. (4,5)
A study shows Curcumin can help to improve endothelial function, which is the health of a thin membrane that covers the inside of the heart and blood vessels. This is particularly important because it plays a key role in regulating blood pressure. (6)
Endothelial dysfunction is a major contributor to heart disease and low endothelial function can be associated with aging and an increased risk of heart disease. This means Curcumin may help protect against age-related loss of function as well as the development of heart disease.
3. TURMERIC MAY HELP TO PREVENT CERTAIN CANCER
There are different cancers that appear to be positively affected by Curcumin supplements, such as pancreatic, lung, ovarian, oral, colorectal, and breast carcinoma. (7)
A study done on mice indicates that curcumin may help slow the spread of tumor cells and may even prevent tumors from developing altogether. (8)
Studies have shown Curcumin can contribute to the death of cancer cells, reduce angiogenesis (growth of new blood vessels in tumors), and reduce the metastasis (spread of cancer). (9,10)
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association in 2018, almost half of dogs over the age of 10 will develop cancer. (11)
Including turmeric into your dog’s diet is a great way to proactively help prevent cancer in your dog.
4. TURMERIC SUPPORTS PETS WITH ARTHRITIS AND JOINT CONCERNS
Thanks to the incredibly high levels of anti-inflammatory properties, Curcumin has been found to be a safe, non-toxic, and effective treatment option for humans with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Several studies also suggest that Curcumin may provide relief in people with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other inflammatory arthritic conditions. (12,13,14)
One study done on people with rheumatoid arthritis even showed that Curcumin was more effective than an anti-inflammatory drug. (15)
These studies are great news for our pets that may have symptoms of arthritis already, and pets that are more prone to joint issues.
CAUTION! DO NOT FEED TURMERIC TO YOUR PET UNTIL YOU READ THIS!
WHATS THE BEST WAY TO FEED TURMERIC TO DOGS AND CATS?
In order for your pet to receive the FULL benefits of turmeric, you will have to feed the turmeric alongside 2 other ingredients - a healthy fat such as coconut oil, and black pepper!
As mentioned, turmeric contains the bioactive compound curcumin, and curcumin is super beneficial for the body… But the curcumin content in turmeric only makes up around 3% of turmeric by weight!
The truth is, it’s very difficult to reach therapeutic levels when using turmeric as a spice only. Additionally, curcumin is also poorly absorbed within the bloodstream. In order for your pet to take advantage of the full benefits of Curcumin and increase the bioavailability of this compound, it needs to be mixed with piperine. Piperine is a natural substance that has been found to increase the absorption rate of curcumin by 2,000%. (16)
Grounded black pepper contains a great source of piperine. Curcumin is also fat-soluble, which means it breaks down and dissolves in fat or oil. You’ll want to get Curcumin teamed up with soluble fat and piperine if you’re planning on getting your dog or cat to reap the maximum benefits of curcumin.
FREE DIY GOLDEN PASTE RECIPE FOR DOGS & CATS
Ingredients:
- ½ cup organic turmeric powder
- 1 - 1 ½ cups of filtered or spring water
- ¼ cup of organic MCT oil or coconut oil
- 1 ½ teaspoon freshly grounded organic black pepper
- *For maximum benefits, you’ll want to use organic ingredients.
Directions:
- Mix the turmeric powder with 1 cup of water in a pan.
- Stir the mixture on low to medium heat for about 7 to 10 minutes. This should form a thick paste.
- If the paste is too thick, add a little more water.
- If the paste seems too watery, add a little more turmeric powder and heat it for another couple of minutes.
- Once the paste has thickened, add the grounded black pepper and oil and stir thoroughly.
- Let the mixture cool down.
- Place the golden paste in a covered jar and store it in the fridge. It’ll be good for 2-3 weeks in the fridge.
HOW MUCH GOLDEN PASTE CAN I FEED TO MY DOG?
You can add golden paste directly to your dog’s meal or mix it in with some kefir.
Here’s how much you can give to your dog:
-
½ tsp per 10 kg body weight per day
- If your dog is new to golden paste, you’ll want to start with a smaller dose and gradually increase.
- For maximum benefits of golden paste, you’ll want to split the recommended dose throughout the day as curcumin leaves the body quickly
Here’s some friendly advice… Turmeric will stain everything that it comes into contact with, your hands, cutting boards, mixer, countertops, EVERYTHING. So this is something you’ll want to be mindful of.
CONCLUSION
Turmeric has been found to be helpful in fighting diseases such as arthritis, heart disease, Alzheimer's, cancer, and so much more, which is why this incredible spice should be included in every pet’s diet.
BUT you do have to mix it with black pepper and a healthy fat like coconut oil in order for your pet to receive the full array of benefits.
What are you waiting for? Start adding Golden Paste to your pet's diet!