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Power of Food Seminar (transcript sample of audio download)

Typically, people feed their dogs whichever diet (home-prepared raw, cooked diets or commercial foods) that they think is best. It’s only after a dog is diagnosed with a specific disease or displays a problem of some sort that owners change the dog’s diet. At that point they’re addressing an issue whereas I’m hoping to persuade dog owners to focus on prevention. I want to demonstrate the power of foods and nutrients by presenting some facts today.

As some of you know, my belief in proactive nutrition has turned into a passion, if not an obsession. There are several reasons for this, but one of them is that I’ve seen some pretty amazing things with diets for specific cancers. For example, a 13 year old Boxer who lives with a client of mine is cancer-free despite having lost her sire, dam and siblings to cancer years ago. Now, it’s possible that this dog was fortunate enough to draw good genetic cards when she was conceived, but if that’s the case, she was the only one to do so. Her family has cancer victims in it at every turn. So, did diet play a positive role for this cancer-free dog? It can’t be proven, but obviously, her diet didn’t harm. 

I’m hoping that feeding proactively becomes the norm. I could spend the next hour and more sharing a lot of case histories like that Boxer with you, but as interesting as they might be to some of you, most people want to know what they can do for their own dog instead. So let’s get to it!

Although the general population and some doctors may focus on prevention of disease, both human and veterinary medicine have been heavily focused on curative measures, or control of disease. No doubt, there’s a need for cures and control. I’m not suggesting there isn’t. But, what if we could escape manifestation of some diseases, and maybe a disease itself, by giving consideration to what I call a dog’s dietary landscape? To better understand my concept, it’s important I explain what I mean by a landscape.

Every breed of dog has genetic weaknesses. For example, the Golden Retriever, Boxer and Flat Coated Retriever are known to get cancers, the Rottweiler is one of many breeds to suffer from gastrointestinal diseases, and Miniature Schnauzers are one of the breeds that tend to develop calcium oxalate stones. There isn’t a breed in existence that doesn’t carry genetic cards that can manifest at any time. In addition to breed dispositions, individual dogs can have a unique problem not related to the breed per se, but rather to a genetic glitch inherited from the side of the sire or dam. Environmental changes can impact health too. Chemicals and even minerals can affect genes. This is what I’m talking about when I say “dietary landscape”. Look at it as fertile ground in which certain seeds can grow if we plant them. We might be able to avoid the growth of bad seeds by not fertilizing the terrain.

An essay called Cancer Without Disease by Judah Folkman and Raghu Kalluri iscusses the fact that many people have tiny tumors (microscopic colonies of cancer cells) that aren’t discovered until time of autopsy. The authors suggest that our bodies defend most of us against progression of cancer to a lethal stage. Therefore, cancer does exist in people, but not all people are diseased. If you’re asking yourself why that is, you ask a good question.

Genetics play a strong role as do diet and environment. Nobody seems to agree as to which of the three plays the most critical roles, but migration studies may provide a clue about one type of cancer in particular. Researchers have found that the risk of prostate cancer rises among people who move from low-risk countries like China and Japan to high-risk ones like Canada. The more interesting thing is that the children of these immigrants have almost the same chance of developing prostate cancer as the locals. These studies suggest that the environment or lifestyle elements such as diet are more important than genetics. If genetics were a more important factor, Chinese and Japanese Canadians would be at low risk for prostate cancer – but that’s not the case. So, what do we do with this kind of information?

<excerpt>...Angiogenesis is a physiological process involving the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels. Angiogenesis is a normal process in growth and development, as well as in wound healing. However, this is also a fundamental step in the transition of tumors from a dormant state to a malignant state. Cancer needs this process very badly. In fact, many scientists say that if we could stop this process, we could stop cancer in its tracks.
According to research at the University of Minnesota, ginger slowed down cancerous tumor growth in mice by as much as 60%, and angiogenesis was the key. And in people, ginger has been shown to slow down the invasion of liver cancer cells and promote the growth of healthy cells.

 <excerpt>...It seems pretty clear that no single food and no single supplement ever is going to be everybody's cancer cure. Scientists believe that at least 70 per cent of the difference in how the body responds to healing nutrients in food is determined by genetics. Just 30 per cent of the variation in how the body responds to healing nutrients in food is determined by the food itself. But 30 per cent can make the critical difference! And that’s the up side to what I’ve presented so far. 

<excerpt>...Basil is another herb to consider. The fresh version provides its volatile oils which helps deter some nasty bacteria such as certain strains of e.coli and staph. Those of you with dogs that tend to form calcium oxalate stones will be happy to know that basil isn’t known to be high in oxalate.

<excerpt>...Oregano is an amazing herb as well. It not only works as an antioxidant, but the fresh herb has been shown to work as an antibacterial. Oil of oregano is touted as an antibacterial for good reason, but if you’ve ever tasted it, you know why everyone hates the stuff. Some dogs develop a burning mouth and the tissues inflame. I’d much rather use the fresh herb and spare the dog.

Learn much more to help your dog. Listen to the full digital presentation of this seminar here.