Tag: Food

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How To Select Healthy Pet Food?

Just like human beings our pets also require healthy food for the overall well being of these animals. They also need carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and mineral in their food in order to have good bones, coat and to make them free from infections. There are different varieties of food available in the market which claims to be healthy for pets but, in truth most of them are of low quality. It is necessary to select the food for your pet with utmost care. How will you know if a particular food is good for your pet?

The best way to select healthy food for your pet is to read the list of ingredients provided on the pack. If you have cats or dogs as pets your pet food for dogs and cats should contain animal -derived ingredients of good quality. Avoid getting food which contains low quality fish meal or animal fat. Look for precise ingredients like chicken, chicken heart, liver, cod etc. Moreover the food should not contain any chemical additives which will affect the health of the pet badly.

Go for organic food products which are safer. They do not contain any toxic chemicals which are a part of fertilizers and pesticides which are used to grow crops. These organic foods will be devoid of any hormonal content or antibiotic content used for poultry farming. Organic foods have more nutritional value as they contain vitamins, minerals and other essential elements for the normal functioning of the body of the pets.
The nutrient requirement for different species of animals will be different so, select the food for the pet according to the species you own and the age and weight of the animal. Most of the healthy foods available in the market will specify the type of animal and age of the animal for which that particular product can be used. It is better to select food according to the process used to produce the food. Food made by heating or drying will reduce the nutritive value of the food. It is better to select foods which are de- hydrated or fresh- frozen. Give your pets different varieties of food so that they get a good supply of nutrients. Providing a single type of food will not supply all the necessary nutrients.

You can use trial and error method to find out the best food for your pet. Try different products and find out which combinations are liked by them and give them a healthy look and those which keep them free from diseases. Remember, like humans they also have individual choices when it comes to eating. Food liked by one dog will not be liked by the other. The choice of food may change when they are young and when they grow up. So, it is the duty of the owner to find out the best food which keeps the animal healthy and active. Your veterinary doctor will be able to give you more information regarding the healthy foods for your pet and pet food delivery in your area.

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The Good Side of Processed Food

Processed food includes food stuff that has been altered from its natural condition for safety concerns and also for convenience. Sometimes we think that processed foods are bad but it is just a one big misconception among the people in general and processed food is as good as any other food product. Let’s take an example of milk. It should be called a processed food as it is pasteurized and homogenized. Some prefer to use raw milk and some, in fact most of us prefer its processed form that is available in our grocery shop and self-service stores.

Another very strong point to prove that processed food is not bad is the frozen vegetables. Many of us believe that fresh vegetables are the best but let me inform you that freezing of these vegetables preserves vitamins and minerals which means they are more nutritious than the fresh ones. Fruits and vegetables juices also very healthy processed food as all of them are equipped with extra calcium which makes them even more nutritious. The methods used for processing food include canning, freezing, refrigeration, dehydration and aseptic process. Let’s discuss canning.

Canning is a method to preserve or process food very effectively. This process is done by first packing the processed food in a airtight jars, bottles and pouches and then heating them in a temperature that have the power to abolish harmful and infectious micro-organisms. Because of problems shown by clostridium botulinum and some other pathogens it is always said that the safest method to can any food item is under the conditions of very high heat and pressure. Normally, at the time of canning any processed food the temperature is about 240 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. The most famous canned food products include vegetables, meats, sea foods, poultry and some dairy products. The only food items which can be canned without using high pressure and temperature are the food which are high in acidic content for example pickles and some vegetables to which acids can be added.

The history of canning processed food goes back to 1809 when a French confectioner used the first vacuum jar made of glass. After some time glass jars were replaced by tins and wrought iron canisters [short name cans]. These cans gained instant popularity as these were cheaper, quicker to make and far more flexible and durable than those breakable glass jars. The airtight nature of these cans and tins plays a vital role in keeping it bacteria free and food packed inside. Double seem technique is used and the cans containing double seem are popularly called sanitary cans.

Processed food or so called pre-packed food products are very convenient are even more popular among today’s people. If you buy too much of processed food then make sure that you are always selecting the products that contain less sodium content, no trans-fat at all, more portion of whole grains and most importantly less calories. Always look at the serving size also and prefer eating this processed food with fresh made salads, some whole grain bread and lots of water.