One of the dietary choices we have been hearing a great deal about lately is nutraceutical nutrition, one of the best solutions when animals have health problems. Let’s see what nutraceutical foods and supplements are and how they work.
What they are
The term “nutraceutical” derives from the combination of two common words, “nutrition” and “pharmaceutical”. This means that the category includes all those dietary solutions aimed at addressing a range of conditions and diseases through substances that can act with the same effectiveness as a drug.
In short, when we give a dog or cat a nutraceutical remedy, we are simply ensuring its well-being and health starting from the gut.
In our everyday lives, too, we can find many nutraceutical remedies, such as probiotics, Omega-3 supplements, antioxidants and vitamins, as well as certain herbal and phytotherapeutic remedies.
Nutraceutical lines for animals usually include both special feeds and supplements in tablets or palatable pastes, to be used together or separately.
The characteristic of these products is that they provide not only the essential nutrients for the body’s health, but also a range of natural substances or supplements capable of alleviating or resolving a large number of disorders and diseases.
How they work
Nutraceutical foods and supplements contain ingredients with specific and targeted properties for the problem they are intended to address.
As far as herbal remedies are concerned, many nutraceutical products contain plants that are beneficial to the body, for example:
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Echinacea: to strengthen the immune system;
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Lemon balm, linden and hawthorn: to reduce tension, anxiety or aggression;
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Milk thistle: for a beautiful coat and liver health;
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Aloe vera: a miraculous plant with countless beneficial properties;
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Pomegranate: counteracts inflammation and tumors thanks to its antioxidant properties;
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Turmeric: a powerful natural anti-inflammatory.
At the same time, nutraceuticals also include a range of “natural” active ingredients, meaning substances normally found in most foods and even within our own bodies. These include:
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Omega-3 and Omega-6: their ratio should always be 1:1, or at most 1:2, to avoid causing serious dysfunctions in the body;
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Tryptophan: serotonin, an important molecule that ensures proper nervous-system function and keeps mood elevated, is derived from this amino acid;
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Vitamins: they should never be missing from our animals’ daily diet. In particular, vitamins A and B are especially essential for cats. Some nutraceutical foods and supplements contain natural extracts rich in vitamins, such as brewer’s yeast, which contains many B vitamins;
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Probiotics: these are the classic lactic ferments, whose supplementation may be useful in the presence of gastrointestinal disorders.
Nutraceutical foods
Some pet-food companies have developed a wide range of nutraceutical feeds specifically for many problems affecting dogs and cats.
Thanks to the phytotherapeutic remedies and supplements they contain, it is possible to alleviate or resolve a large number of conditions, such as dermatitis and joint problems, to detoxify the body, address gastrointestinal disorders and many other issues.
Furthermore, the importance of nutraceutical foods in relation to food intolerances must also be considered. This problem is increasingly widespread among our animals, so more and more owners are asking for a specific solution to help dogs and cats.
Some feeds combine the benefits of monoprotein foods with those of nutraceutical nutrition. This makes it possible to identify the food source to which the animal is allergic or intolerant, while at the same time helping to reduce inflammation in the digestive system and throughout the body, which has developed day after day.
If you are interested in learning more about nutraceutical foods, ask your veterinarian for advice. They can point you toward the ideal feed or supplement for your four-legged friend.