Weve discussed how many treats your pet can receive per day and a few human foods that are healthy or harmful for your pet, but Ive seen a few families recently where table scraps or just giving a little bit can add up quite a lot! If youre looking to add a little treat outside your pets meals, need options to give medication or to use as training treats, or are looking for some palatability enhancers to encourage your pet to eat, weve created a larger list of foods that are healthy and relatively low in calories so you can avoid unbalancing your pets diet with too many foods coming from outside their main diet.

How Much is Too Much?

Reminder that your pet should only receive 10% of their daily calories from treats so you dont unbalance their diet! A 10 lb dog or cat has an average daily calorie requirement of 300 calories per day so 10% of that would be a maximum of only 30 calories for treats. For your average 75 lb dog, their average calorie requirements are 1,400 calories per day so that means a maximum of 140 calories for treats. Unsure how much your pet should be getting? Check out this previous post with links to calculators that estimate your pets daily calorie needs, including the maximum number of calories they should be getting from treats.

Food Options and Amounts to Meet 15-20 Calories:

*We strongly recommend weighing these out so you know exactly how much your pet will get and so you dont under or overestimate calories coming from volume measurements!

While these treats may be ok for a healthy pet, these foods may not be appropriate for any pets with a medical condition. Be sure to talk to your veterinarian about appropriate treats if your pet has any medical issues.

Dr. Deborah Linder, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, is the head of the Tufts Obesity Clinic for Animals and has had articles appear in Eating Well, the Boston Globe, AARP, SHAPE, and XM Sirius Radio Doctor Channel. She has spoken at national and international conferences and a Capitol Hillbriefing, and is an expert in pet obesity, nutrition communication, and in the human-animal bond.

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Treat Options for Dogs and Cats Without Unbalancing Their Diet

Type 2 diabetes is a condition that impacts blood sugar control. A person can manage the condition by following a healthful diet and maintaining a healthy body weight. A ketogenic diet is a high-fat, moderate protein, very low-carbohydrate diet that may help some people in supporting blood sugar.

Some people have suggested that this type of diet might help a person with diabetes, but the American Diabetes Association (ADA) do not recommend any single diet over another.

Every person has different dietary needs. Doctors now individualize diet plans based on current eating habits, preferences, and a target weight or blood sugar level for that person.

Foods containing carbohydrates, such as bread, rice, pasta, milk, and fruit, are the main fuel source for many bodily processes. The body uses insulin to help bring glucose from the blood into the cells for energy.

However, in a person with diabetes, insulin is either absent or does not work properly. This disrupts the bodys ability to use carbohydrates effectively and, in turn, causes sugars to be high in the blood.

If a person eats a high-carb meal, this can lead to a spike in blood glucose, especially in a person with diabetes. Diet is important for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Limiting the intake of carbohydrates is the central concept of the keto diet.

Researchers initially developed and continue to recommend the diet for children with epilepsy. However, some reviews maintain that it might also benefit some people with diabetes.

Some research has suggested that following a ketogenic diet might:

In this article, we look at the possible links between the keto diet and diabetes.

The ketogenic diet severely restricts carbohydrates. It forces the body to break down fats for energy. The process of using fat for energy is called ketosis. It produces a fuel source called ketones.

A ketogenic diet may help some people with type 2 diabetes because it allows the body to maintain glucose levels at a low but healthy level.

The lower intake of carbohydrates in the diet can help to eliminate large spikes in blood sugar, reducing the need for insulin.

Studies on ketogenic diets, including research from 2018, have found that they can be helpful in controlling levels of HbA1c. This refers to the amount of glucose traveling with hemoglobin in the blood over about 3 months.

Ketogenic diets may help reduce blood sugar levels. As such, some people with type 2 diabetes who also follow a ketogenic diet may be able to reduce their need for medication.

However, scientists have warned that those following the ketogenic diet alongside an insulin regimen might have a higher risk of developing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

Hypoglycemia occurs when blood sugar levels fall to 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or less.

It is best to discuss any diet changes with your doctor while on medication. Not consuming enough carbohydrates can be dangerous when taking certain medications for diabetes.

The ketogenic diet helps the body burn fat. This is beneficial when a person is trying to lose weight, and it may be helpful for people whose excess weight has influenced the development of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Even light-to-moderate weight loss through diet and exercise might support glycemic control, overall well-being, and energy distribution throughout the day in people who have diabetes,

Research has shown that people undertaking a ketogenic diet show an improvement in blood sugar level management and that some have experienced noticeable weight loss.

The ketogenic diet can lead to a variety of other benefits including:

Ketogenic diets are strict, but they can provide ample nutrition when a person follows them closely and is mindful about meeting nutrient needs.

The idea is to stay away from carbohydrate-rich foods that could spike insulin levels. Typically, the carbohydrate intake on a keto diet ranges from 2050 grams (g) per day.

To follow the keto diet, people should try to develop a diet plan in which 10% of the calories come from carbohydrates, 20% come from protein, and 70% come from fat. However, there are different versions of the diet, and proportions vary depending on the type.

They should avoid processed foods and focus instead on natural foods.

A ketogenic diet should consist of the following types of food:

One problem with this diet is that it can be hard to follow in the long term.

Learn about putting together an effective diabetes meal plan here.

The ketogenic diet may be a viable glucose management option for some people with type 2 diabetes.

As the ketogenic diet involves switching to a different source of energy, it can lead to some adverse effects.

The dietary change might cause symptoms that resemble withdrawal from a substance, such as caffeine.

These symptoms may include:

In most instances, the side effects are temporary. People often experience no long-term health problems.

Long-term effects might include the development of kidney stones and an increased risk of bone fractures due to acidosis.

Other complications include the risk of dyslipidemia and a possible increase in hypoglycemic episodes.

Some animal studies have suggested that, since a low-carb diet often involves additional fat, there might be a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), due to a buildup of fats in the arteries. People with diabetes already have an increased risk of CVD.

Children may also experience stunted growth, due to reduced levels of an insulin-like growth factor that can lead to bone erosion. This can mean weak bones that are highly susceptible to fractures when a person follows the keto diet.

There is a lack of evidence about the long-term safety and effectiveness of the keto diet, and researchers have called for more primary studies and more evidence before recommending this diet.

The ketogenic diet is one of many eating plans that might help people manage their weight.

However, a majority of health professionals do not recommend the keto diet for managing diabetes.

There are many other nutrient-dense diets available that aim to balance carbohydrate, protein, and fat intake, control body weight, and keep blood sugar within a healthful range.

Many of these boast measurable benefits for people with diabetes.

Read about the Atkins diet here.

Critics of the ketogenic diet focus on the adverse effects, including the possibility of kidney damage, CVD, and hypoglycemic episodes.

Maintaining this type of diet can also be difficult on a long-term basis, as it is highly restrictive.

This may lead to weight gain later on, particularly if an individual starts to eat unbalanced levels of carbohydrates once they switch back to a regular diet.

Critics also note that there is no evidence to support the long-term benefits of the keto diet.

Health authorities in the United States do not recommend the keto diet as a way to manage diabetes.

It may be better for people to focus on:

A doctor or dietitian can help an individual choose the plan that best fits their lifestyle. People should find a diet that works for them and makes them feel good.

Discover more resources for living with type 2 diabetes by downloading the free T2D Healthline app. It provides access to expert content on type 2 diabetes and peer support through one-on-one conversations and live group discussions. Download the app for iPhone or Android.

Read this article in Spanish.

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Ketogenic diet for type 2 diabetes: Side effects, benefits, and alter

Wondering what is the 80/20 rule diet? If you've ever wanted to lose a little weight or even just improve your diet, you've probably tried plenty of fad diets. Of course, most fad diets end up being too restrictive or too prescriptive and the vast majority of people give them up within a month or two. But there is one diet that isn't quite so intensive. Unlike a lot of other trending diets, this diet is all about finding balance.

Well, this diet revolves around eating 80% "healthy" food and 20% "cheat" food. Unlike other diets, this diet doesn't require you to give up all junk food or to do without entire food groups. Instead, it's about being easy on yourself and finding a diet plan that you can sustain. You can even use it alongside the best protein powders for weight loss for extra benefits.

Ready to give it a try for yourself? Read on to find out: what is the 80/20 rule diet and how can you implement it in a safe, healthy way.

Edibel Quintero graduated as a medical doctor in 2013 from the University of Zulia and has been working in her profession since then. Her focus as a doctor lies in obesity and nutrition, physical rehabilitation, sports massage and post-operative rehabilitation. Edibels goal is to help people live healthier lives by educating them about food, exercise, mental wellness and other lifestyle choices that can improve their quality of life.

Dr Shyamala Vishnumohan is a private-practise dietitian/nutritionist and Mum with a passion for evidence-based pregnancy nutrition. She holds a PhD in Food and Nutrition from The University of New South Wales, Sydney and has spent more than 15 years in the area of Nutrition researching plant-based foods and isolated nutrients (Folic acid) and their bioavailability (how much body can absorb).

"The 80/20 rule states that you should get 80% of your daily calories from a healthy, nutritious diet and leave the remaining 20% for your favorite 'cheat meal' or dessert," explains Edibel Quintero (opens in new tab), registered dietician & medical content writer. "It is a very rational and easy-to-apply nutritional system that allows you to enjoy food that may be considered unhealthy without any guilt. In other words, it helps you have a healthier relationship with food, as you don't restrict yourself too much and allow yourself to eat whatever you want."

So, what exactly does that look like in the real world? "Lets do the calculations," says Dr Shyamala Vishnumohan (opens in new tab), PhD, qualified Nutrition Scientist and founder of One to One Thousand Nutrition Clinic. "Eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a week equals 21 meals, so 80 percent would be roughly 17 healthy meals. That leaves you with 4 meals to indulge."

What's wonderful about the 80/20 rule is that it prioritizes filling your diet with healthy foods before you add less healthy foods into your diet. This way, you'll always get the nutrients you need first, before getting those tasty treats that we all crave from time to time.

If your goal is weight loss, the 80/20 rule may help you to lose weight safely and at a healthy pace.

"If you follow the 80/20 rule, you can definitely lose weight or keep it off if you don't exceed your daily caloric intake," Quintero says. "Otherwise, even if you were to eat 100% only healthy foods but in gigantic portions all the time, you will not avoid weight gain."

Vishnumohan also adds that this is a good diet to choose if you want to lose weight in a gentle way that doesn't involve guilt about what you're eating. "I love the fact that this diet is less restrictive and can help you to get rid of the 'guilt' when you treat yourself with a piece of cake," Vishnumohan says. "This is a good thing as feeling less guilty can actually encourage you to sustain the diet in the long run."

She adds, "Also when you prioritize nourishing foods, there is automatically less room for not so healthy foods." One 2014 study (opens in new tab), Vishnumohan notes, even shows how removing feelings of guilt around certain foods can support long term weight loss.

(Image credit: Getty)

So, on a practical level, what should you eat if you are following the 80/20 rule diet and what "healthy" foods are suitable for the 80% part? Well, there aren't any strict guidelines.

"There are no set rules for what you eat for the 80 part," Vishnumohan says. "Start with whole foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, healthy fats, legumes."

If you ensure that 80% of your meals are filled with fresh, unprocessed foods that don't contain too much salt, fat or sugar, chances are, you'll be on the right track.

While the 80/20 rule diet offers balance, it isn't always as easy as it sounds. "In theory, the 80/20 diet sounds simplistic, however you must be organized and dedicate time for meal prep," Vishnumohan warns. "The 80/20 rule may not suit someone who needs to follow a heart healthy diet or manage blood sugar levels as you may need stricter control around saturated fat and processed sugars. Talk to a qualified dietitian to see whether this diet will suit you."

If this diet doesn't suit you or becomes too time consuming, there are other healthy ways to improve your diet without following any fad diets at all. "Instead of classifying food as healthy and unhealthy or good and bad, tune into your hunger and fullness cues and make small sustainable changes," she suggests.

Other ways to build a healthier diet without going on a strict diet include:

Like most diets, the 80/20 rule diet has both pros and cons. While it does offer balance and longevity and it isn't quite as restrictive as some fad diets, it can take up a lot of time and energy.

We recommend chatting with your doctor or nutritionist before trying any new diets to make sure your new plan is safe and healthy.

If you have time to read up some more on healthy eating we have the answers to; why does your weight fluctuate so much? And should you eat before bed?

Today's best deals on protein powders for weight loss

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What is the 80/20 rule diet? - Fit and Well

LEADING pet food company Bella & Duke is amongst the first to receive new RawSAFE food accreditation that focuses on the best and safest possible food for our pets.

The new accreditation highlights the quality processes undertaken at Bella & Dukes factory in Inverkeithing, creating mealsdeveloped with nutritionists to ensure pets are happy and healthy.

Pet owners who choose a product with the RawSAFE label can be reassured that it has been manufactured to the highest safety standards.

Food safety has always been one of the primary concerns of the veterinary profession and raw meat industry. After years of poor regulations around pet food manufacturing, RawSAFE was born to create a set of robust standards for raw meat-based diets for pets, with the standards based on those in human food manufacturing.

Dr Brendan Clarke from RawSAFE Directors added: We know from our own clients in our practices that many pet owners who choose to feed a raw diet have difficulties talking to their veterinary teams about anything to do with food. Their vets need to have reliable sources of information to feel confident about their patients diet. Now that the RawSAFE accreditation is available to reassure veterinary professionals about the high standards of manufacturing and the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society is available to provide science-based assessment of species appropriate raw feeding, pet owners can direct their vets to these resources if they express concern.

Tony Ottley, Director of Bella & Duke, said: As the raw food market, and pet owners demand for the highest quality food continues to grow it is incredibly important that manufacturers like us are also challenged to produce to the highest standards. Were committed to our customers and assuring them they are choosing the best quality food available.

We wouldnt eat anything that wasnt produced in hygienic and safe conditions and our pets shouldnt be any different. At Bella & Duke, we have invested heavily in our factory, and with a number of processes in place our customers can be confident their dogs and cats will be safely fed. We want what is best for our pets, so would urge all companies to understand the requirements for this accreditation and meeting theappropriate standards.

Here are five top tips from Dr Brendan Clarke, Bella & Duke Chief Veterinary Adviser, on how to handle your pets raw food safely at home;

You can find out more about Bella & Duke, visit:www.bellaandduke.com

For more information on RawSAFE and the new accreditation, visit: https://rawsafe.com/

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Bella & Duke amongst the first to receive new RawSAFE food accreditation - Scottish Business News

Above, Baron named for the team eventually came about after the Barons donated the soil, called pitchers clay.

By Anne Ruisi

You could say the Birmingham Barons directed the stork to the Birmingham Zoos American flamingo exhibit earlier this summer when, for the first time, two baby flamingos were hatched.

Thats because soil from the pitchers mound at the Barons home stadium at Regions Field persuaded the future parents to build nests and hatch their babies, called flaminglets.

Its a big deal for us because its the first time theyve hatched. Not everyones flamingos will hatch, Hollie Colahan, the zoos deputy director, said. You have to have everything right for them.

Everything right means happy, healthy birds and the exact type of soil composition that will inspire flamingos to build nests.

The little birds, Pinecone and Baron named for the team eventually came about after the Barons donated the soil, called pitchers clay, when the pitchers mound was switched out with new soil, said Jennifer Ogilvie, the zoos marketing and public relations manager.

Pitchers clay is a combination of clay and sand. After the soil was taken in, the birds did the rest, including building the nest and making sure it was nice and wet so they could manipulate it to get it just right. The nests can be up to 2 feet tall but are worn down a bit since the chicks were hatched about seven weeks ago, said Kristen Eversole, a zoo birdkeeper who works with the flamingos.

While they are now on the same special diet as the adult flamingos, at first the parents dribbled crop milk into their mouths to feed them, Eversole said.

The parents are very involved, Eversole said. Pinecones parents took good care of him, but Barons parents rejected him at five days.

While zoo staff doesnt know why he was rejected, Baron had to be hand fed by zoo staff and is the more outgoing of the two. Hes a noisy little bird who chirps loudly and constantly around people because if he sees a human, he thinks hes going to get food, Eversole said.

Baron weighs about 4.4 pounds, and Pinecone is about 3.3 pounds, she said.

Seen from a distance on a recent sweltering afternoon, the 19 flamingos at the Birmingham Zoo stand so still in their classic one-legged stance that they almost appear to be yard decorations.

The cute little balls of gray fluff making their way on stick-like legs through the tall green grass of the exhibit trigger movement by the adults, who leisurely strut about their enclosure as the little birds rush to the fence to greet visitors.

While it takes about a year for a baby flamingos soft gray down to molt into the beautiful pink and coral feathers that make a flamingo so distinctive, the process is beginning on these little ones. Eversole extends one of Barons wings a bit and shows how hes starting to get his pink, coral and white flight feathers. The underside edge of the wing is black, just as it is in the adults.

Flamingos can fly, but the zoo trims the birds wings so they dont take off. If there is a strong wind and they hop the fence, the birds want to return to the enclosure because they are flock animals, Eversole said.

We gently bring them back if they need some help, she said.

During the day Pinecone and Baron roam the flamingo exhibit, which has an island where their nests were built and a large pond. At night the little ones are safely tucked into the flamingo building.

There are still (wild) hawks, raptor and mink that roam the area, Eversole said.

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This Nest is Just Right: Fuzzy Gray Flaminglets Are the First Flamingos Hatched at the Birmingham Zoo - Over the Mountain Journal

SAN DIEGO (PRWEB) August 23, 2022

A recently published peer-reviewed study in Natures Scientific Reports revealed that an emerging essential fatty acid, called C15:0, is used by our bodies to make the second-ever discovered full-acting endocannabinoid.

Endocannabinoids have been touted as the holy grail to health due to their numerous health benefits, including reducing inflammation, controlling pain, lowering anxiety, improving sleep, and supporting cognition and brain health.

The scientific world has been actively searching for molecules within our bodies that naturally regulate the endocannabinoid system, said Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson, the studys lead author and co-founder and CEO of Seraphina Therapeutics. The discovery of pentadecanoylcarnitine as the worlds second full-acting endocannabinoid opens an exciting new path to broadly and safely supporting both physical and mental health.

In this groundbreaking study funded by the Office of Naval Research, pentadecanoylcarnitine (PDC) was identified as a key molecule that is made within our bodies cells by combining C15:0 with carnitine. When tested for potential therapeutic activities, it was discovered that PDC fully activated CB1 and CB2 receptors that are present in the human endocannabinoid system.

An endocannabinoid is a molecule that is naturally intended to activate CB1 and CB2 receptors and is endogenous, which means it is made by our body. This is different from exogenous cannabinoids, like cannabis, which are put into our body and can artificially trick our CB1 or CB2 receptors.

Prior to this discovery, only one endocannabinoid, called 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), had been known to fully target both CB1 and CB2 receptors. 2-AG is made using an omega-6 fatty acid called arachidonic acid. As a key limitation, however, 2-AG is rapidly metabolized and has a very short half-life. While Venn-Watsons paper suggests that PDC is a more stable and longer lasting metabolite, more studies are needed.

In addition to showing that a diet higher in C15:0 results in raised PDC levels, the current study demonstrated that PDC has direct, broad, and dose-dependent beneficial effects on multiple human cell-systems mimicking various disease states. PDC effectively lowered ten pro-inflammatory cytokines in systems relevant to inflammatory, autoimmune, cardiovascular, neoplastic, pulmonary, and skin diseases.

Given our growing understanding of C15:0 as an essential fatty acid, it makes perfect sense that C15:0 is used to make active and beneficial metabolites in our bodies, said Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson. The understanding that we can increase our PDC levels by increasing our C15:0 intake provides a tangible path to better health.

Venn-Watsons team had previously discovered C15:0 as the first essential fatty acid to be found in 90 years, which was published during May 2020 in Natures Scientific Reports. Since then, over 30 peer-reviewed studies have been published from institutions around the world linking higher C15:0 to lower risks of multiple chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, heart failure, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. At least two studies have associated higher circulating C15:0 to longer lifespan, and a second team corroborated odd-chain saturated fatty acids, including C15:0, as essential fatty acids.

The surprising discovery of C15:0 as an essential fatty acid, which was made while Venn-Watson was studying how to continually improve the health and welfare of aging Navy dolphins, was recently featured as a TEDx San Diego talk and as a Fast Company World Changing Idea. The dolphins were the first to teach us that C15:0 is a healthy nutrient in an all-fish diet, more so than omega-3s, said Venn-Watson. We now have dolphins to thank for this latest discovery, which is gearing up to be a game-changer to help people lower anxiety, improve sleep, and manage pain.

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About Seraphina Therapeutics. Inc.Seraphina Therapeutics, Inc. is a health and wellness company dedicated to advancing global health through the discovery of essential fatty acids and micronutrient therapeutics. Through rigorous breakthrough science, the company develops pure and essential nutrients to support cellular health and counter age-related breakdown. With its team of industry-leading scientists, Seraphina Therapeutics challenges long-held approaches to nutrition, enabling the creation of novel health products designed to support quality of life. The company is a spinout of Epitracker, Inc., headquartered in San Diego. For more information, please visit seraphinatherapeutics.com and fatty15.com.

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Groundbreaking Study Finds C15:0, an Emerging Essential Fatty Acid, is Key to Unlocking the Second-Ever Discovered Full-Acting Endogenous Cannabinoid...