Part Seven: Pets & Other Animals; Summary

Every cell in every organism has an innate (genetic) program for building health. This program can do its work properly only if given the tools - optimum quantities of essential nutrients - required to do its job. These tools are the essential nutrients. Without them, even the best genes cannot build healthy cells.

In animals, we have seen improvements similar to those described above for humans. But there are some differences. One of the most important is that animals need less oil than humans. While humans need 15 to 20% of calories as EFA-rich oils, dogs and cats need less than 10%, and horses' diet (grass) contains less than 5% of calories from EFA-rich oils..

	Some guidelines for how much EFA-rich oil animals should get are given below:
	Dogs get 0.5 to 3 tsp. ( 2-14 g; 1/12-1/2 ounce ) of oil each day
	Cats get a few drops to 1/2 tsp. ( up to 2 g; 1/12 ounce )
	Horses get 2-12 Tbsp ( 28-168 g; 1-6 ounces ) per day

For animals, we also developed a set of organic-based, human-edible quality product containing whole foods, food concentrates, and extracts for addition to the normal foods given to dogs, cats, and horses. This product supplies fiber, protein, and EFAs, with additional minerals, vitamins, enzymes, friendly bacteria, anti-oxidants, and phytonutrients-all that was present in nature, but is supplied inadequately in commercial animal foods because of the way these foods must be processed.

These are added to the regular food of animals:

• 1 tsp to 3 Tbsp for dogs
• 1/2 to 2 tsp for a cat
• 1/3 to 2 cups for a horse

Owners report improvements in many degenerative conditions. Just by improving (optimizing) the animals' nutrient intake, using nutrient-rich whole foods.

Our work with animals comes, not from studying their diseases, but from knowing health. Studying zoology, biochemistry, genetics, and nutrition, I learned how normal (healthy) rather than abnormal (sick) cells work. I paid much less attention to sickness than to health.

The wisdom of this approach is borne out by its results. Enriching diets with essential nutrients from nature enables cells to fix their defects or recycle damaged ones, and return to normal functions.

This health approach is powerful. If we know the components of health (essential nutrients), and design a program containing these components of health in optimum quantities, the animals cure themselves. We need no definition of disease for this.

The work with animals is important because they do not respond to placebo effects. With them, what you see is what you get. Results with EFAs and nutrient-rich foods in animals cannot be written off as artifacts of a healer's personality.

SUMMARY

Understanding fats and oils begins with the understanding that there are two stories: There are fats that kill, and fats that heal. We should avoid the first, and make sure we get the second. We should not use low fat diets, but should aim for the "Right Fat Diet(tm)", which contains the EFAs we need for our cells to function.

EFA-rich oils have to be treated with care, because they are easily destroyed by light, oxygen (air), and high temperature. Processing-hydrogenation, frying, and deodorization damages good oils and makes them toxic to health.

For optimum health, EFAs should be accompanied by other essential nutrients-greens, fiber, enzymes, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, anti-oxidants and phytonutrients. If these are not present, EFAs won't work as well, and can even do damage.

If you want the whole story on fats, pick up a copy of FATS THAT HEAL FATS THAT KILL. With the limited time I've had here, I have only been able to whet your appetite. The book also explores the nature of health, the biological basis of natural therapies, natural treatments for degenerative diseases, and more. Find it in book stores and health food stores. If you can't find it, call 1-800-446-2110.

Good luck with your quest for health!

 

Udo Erasmus has worked in nutrition for a very long time, specializing in the area of fats and health for the last 19 years. He earned a B.Sc. in Zoology, an Ma. in Counseling Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Nutrition.

He completed 2 years of graduate work in genetics and biochemistry. He authored the book FATS THAT HEAL FATS THAT KILL, developed machinery for pressing oils with health in mind, pioneered flax oil production and education, developed manufacturing methods for making health-supporting products, and developed several nutrient formulations that improve human and animal health.

He consults extensively with individuals and industry on issues of health and nutrition.

(end of 7-part article)