Ten Superfoods For You And Your Dog To Share

One of our families New Years resolutions is to eat healthier. Not just us humans, but we want the chi's to eat healthier too. Along with making sure they get a good quality kibble in their bowl to munch on throughout the day, they also get a home-cooked fresh meal daily. Here's a great list of super-nutritious, vitamin-packed foods that are good for both you and your dog (in no particular order).

1. Apples are a great source of vitamin k, vitamin c, calcium, and fiber. They clean teeth and freshen breath. They are also easy to find all year long! Just remember to remove all the seeds and the stem before eating or feeding.

2. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene and vitamin a. They promote healthy vision, are low in fat, high in fiber, and are a great weight-loss helper. *Dogs have a hard time digesting raw carrots, so steam or cook lightly, or shred before feeding.

3. Chia Seeds are a great source of iron, magnesium, calcium, zinc, and fiber; plus contain three times the amount of omega-3 fatty acids as salmon! They have no taste or odor, so are easy to add into any meal. Give 1/8 teaspoon for every 10 pounds of your dogs weight.

4. Cranberries are rich in vitamin a, vitamin b1, vitamin b2, vitamin c, plus minerals and antioxidants including manganese and fiber. They fight cancer and support the heart, and promote a healthy urinary tract. *Make sure to avoid cranberry with added sugar.

5. Pumpkin is rich in carotenoids, beta carotene, alpha-carotene, zinc, iron, vitamin a, and potassium. They are low in fat, high in fiber, and excellent for fixing up most digestive issues (including constipation and diarrhea).

6. Sweet Potatoes are a great source of antioxidants, vitamin a, vitamin c, vitamin b6, manganese, copper, iron, and dietary fiber. Bake or cook them for a meal, or dehydrate slices of sweet potato to make a nice dog chew!

7. Flax Seeds are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, are great for skin and coats, boost immune systems, protect against cancer and heart disease, and aide arthritis and joint problems. They are tasteless so are also easy to add into any meal. *Store flax seeds in a cool, dark place in an air-tight container to keep fresh.

8. Kale is high in beta carotene, vitamin k, vitamin c, carotenoid, vitamin e, vitamin a, fiber, and calcium. Kale can lower cholesterol, detox your body and liver, is low in calories, fights cancer, supports your immune system, protects your eyes from harmful light, promotes normal blood clotting, is an antioxidant, supports bone health, and promotes healthy digestion and elimination.

9. Squash is a good source of beta carotene, vitamin a, vitamin c, magnesium, fiber, potassium, and carotenoids. They are low in calories, promote eyesight, support the digestive system, and protect against heart disease. *Make sure to remove seeds before eating or feeding.

10. Cinnamon (specifically Ceylon or Cinnamomum verum) reduces LDL cholesterol, improves cognitive function, regulates blood sugar, has anti-clotting effects, improves brain function and health, boosts energy, and assists in digesting dairy products. It helps with flatulence, menstrual cramps, nausea, and diarrhea. Cinnamon is also antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fungal.

Please note that I am not a veterinarian or a doctor. The information provided in this post is from my own findings by doing research about improving my own as well as my dogs' health.