Organic food is produced without the use of artificial pesticides, antibiotics, synthetic fertilizers and is hormone free. We feel this is very important when baking our pet treats because it helps reduce the toxins and chemicals that are ingested. Most research shows that a more wholesome and pure diet will make you less likely to have health problems that are linked to chemical toxins. Organic foods also tend to have a larger amount of beneficial vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and antioxidants.  So we have listed below the main ingredients in our organic dog treats to help you understand the benefits in more detail.

Oats provide nutrients, fiber and beneficial phytochemicals to your diet. We use these nutritional components in our dog treats to provide a wide range of health benefits including lowered cholesterol, and a reduced risk of diabetes, heart disease and some forms of cancer. Our oat-based dog biscuits contain both insoluble and soluble fiber. Foods with insoluble fiber help with digestion and prevent constipation. Foods high in soluble fiber may help reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Since our rolled oats contain both types of fiber, you get the benefits associated with both types. Studies have found that the soluble fiber beta-glucan, which is unique to oats, is associated with a 5 percent reduction in total cholesterol and a 7 percent reduction in LDL cholesterol, the type associated with heart disease. The fiber from oats has been shown to improve the metabolism of glucose and provides a more favorable insulin response than the fiber from other grains. Better glucose metabolism and insulin response may reduce the risk of diabetes and help prevent obesity. The list of benefits goes much farther, but this is a good introduction as to why we prefer rolled oats in our premium dog snacks.

Bananas reduce inflammation and swelling and also can protect against type II diabetes. They can aid in maintaining a healthy weight, strengthen the nervous system, and help with the production of white blood cells. This is due to high levels of vitamin B-6. The iron content can strengthen the blood and relieve anemia. Low in salt and high in potassium makes bananas officially recognized by the FDA as being able to lower blood pressure and protect against heart attack and stroke. Pectin is a great component of bananas because it aids digestion and gently removes toxins and heavy metals from the body. We use bananas in our dog snack recipe because it acts as a prebiotic, meaning that it stimulates the growth of friendly bacteria in the bowel. They are also a great ingredient in pet treats because bananas produce digestive enzymes to assist in absorbing nutrients. Bananas act in two ways when bowel troubles arise.  The high fiber can help normalize bowel motility and they are also soothing to the digestive tract by restoring lost electrolytes after diarrhea. Active dogs may run, play and eat within moments of each other. Since bananas are a natural antacid, they can provide relief from acid reflux, heartburn and GERD that might be exaggerated during physical activity. Research has shown that eating bananas helps prevent kidney cancer, protects the eyes against macular degeneration and builds strong bones by increasing calcium absorption. They are also high in antioxidants, providing free radical protection and defense from chronic disease.

We love including blueberries in our dog treats because it has one of the highest antioxidant capacities among all fruits, vegetables, spices and seasonings. This is important because antioxidants are essential in optimizing health by helping to combat the free radicals that can damage cells and DNA. We specifically select organic blueberries for our dog biscuits because a recent study has shown that organically grown blueberries turned out to have significantly higher concentrations of antioxidants than conventionally grown blueberries. Given the wide variety of antioxidant nutrients present in blueberries, it is not surprising to find research studies showing improved antioxidant defenses in body systems that need special protection from stress, like the cardiovascular system. But what is surprising about the blueberry research is that it has a whole body relevance. It is not only the cardiovascular system that has been shown to have strengthened antioxidant status, but virtually every body system studied. For example, there is new evidence that damage to muscles following overly exhausting exercise can be reduced through consumption of blueberries. There is also evidence that protection of the nervous system from oxidative stress can be accomplished by regular consumption of blueberries. These antioxidant-based protective effects have been shown in older adult dogs at risk of neurodegenerative diseases, as well as in younger healthy dogs and middle-aged obese dogs. Antioxidant protection of the blood sugar regulatory system has also been demonstrated in blueberry intake studies, as has antioxidant protection of the digestive tract (especially with respect to the colon and its risk of cancer). It's this whole body antioxidant support that helps blueberries stand out as an amazing antioxidant fruit. There's no wonder why we offer our Blueberry Scone dog treats for a super antioxidant boost.

The sweet potato is a relatively new ingredient in our organic dog treats. But this is an important addition with great antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Particularly when passing through our digestive tract, they may be able to lower the potential health risk posed by heavy metals and oxygen radicals. That risk reduction is important not only for animals at risk of digestive tract problems like irritable bowel syndrome or ulcerative colitis, but for all that need to reduce the potential risk posed by heavy metal residues (like mercury or cadmium or arsenic) in their diet. What's fascinating about sweet potatoes is their ability to actually improve blood sugar regulation, even in those with type 2 diabetes. While sweet potatoes do contain a valuable amount of dietary fiber, it may not be this factor that
explains their unusual blood sugar regulating benefits. Recent research has shown that extracts from sweet potatoes can significantly increase blood levels of adiponectin in those with type 2 diabetes. Adiponectin is a protein hormone produced by fat cells and it serves as an important modifier of insulin metabolism. In lab studies, most of these sweet potato glycosides have been shown to have antibacterial and antifungal properties. To what extent these carbohydrate-related molecules in sweet potatoes can provide us with health benefits is not yet clear. But we expect to see increasing interest in sweet potato's batatins and batatosides and their potential to support our health. With all of the benefits we've seen, sweet potato has been a great addition to our premium organic dog biscuit offering.
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Another simple but important ingredient in our pet treats is organic honey. The phytonutrients found in honey have been shown to possess cancer-preventing and anti-tumor properties. These substances include caffeic acid methyl caffeate, phenylethyl caffeate, and phenylethyl dimethylcaffeate. Researchers have discovered that these substances prevent colon cancer in animals by shutting down activity of two enzymes, phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C and lipoxygenase. Honey may promote better blood sugar control also which is important with dogs that exercise and play regularly. Proper fueling of the liver is central to optimal glucose metabolism during sleep and exercise. Honey is the ideal liver fuel because it contains a nearly 1:1 ratio of fructose to glucose. Fructose "unlocks" the enzyme from the liver cell's nucleus that is necessary for the incorporation of glucose into glycogen (the form in which sugar is stored in the liver and muscle cells). An adequate glycogen store in the liver is essential to supply the brain with fuel when we are sleeping and during prolonged exercise. Try our Honey Oatmeal dog treats for a burst of organic honey.
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