Flaxseed – One of nature’s most perfect foods.
Ever wondered where we get our certified organic flaxseed from? Here’s an actual photo of one of the flax fields in full bloom! So beautiful!
“Our organic flax is grown here in North Dakota, where 95% of US flax happens to be grown. Our supplier told me that when the flax is in bloom in mid-August, the fields from a distance look like a rippled lake,” says Laurette Sipe, our resident herbalist and director of operations and purchasing.
“The pods are quite ingenious, where the shell holds about 7-11 flax seeds, a great example of nature at her finest. The seeds inside the pods are amazingly shiny – and are sliced not milled using ultra-sharp blades, which helps to prevent leaking of the valuable golden oil inside each one.”
Flaxseed has often been referred to as “nature’s most perfect food”. It is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, vital for healthy skin, coat, heart, joints and kidneys. Flaxseed also contains lignans which are potent cancer fighters and antioxidants. Loaded with vitamins and phytonutrients, flax offers a great supply of fiber and protein, too!
Flax offers a nice ratio of healthy fats to protein, as well as both soluble and insoluble fiber and, in addition, some essential minerals, according to Laurette. And since our flax is grown organically, therefore, it is likely higher in minerals than conventionally grown.
Flaxseed contains alpha-linolenic acid(ALA) and omega-3 fatty acids. Essential Fatty Acids are important in the development and maintenance of a healthy brain, liver, heart and immune system. Animals cannot survive without them and this is why they are referred to as essential fatty acids. However, dogs are not efficient at converting ALA to EPA and DHA so a variety of sources of fats is recommended for our dogs to make sure they get the essential fatty acids they require.
Food for Thought: The Humble Potato
Potatoes are considered to be one of the most important foods in the world. They provide a good source of Vitamins B3 and B6, Vitamin C, Potassium, Iron, Copper and Fiber. Significant quantities of manganese, molybdenum, chromium and selenium can be found just beneath the potato’s skin.
Rebecca Wood’s New Whole Foods Encyclopedia notes that potatoes have a number of medicinal properties, including being anti-inflammatory (except in some arthritic conditions), as well as being able to neutralize body acids and benefit stomach ulcers.
In Ayurvedic medicine, potatoes are considered ‘beneficial in function for the spleen-pancreas and reduce Pitta and Kapha.’ In Traditional Chinese Medicine, potatoes are considered neutral, with a propensity for the spleen, stomach and large intestine meridians. Potatoes calm and heal the digestive mucosa as well as work as an antispasmodic, diuretic and emollient.
This seemingly trivial vegetable helps to fight against toxins and due to its rich potassium content it helps to eliminate uric acid.
Potatoes have been associated with some adverse publicity in the past due to their content of glycoalkaloids. These nerve toxins can develop in the stems, shoots and green parts of the skin of potatoes that are improperly stored and where the skin is subjected to excessive or prolonged exposure to light. The shoots and green parts of potatoes should not be consumed by people or animals for this reason and should be removed before serving.
Sacred Seed – Quinoa
Quinoa -pronounced (keen-wah), was originally revered as a sacred food by the Incans of South America. It is a protein and nutrient- packed food, considered a grain by some, but not a true grain. It is actually a grass-less seed. For trade commodity purposes the USDA categorizes this into the grain category for import/export. Quinoa is actually more closely related to beets, spinach. It’s seeds are very high in protein (12-18%), containing a balanced set of amino acids. Quinoa also contains good quantities of calcium, phosphorus, and iron and is gluten free.
Our Certified Organic, Fair-Trade Quinoa is grown in Bolivia, South America – the land that’s famous for this amazing ancient grain. Our Quinoa is sourced from more than 1000 small, indigenous family farms to provide the families with a valuable, fair-trade income. Read about all our ingredients here. To learn about how our quinoa is planted, cultivated and harvested by hand in Bolivia, please watch the following video clip.
Quinoa is found in our Thrive recipe, a gluten-free, low carbohydrate dog food. Thrive is ideal for sensitive dogs who need gluten-free dog food but with a little grain, to help maintain a healthy body weight. Thrive is a very minimalist, nourishing diet which is also recommended for dogs with sensitivities: It contains NO fruits, potatoes or flax. Suitable for all life stages; puppies, pregnancy, lactation, active adult dogs & healthy seniors. Thrive is naturally low-carb, with about 39% carbohydrates. Low carb diets are often indicated as part of a holistic approach to cancer recovery.
Protein-packed Haddock
Haddock, or melanogrammus aegletinus, is a saltwater fish found in the deep waters of the North Atlantic. It is related to cod and pollock and is a bottom-dweller, feeding on invertebrates and other fish. Haddock is naturally low in fat but high in protein and a great source of Vitamin B6 and Magnesium. It is also a good source Niacin, Vitamin B12, phosphorous, potassium and Selenium.
Our 100% human grade Haddock –for our Zeal and Wishes- is wild caught using a line and hook, in the cold clean waters off the coast of Iceland. It is plentiful here and our suppliers use only sustainable fishing practices. We never use any fish that is farm raised as this can have an adverse impact on the environment and marine ecology. In our Zeal recipe, we use three different species of fish in order to make less of an impact on the balance of these individual species in the ocean. Of all commercial fish, Haddock, whiting and salmon have the lowest levels of Mercury and we routinely screen all our raw ingredients for contaminants including lead, arsenic, mercury and Ethoxyquin.
Our Haddock is gently steamed at 140°F to 165°F, to eliminate pathogens without irradiation. We then carefully evaporate the moisture using dehydration, which leaves more nutrients intact than harsh cooking, canning or extrusion. The Haddock leaves the dehydration process at about 125°F. The entire process (including steaming) takes about 45 minutes.
About the Bananas!
We’re pleased to announce that we recently began using more finely diced banana pieces in our foods. We’d received a few reports from people with smaller pups who were unable to crunch up our previous, full sized slices of banana and we’re happy to be able to respond to popular demand!
Now of course, we have a few people who wish we still had the full sized slices (they are a little prettier, we’ll admit!) or who are concerned about these unusual new, small unrecognizable chips of something, in the food! Please don’t be alarmed, they are just pieces of banana! A couple of customers have actually sent them in to us, concerned that something untoward has gotten into the food. I’m happy to report that I’ve just eaten some of the banana from one such customer mailing and it tastes delicious!
Do let us know if you’re still worried, or have any questions at all – we’re here to help!
