If you've been with me for awhile, you know that processed
foods are literal poisons to your body and mind.
Processed foods are loaded with chemicals, sugar,
preservatives, and most recently, manipulators that turn
off our taste buds so we can't tell how lousy the stuff
we're eating really tastes. Truth.
Bottom line: The body was meant to eat FOOD--not
chemicals. And the result of our dependence on these non-
foods is that our health is being destroyed in countless
ways...
...and that includes our pets.
My 13 year-old cat Rebecca is living proof.
Now, I know some of you are dog people and aren't too fond
of cats. So just substitute the word dog wherever you see
cat in this letter, because this applies to both.
Rebecca recently started to lick and bite her belly until
it was raw.
I took her to the veterinarian who had me put ointment on
Rebecca's tummy. Bad idea--she immediately licked off the
ointment, plus putting drugs on her skin wasn't addressing
the underlying cause of her incessant biting and licking.
(Hmmm...animal doctors aren't too different from human
doctors, are they? Hand out drugs to cover up symptoms,
but the heck with the cause.)
I took her back to the vet. She diagnosed Rebecca with
allergies and told me to give her 1/2 of a Benedryl tablet
each day.
I asked how she got allergies and the vet's response was,
"Cats develop allergies sometimes as they age."
I didn't buy it. But I didn't have any other answers at
the time, so I reluctantly began giving Rebecca half of a
Benedryl every morning. And I have the scratches to prove
it.
Her symptoms did improve a little, but the medicine made
her sleepier than usual, plus I just didn't feel right
drugging her.
I began doing research and learned that cats can develop
allergies to the ingredients in many commercial pet foods.
Corn, wheat and soy gluten are the big offenders.
Moreover, the artificial ingredients in many pet foods
have been shown to be downright toxic to animals. Toxic,
as in deadly.
I had fed Rebecca a premium brand-name cat food all her
life and thought I was doing the right thing. The vet even
agreed that the premium brands were good for cats.
But buying the more expensive cat food in those darn
little cans in the grocery store didn't guarantee that the
stuff inside was any good.
It wasn't.
When I closely looked at the ingredients on the can I
almost died. It was loaded with animal by-products
(instead of real meat), artificial preservatives and
flavors and corn gluten.
I felt guilty for unknowingly having fed my little Rebecca
allergy-causing food for so long, but I also believe it's
never too late to make a change for the better.
I immediately switched both of my cats to a holistic cat
food made from REAL food ingredients, no artificial colors,
flavors or preservatives and no glutens. It took about two
days an incredible difference.
Rebecca's allergies have completely disappeared. Plus
she's spunkier and now chases 6 year-old Juliet all around
the house like she used to.
When you think about it, it makes sense. The chemicals
and ingredients in processed foods are harmful to humans--
why would cats (or dogs) be any different?
And just like people, when pets are fed the way their
bodies are meant to be fed, they respond VERY quickly.
Unfortunately, this experience was also a reminder that
the veterinary community is much like the (human) medical
community--drugs and surgery are their only answers.
I'm very glad that, like I did for myself 16 years ago
when I ignored my doctor, refused his drugs and learned how
to eat to completely cure my IBS, I now did the same thing
for my precious little pet.
You can take care of the humans in your household by
eating the way I teach in Great Taste No Pain
- http://www.greattastenopain.com/great.asp
and invest in some holistic food for your four-legged
friend's health and well-being too.
To your health,
Sherry Brescia
PS: I know I'll probably be asked, so I'll tell you right
up front: The holistic foods I use are: Innova and Avo-
Derm brand canned foods, plus California Natural brand dry
food.
There are many GREAT holistic brands out there--those just
happen to be the ones my cats liked the best. If you can
find a local dealer, you might be able to get samples of
different brands to try. Good luck!
