Kale is full of healthy nutrients. It’s a great source of fibre, Vitamins C, K and E, Iron, Calcium, Potassium and Magnesium. It’s also filled to the brim with antioxidants that fight cancer and disease.
Oxidative stress happens when there’s an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in your dog’s body. Free radicals are unstable molecules with an odd number of electrons. They’re a natural byproduct of everyday processes like metabolism and exercise. But they’re also caused by environmental toxins like pollution, pesticides, or secondhand smoke.
To stabilise themselves, free radicals interact with other molecules. This can damage proteins, DNA and other cells. And eventually this damage in dogs will lead to diseases like Diabetes, Inflammatory conditions, Heart disease, Premature ageing, Cancer
Antioxidants stabilise free radicals and stop them from reacting with your dog’s cells and DNA. So your dog needs to get enough antioxidants to fight free radical damage. Kale is an excellent choice. It’s full of antioxidants.
Carotenoids are plant pigments. They’re responsible for the colours red, orange and yellow in plants, algae, bacteria and fungi. Yellow daffodils, red tomatoes, even the warm hues of autumn leaves, are full of carotenoids. They’re also one of the reasons flamingos, salmon and shrimp who eat foods rich in these compounds are pink. Carotenoids are rich in antioxidants that protect your dog from free radicals.
Kale has three major carotenoids … lutein, zeaxanthin and beta-carotene.
Beta-Carotene is a pro-vitamin A carotenoid. This means it converts into Vitamin A in your dog’s body. And Vitamin A is important for your dog’s skin, coat, muscles and nerves.
Beta-carotene also helps, Improves vision health, Restores the immune system, Improves cognitive function, protects skin from sun damage and can prevent cancer.
Lutein and zeaxanthin can also protect your dog from the sun’s UV rays. This reduces skin inflammation and slows ageing.
Studies show that lutein and zeaxanthin improve heart health. They reduce the buildup of plaque that hardens the arteries. This lowers the risk of stroke and heart attack.
Lutein and zeaxanthin also help increase glutathione levels Glutathione is an antioxidant that’s produced in your dog’s cells. And it’s one of the most powerful antioxidants his body can make. It also helps with liver detox. In fact, low glutathione may cause up to 45% of liver disease in dogs. But glutathione is depleted by stress, environmental toxins, ageing and diet.
It can’t be easily replaced because dietary glutathione gets digested before it’s absorbed. So your dog needs compounds like lutein and zeaxanthin to keep up glutathione levels.
Like carotenoids, flavonoids are plant pigments found in fruits and vegetables. They are also powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. The two most common flavonoids are quercetin and kaempferol. And kale has both!
Quercetin is well-known for its ability to fight allergies. It’s even referred to as nature’s Claritin. This is because quercetin is also an antihistamine. Your dog’s body releases histamines to fight allergies. It’s what causes your dog to swell and get itchy. Quercetin reduces histamines and stops your dog from having an allergic reaction.
While kaempferol doesn’t help ease allergies, it has many benefits. Kaempferol helps reduce inflammation, improves heart health, protects the brain, control diabetes and manage liver and metabolic disease.
Quercetin and kaempferol can both protect against cancer
Have you ever seen your dog eat grass? If you have, there are a few reasons for it. Sometimes dogs eat grass to settle an upset stomach. Sometimes they do it just because they want to … and it’s totally normal behaviour. Other times, your dog may crave an important nutrient he isn’t getting enough of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is also a plant pigment.
It’s the reason grass is green. Chlorophyll’s chemical structure is a lot like your dog’s haemoglobin.
Haemoglobin is in your dog’s red blood cells and helps carry oxygen all over his body. Because the structures are so alike, chlorophyll can help replenish red blood cells. Chlorophyll also helps fight infections and heal wounds, boost the immune system and break down stones in your dog’s urinary tract. Chlorophyll can also bind to toxins and heavy metals like mercury. It then carries them to your dog’s kidney, which flushes the toxins out of his system. This can help reduce organ damage and may prevent diseases like cancer. The problem is that your dog may not digest the grass he’s eating to get his chlorophyll intake and that means he isn’t absorbing the nutrients he is after. Not to mention the grass may get treated with dangerous herbicides like Roundup.