They say we are what we eat. This applies to your pet as much as it applies to yourself. A good diet means less health problems, less trips to the vet and lower veterinary bills. But how much thought have you given to what your cat should be eating to maintain optimum health? Ask yourself the following questions.

1) How many times a day do you feed your cat?

Since cats cannot be exercised like dogs can, the only way you can influence your cats weight is by controlling the amount and type of food he or she eats. If the cat is being fed individual meals several times daily, there is often a tendency by the owner to offer the daily supply of food on several occasions rather than divide up the daily feed into several meals. This can also occur with cats fed dry food ad lib. Cats usually regulate their food intake, but continual exposure to large quantities of food may lead to over-eating and subsequent obesity if too many calories are consumed. In short, both several individual meals a day and ad lib feeding are fine, it is the total amount offered per 24 hour period which is the important figure.

Kittens should be fed small meals at regular intervals due to their tiny stomachs. Four or five meals are recommended at eight weeks of age, decreasing to two at six months of age.

2) Is your cats diet manufactured specifically for cats or do you give human food?

Some cat owners like to spoil their cat by feeding them human food as the bulk of their diet. Others have tried feeding their cat regular catfood, but find their fussy cat will not touch it, and prefers to wait for the inevitable human food offering, which soon becomes the staple diet.

Is it really unhealthy to feed cats human food though? Of course it depends what food. Remember that cats are carnivores, and require a high proportion of meat in their diet. They simply cannot adapt to a low protein diet, and will lose bodyweight if deprived of it. In fact, as a species they are relatively unique… a deficiency of the amino acid, arginine, in a single meal can lead to symptoms of lethargy, hypersalivation and vocalisation. Arginine is required by the cat to produce urea, a waste product resulting from the breakdown of protein.

Another essential nutrient for the cat is the amino acid, taurine, which the cat cannot manufacture sufficiently by itself to meet its needs. The cat’s diet must therefore contain taurine in sufficient quantities. If a deficiency develops there is a high risk of serious and irreversible damage to major organs such as the heart and the eye. Taurine is found almost entirely in meat, confirming the fact that the cat is a compulsory carnivore.

Another disease of nutritional origin is that caused by cats eating raw liver regularly, who can suffer from a condition called hypervitaminosis A. Cats suffering from this can present with signs of lethargy, unthriftiness, a stiff neck and other skeletal problems. To play it safe, do not feed your cat liver more than once a week.

Reputable cat foods are formulated after extensive trials by pet food companies to provide the mixture of protein, carbohydrate and fat that suits feline physiology best. It is easier, cheaper and possibly more healthy for your cat to be fed a reputable cat food diet, with occasional treats if desired (tuna, liver etc).

3) Which is better out of dry cat food or wet cat food?

Most vets recommend complete dry biscuit based cat food. This is because studies have shown that cats on dry food diets are less likely to suffer from dental disease than those on wet food from a tin or pouch. The physical motion of biting these biscuits helps prevent tartar from adhering to the surface of the tooth. However, even cats with no teeth can eat biscuit based food without a problem, as they just scoop up the biscuits with their tongue and swallow them whole. Another advantage of dry food is that it does not spoil as quickly which is useful for cats that are fed ad lib.

There are occasionally reasons why a wet food is preferable, as a method to increase the water consumption in a cat with a urinary problem such as cystitis.

4) Which is the best cat food to choose?

There are so many different brands of cat food on the market, the best one is basically a matter of opinion. Certainly palatability is a factor, there is no point in purchasing a particular food if your cat cannot stand it, although this is occasionally a necessity in cats requiring prescription diets. Rather than recommending you a specific brand, we suggest that you choose one which adheres to the criteria below.

Cat foods labeled as complete and balanced must meet standards established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), either by meeting a nutrient profile or by passing a feeding trial. There are now two separate nutrient profiles for cats – one for growth (kittens) and one for maintenance (adults). Maximum levels of intake of some nutrients have been established for the first time because of the concern that overnutrition, rather than undernutrition, is a bigger problem with many pet foods today. The standards include recommendations on protein, fat, fat soluble vitamins, water soluble vitamins, and mineral content of foods. If you are prepared to get technical, you should choose a food that comes closest to AAFCO recommendations.

In summary, consider the following points:

Choose a food that suits your cats age. Most big pet food companies will have different foods for kittens vs adults. Cats with medical conditions may be recommended special prescription diets.

Choose a food that come closest to AAFCO recommendations.

The ingredients contains the truth about a particular food. Everything else is there only for marketing purposes.

There are no legal and scientific definitions for the terms “premium,” “super premium,” “quality,” or “natural.”

Use dry matter numbers to evaluate and compare foods.

The source of ingredients (e.g. animal vs vegetable) does not matter, except in the case of food allergies.

Avoid supplementation. All commercial cat foods have more than enough protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Feeding your cat a good food incorrectly can lead to significant problems.

5) My cat is overweight, but no matter how hard I try I cannot get him to lose weight. What can I do?

Your cat is almost certainly being fed too much. Below some common mistakes are listed. Have a good look at these and make sure none of them could apply to your cat.

Not following the guidelines on the packet when measuring a portion. Most cat foods will have a table on the packaging suggesting daily portions for cats of different weights. The weight of food suggested is per 24 hrs, not per portion! Use your kitchen weighing scales to measure out the portion until you are sure of the correct amount.

Using a complete dry diet as a replacement for regular biscuits, and mixing it with wet cat food. If it says complete, you should not mix it with anything or you will overfeed.

Offering inappropriate food that is high in fat, or cream/full fat milk to drink.

Several members of the household feeding the cat at different times, whenever the cat is meows for food.

Giving the cat regular treats in addition to its main meal.

The cat is getting fed by neighbors, who think they are being kind by feeding it and enjoy the attention it gives them.

The cat is scavenging food from outside sources, such as other peoples bins.

The cat is part of a multi-cat household and is stealing food from the other cat(s), or even the dog.
Keep an open mind. If there is a possibility that any of the above scenarios might be the case with your cat, investigate it. If you are still at a loss, consider starting a prescription diet (see below).

6) I have heard you can get special light diets, or prescription diets for fat cats. Do they really work?

Yes they do, if used properly. These types of cat food are available in complete wet (tinned or pouches) form or dry (biscuit) form, and are growing in popularity amongst conscientious pet owners. They are low in calories and high in fibre, and often contain high levels of L-carnitine. L-carnitine has been used to help with fat metabolism in other species and recent scientific work indicates that it helps reduce weight in overweight dogs and cats. The real benefit of these low calorie diets though is that because of its low calories, cats can still eat reasonable sized portions and therefore feel full. This means they are more content and less likely to beg and look for extra food.
These diets are perfectly healthy for normal sized cats to eat too, so if you have a multi cat household and it is unfeasible to separate the cats during feeding time, you can safely feed all of the cats the prescription diet together.

7) Where can I buy this low calorie food from?

Many of the big pet food companies are waking up to the problem of pet obesity, and adding light versions to their range. However, they are unlikely to be as effective as the traditional prescription diets that are on the market.

They are known as prescription diets, because they are a specialist food normally prescribed by a veterinarian. However, you do not need a prescription to buy the food as it is a general sales list product. These foods are rarely available in supermarkets as many supermarkets are keen to sell their own brand, or have deals with the big pet food manufacturers. Many owners but their prescription diet from their veterinary clinic for convenience, whilst others prefer to shop around to get the best price. Many online pharmacies and pet stores are now offering these prescription foods, but whilst they may appear cheaper online, watch out for delivery charges added on top.

Matthew Homfray
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/does-your-cat-have-a-healthy-diet-111237.html

The highly respected Medical Letter calls it “unbalanced, unsound and unsafe.” The Council on Foods and Nutrition of the American Medical Association refers to it as a “bizarre regimen without any scientific merit.” The chair of the board of the New York County Medical Association describes it as “unethical and self-aggrandizing.”

If you’re wondering what these people are talking about, it’s “Dr. Atkins’ Diet Revolution” whose author, Dr. Robert C. Atkins, was the subject of congressional hearings by Senator George McGovern and his Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs.

Atkins was not a nutritionist but a cardiologist. He became interested in diets while working as a medical consultant for the American Telephone & Telegraph (AT&T) in 1963. Concerned about his weight, he studied several medical journals and textbooks before coming up with his so-called “diet revolution” in 1964. His popular book followed eight years later.

The secret of staying slim, he claimed, is to eliminate carbohydrates from the diet and to eat a lot of fat. In his diet plan, he said you can eat as much as 5,000 calories daily, sit around all day, and still lose weight.

All this is possible because a high-fat and no carbohydrate diet cause the body to release ketones, unburned chemicals that are the products of fat metabolism. Since there are no carbohydrates to burn as fuel, the body reacts by secreting a fat-mobilizing hormone (FMH) which, Atkins explained, burns fat.

By creating an induced state of ketosis (or elevated levels of ketones in the blood) similar to that found in diabetics and those who fast, Atkins said anyone can eat as much fat and protein as he wants without worrying about his weight. This is because ketones, which are made from body fat, are used instead of carbohydrates. These substances, he added, are also being sneaked out of the body in the urine and breath, making weight loss even faster.

Following this diet for a week will supposedly enable men to lose seven to eight pounds while women will lose five or six pounds. After this, you may gradually add carbohydrates to your diet until the body stops releasing ketones. This is your critical carbohydrate level which you should maintain to continue losing weight. That, in a nutshell, is Atkins’ diet revolution.

There are many reasons to be skeptical of Atkins’ claims. First, he claimed he treated about 10,000 patients with his diet but he never published any studies about this – hardly the kind of reaction you’d expect from a man with a revolutionary idea.

“A frequent criticism leveled at Dr. Atkins is that if, indeed, he discovered a new nutritional principle, the proper place to announce and explain it would have been in a medical journal or at a medical meeting. Dr. Atkins did neither,” revealed Theodore Berland in Consumer Guide’s “Rating the Diets.”

Atkins argued that it would be much too expensive to do that, considering the number of subjects. Ironically, he didn’t mind the thousands of dollars he poured in legal fees to defend his book and his theory. Second, no “diet revolution” appears to have taken place. The concepts Atkins espoused – that of a high fat and low carbohydrate diet – were popularized in Great Britain by a coffin-maker over a hundred years ago. Third, most of the weight loss caused by this diet is due to water not body fat.

The high intake of cholesterol and saturated fats which Atkins recommended can make one susceptible to heart disease and some forms of cancers, according to Kurt Butler and Dr. Lynne Rayner of the University of Hawaii in “The Best Medicine.” Furthermore, the state of ketosis which Atkins required for the dieter to maintain weight is dangerous. It can lead to coma and death. True enough, the revolutionary doctor developed a heart condition in 2000 and died three years later.

If you’re concerned about your weight, don’t fall for dangerous diets. Consult a reliable doctor for the right advice. To help you lose those extra pounds, taking a supplement like Zylorin may help. This powerful fat burner will enhance your diet and exercise program. Check out http://www.zylorin.com for details.

Janet Martin
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/disturbing-diet-revolution-265339.html

I’m just glad there are 10 more months of this year to get busy losing the extra pounds .

What advice do you have to those struggling to keep resolutions they’ve already broken .
My new diet looks like this .. ten months .. ten fingers ..month one rt hand thumbs up .. you can do it … when ever you see your hand give yourself a thumbs up and say .. you can do it .. get a friend and … first one to ten pounds … ten bucks ..and so on..20/20…30/30
month two..index finger ..focus …just one more month .. you can do it ..month three ..I bet you can figure that one out time to get seriously mad and say ***** it ..I can do this ..4th month…Ring finger I’m committed /wed to this idea ..we can do this ..5th month ..one littlebit more to go ..just a little bit ..6th thumbs up left hand and finish the year with 2 thumbs up jan 1st ..
Smart justin to get a head start to keep you focused ..I’ve done that before it works really well..everyone else is struggling and you are on cruise control already ..very wise indeed

Well, I started my new years resolution back in November and yes, I have kept it up so far. I’ve managed to lose 34 lbs and counting. My advice , no matter how discouraged you are or how many times you feel like just giving up , just keep going at it and focus on what the long term results will be.

My daily food log:
http://antishay.wordpress.com

Questions are welcome.

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Why raw food is not a diet describes the raw lifestyle and why its different from regular SAD (standard american diet) diet programs.

To date I have lost over 215 lbs with the raw food lifestyle! More videos to come so stay tuned and subscribe on my YouTube page and on my website lovingraw.com!

Filmed : 10/5/07

Duration : 0:8:31

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One of the new diet programs that are being introduced in the market right now is the detox diet. The name ‘detox’ is a shortened form of the word ‘detoxification’, which lies at the heart of the program.

The diet makes use of the body’s natural system of neutralizing and eliminating the various toxins that the body takes in. As an internal protective system, the body converts any material that may seem harmful to the body into a chemical form that is less dangerous.

Toxins can take several forms depending on what is taken into the body. Examples of harmful toxins are external chemicals like pesticides and household cleaners that are accidentally ingested; food additives, drugs and other food materials that may affect the body in a bad way; and of course cigarettes. Some toxins come from the body such as ammonia, a chemical produced when proteins are broken down during digestion. Because of the ingrained system, all these toxins no longer stay in the body and are excreted and flushed out in the form of stools or urine.

Basically, the term detox diet is used in the treatment of people who have become dependent on drugs and alcohol; but now with the birth of various kinds of diets, the term is used to any diet that helps in detoxifying the body.

The diet itself focuses on taking in foods that provide vitamins, nutrients and other chemicals such as anti-oxidants that help the body purify itself. There is also much emphasis on lessening or reducing the chemicals that are being taken inside the body. This is why many people under detox diet prefer to eat organic food.

Another technique with the detox diet is the emphasis on high fibers and water to help the body get rid of the toxins. People undergoing detox diet will experience headache during the first few days. Some may also suffer from excessive diarrhea so it is important to watch out for dehydration. There is also a risk if constipation if not enough water is taken in.

Detox diet however is not for people who have anemia, diabetes and heart disease. It is also not recommended for women who are pregnant or those people who are suffering from kidney problems, liver disease, underweight issues and ulcer. People with low blood pressure, low immunity, hypothyroidism and epilepsy are also discouraged to go under a detox diet.

From the name itself, the cabbage soup diet is a program that involves the cabbage soup as the central figure. It may seem absurd at first and quite different from other diet programs such as the Atkins diet and the South Beach diet but it actually has a rationale.

The cabbage soup diet is based on the assumption that diets that contain high fiber but low in fat can help the body lose weight. The cabbage soup is usually made of cabbage, onions and tomatoes. The soup is supposed to fat-burning as it has a high fiber content. In fact, the more soup that you take in each day, the more calories you will burn and the more pounds you will lose. The taste will be bland so it has to be taken in with other foods.

Unlike other diet programs, there are no restrictions in the food that you take in as long as you drink the cabbage soup with every meal. From low calorie vegetables to potatoes and beef, you can eat anything you want. Of course, dieters under the program are encouraged to take in fruits and vegetables as well as unsweetened fruit juices.

One guideline, however, that must be strictly met is the fact that all meals should be broiled, baked or boiled. No fried meals for the duration of the diet. Another guideline is to avoid alcohol, bread and other carbonated drinks that hastens weight gain.

One downside to the cabbage soup diet is the fact that it not for the long term. It can only be done for a period of seven days. By the end of the week, the person can lose as much as 15 pounds depending of course on the meal that he or she has eaten during the program and how much you have adhered to the guidelines. Beyond the prescribed week, continuing the program can be dangerous to one’s health as too much weight will already be lost.

Because of this, dieters often use the cabbage soup diet if they need to lose weight fast. In fact, most people use the program to get into shape before they enroll in a long term diet program. Some get into the cabbage soup diet program when they need to lose extra pounds for a special occasion.

Low Jeremy
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/what-detox-and-cabbage-diet-is-all-about-110289.html

Fat loss diets and dieting has been around for some time. This is not a new type of diet, not for weight loss anyway. Fat loss is one of the reasons that many people go on a weight loss diet in the first place, in order to lose the excess fat that their body is carrying. There are many fat loss diet plans throughout the world including many well known ones as well as lesser known ones. The objective of a fat loss diet is to burn the excess fat while losing weight. This can also include firming up the body as weight is lost.

A fat loss diet works on the premise of getting your body to burn more fat at a higher level. It also uses techniques such as Glycemic index and high and lean protein diets for starters to help the calories burn quicker. This combined with exercise and a balanced diet will go a long way to reducing the amount of fat that the body is carrying. Certain foods in combination with exercise and proper hydration will burn more calories safely while the dieter is cutting back on the amount of food eaten in order to lose the weight that he or she wants to lose.

All these things need to come together in a fat loss diet so that someone can lose weight safely and effectively. Sometimes medicine will also be required in order to help the person to lose weight. Vitamin supplements may also be ordered to help the body as the weight loss progresses. There are many different things that will be put into a fat loss diet in order to help the patient lose weight safely and effectively without harmful side effects. Here is a word of caution when looking at dietary supplements. Let a physician make the determination about supplements on this type of diet. This is for safety reasons.

This is said because some supplements that are herbal can wind up being a dangerous part of a fat loss diet. Some of these herbal preparations have not been evaluated by FDA or other authorities and some have been shown to be life threatening to say the very least. Caution is required when using a herbal supplement in addition to a fat loss diet. Use common sense when dealing with these types of supplements and take ONLY as directed on the bottle or as prescribed by a physician. Herbal supplements when used improperly can lead to illness and death for the dieter.

With that being said, some supplements will work just fine under a doctor’s care. When losing weight or trying to lose weight, it is too easy to take the easy way out. On a fat loss diet, this can be dangerous to say the very least. Too much of a good thing can hurt as bad as too much of a bad thing. A more proper way to look at this is the fact that a balanced diet, in proportion, with plenty of fluids and exercise along with medication if it is needed is the only way that you will truthfully lose the weight that you want to lose.

Now that you have read this article, why not check out Fat Loss For Idiots program This site reviews everything about fat loss diets and you will find all information about fat loss diets on this Fat Loss 4 Idiots review page. Come see what the fuss is all about.

John Davenport
http://www.articlesbase.com/weight-loss-articles/fat-loss-diet-for-beginners-1259142.html

)

I want to talk tonight about weight loss. It’s a subject everyone is worried about. And the problem is that diets don’t work. Everybody has tried a diet. I haven’t met a person yet that’s hasn’t tried something, from kids to people in their eighties; everybody has tried some kind of diet and they just don’t work. In recent studies when they looked at a lot of their major diets (some good one’s, Atkins, The Zone), they put them all together statistically and found a ten pound weight loss on average. Now, these people lost a hundred pounds and gained it back of course. But, all that work, all that money, all those videos, for ten pounds of weight loss?

So the truth is, we have to find a life style that will allow you to stay at a weight that is healthy for you. That’s a much different way of thinking than all this crash dieting that goes on. What you have to learn is how to take care of yourself; you have to learn the appropriate foods; you have to make better choices. That’s the only way it’s going to work.

Dr. Vincent Bellonzi
B.S.,D.C.,C.C.N., C.S.C.S., A.C.S.M. H/FI

Dr. Vincent Bellonzi is a chiropractor and a Certified Clinical Nutritionist. He has been in practice for over 12 years. He received his Doctorate from Los Angeles College of Chiropractic in 1991.

Since 1998, Dr. Bellonzi has practiced in the Austin area. He works with athletes at every level to provide sports conditioning and rehabilitation. He also treats multiple conditions including headaches/migraines, neck and lower back injuries, shoulder, wrist, and knee injuries. As an avid marathoner Dr. Bellonzi developed an interest in optimal nutrition and sports conditioning and as a result sought certifications as a personal trainer, cycling and running coach, and nutritionist. Dr. Bellonzi also provides human performance testing, Sports Rehabilitation, Nutritional Counseling, Personal Training, Coaching and Metabolic Testing services.

Visit Dr. Bellonzi’s website at
http://www.bewellrx.com

This video was produced by Psychetruth

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© Copyright 2007 Austin Wellness Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Duration : 0:8:9

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