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https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/2017-06-17-nl-green-tea-benefits-for-pets/
There is growing interest in green tea for dogs and cats due to its increasing popularity in recent years among health-conscious consumers.
Green tea is an excellent source of antioxidants and alkaloids, and is packed with vitamins A, D, E, C, B, B5, H and K, manganese and other beneficial minerals such as zinc, chromium and selenium. Fresh tea leaves contain powerful antioxidants called polyphenols (basically a series of chemicals called catechins).
Researchers say epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the most potent catechin found in green tea, providing 20 to 35 milligrams (mg) in a single cup. In one study, scientists found that EGCG is 25 to 100 times more powerful than vitamins C and E. Another reported that one cup provides greater antioxidant effects than a serving of broccoli, spinach, carrots or strawberries.1
Health Benefits of Green Tea
According to Dr. Mercola, green tea has several important health benefits for humans:2
Contains bioactive compounds with medicinal properties |
Reduces the risk of cancer |
Lowers Type 2 diabetes risk |
Improves brain function |
Reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease |
Lowers cardiac disease and risk of stroke |
Increases fat burning and weight loss |
Improved dental health |
Because tea is known to accumulate fluoride, heavy metals and other toxins from soil and water, Dr. Mercola recommends selecting an organic product grown in a pristine environment. Additionally, green tea contains caffeine, so I only recommend naturally decaffeinated varieties for pets.
What are the benefits of green tea for pets?
According to information provided by veterinarians Steve Marsden, Shawn Messonnier and Cheryl Yuill:
“Green tea may be beneficial in any condition requiring the use of antioxidants. In humans, green tea is indicated as an antioxidant, anticancer agent and to lower blood cholesterol. Several types of tumors are inhibited by green tea , including cancers of the stomach, gallbladder, prostate, uterus, lung, intestine, colon, rectum and pancreas.
Green tea also inhibits breast cancer by binding to estrogen receptors, making it a potential tool in the treatment of mammary gland cancer in small animals. Its overall action against various tumors in humans suggests that green tea could provide the same benefits in animals.
Although they are absorbed into all body tissues, green tea catechins concentrate in the liver and digestive tract of dogs and laboratory animals, making it more likely that they protect these areas of the body.3
Although there have been no clinical trials of green tea to treat cancer in pets, in humans, regular consumption appears to reduce the incidence of stomach, colon, and breast cancer. pancreas. It is reasonable to assume that it may provide similar protective benefits to dogs and cats.
If your pet has been diagnosed with cancer, be sure to speak with your veterinarian before adding green tea (or any other supplement) to their treatment protocol.
The inactivation and excretion of carcinogens plays an important role in protecting your pet’s body from cancer, and because the catechins found in green tea significantly modify carcinogenic molecules that damage cellular DNA, I often recommend decaffeinated green tea extract as part of a detox protocol.
Green tea infusion (made from cooled tea) is also one of my favorites. cleaning products for dirty pet ears. It can also be used to soothe hot spots and mouth sores.
Study Says Fasting Pets and Those with Little or No Appetite Should Not Be Given Green Tea
There has been very little research into the effects of green tea on pet health, but a 2009 study on beagles produced results that seem to have made the rounds on the Internet.
The dogs were fasted and given massive doses (up to 1000 mg/kg per day of green tea extract in capsule form for several months). Unfortunately, the study was terminated prematurely due to “the extent of morbidity, mortality, and pathology of many major organs.”4 involving liver, kidney, and gastrointestinal (GI) tract toxicity of dogs. However, a follow-up study in 2011 in non-fasted dogs under the same testing conditions and at the same dose levels showed no such toxicity.5
The authors of the second study noted that systemic exposures were actually lower in fasted dogs than in non-fasted dogs, which could suggest that fasting might have somehow increased the vulnerability of organ systems and amplified the toxic effects of the active ingredients of green tea extract.
I think there are several take-home messages from these studies, including using common sense with dosing (it would be impossible to administer these doses to pets as cooled teas) and not offering large quantities of green tea to any pet that is not. I don’t eat well.
Organic Decaffeinated Green Tea Recipe for Pets
1. Mix 1 liter (about 4 cups) of purified water and a tea bag or 1 tablespoon of loose tea leaves
2. Leave to infuse for 15 minutes
3. Remove the tea bag or use a strainer to remove the tea leaves
4. Store the tea in a covered pitcher, preferably glass, in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Add the following amounts of green tea to your pet’s morning and evening meals:
• Cats, 1 tablespoon
• Small dogs, 1/8th cup
• Medium dogs, 1/4 to 1/2 cup
• Large dogs, 1/2 to 1 cup
There are green tea supplements available, but if you choose to use them in place of tea, I recommend using a product specifically mixed and dosed for pets.
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