Chelated minerals are a common ingredient in pet food
products, and pet supplements. Chelated minerals aren’t so healthy for your
pet. I won’t give my dogs, or cats food or supplements that contain chelated
minerals.
In 2012, the NCBI reported on a study assessing
levels of heavy metals in the liver and kidneys of dogs from an urban
environment. Pet food was confirmed as a source of heavy metal contaminants
(i.e. cadmium, lead, and mercury), as was environmental pollution.
Another NCBI report
states,
“…food can affect health not only be their nutrient content and the amount consumed, but also by non-nutritive components, such as pesticides, fertilizers, preservatives, heavy metals and microbiological components”
“…food can affect health not only be their nutrient content and the amount consumed, but also by non-nutritive components, such as pesticides, fertilizers, preservatives, heavy metals and microbiological components”
Trace Minerals
Trace minerals are heavy metals that occur, or are required at
low concentrations to sustain life. These minerals (i.e. copper, iodine, iron,
manganese, selenium, and zinc), are present in whole fresh foods. When soil
health is good, the trace mineral content in fresh foods is optimal. When soils
are depleted, (typically from use of conventional fertilizers), the trace
mineral content in plants are less than optimal. This is one reason why food
grown following organic farming practices is nutritionally superior to conventional
non-GMO, and GMO farming practices.
Like us, our dogs and cats require trace minerals to
maintain health. In the past (tens of thousands of years past, to present day),
dogs and cats obtained required levels of trace minerals from their natural
diet of fresh whole foods. An appropriate, good quality fresh, whole food diet (raw
or minimally cooked) is not trace mineral deficient, and will not cause over-intake
of trace minerals.
Industrially produced trace minerals were introduced to the
canine and feline diet when highly processed pet food became popular. Which by
the way, also coincides with the escalation of serious health issues
(inflammatory, chronic disease, including cancer), and the foreshortened life
spans we see in today’s dogs and cats. Industrial trace minerals are NOT the
same as trace minerals naturally obtained from fresh whole foods.
Natural, Bioavailable Trace Minerals
Dogs and cats naturally obtain required levels of essential
trace minerals from consuming a quality fresh, raw food (or minimally cooked) diet - raw meat, raw bones, healthy fats, and select botanicals,
including herbs. For example, raw meat (muscle meat and organ meat) is an
excellent source of iron, selenium and zinc, spinach also provides selenium and
zinc. Raw pumpkin seeds, pineapple and spinach are rich in manganese (and other
essential trace minerals). Raw liver is a good source of copper. Food sourced
from pasture-raised, grass feed, organic, or wild-crafted sources provides the
best trace mineral profile. Conventional farming methods result in less mineral
rich whole foods. GMO farming methods result in a further loss of trace
minerals.
Trace Mineral Loss in Manufacturing of Highly Processed
Foods
Dry pet food, and canned (wet) pet food is a ‘highly processed’
product. Ingredients undergo a series of complex processing steps, which
include high heat cooking.
Trace mineral loss occurs when whole food ingredients are cooked at high
temperatures. The typical range of trace mineral loss from high heat cooking is
30% to 40%.
Additional trace mineral loss can occur due to one, or a
combination of the following…
- Meat, fat and bones sourced from factory farm (CAFO) raised animals. CAFO animals are fed a species inappropriate diet of GMO corn and GMO soy, supplemented with chelated trace minerals. The end-result of this terrible diet (as pertains to trace minerals, there are many other adverse impacts as well):
- Meat, bones and fat that are trace mineral deficient, and may also be contaminated with toxic heavy metals (i.e. arsenic, mercury and lead).
- If condemned, denatured meat, bones and fat are included in the pet food product additional trace mineral loss occurs during the denaturing process.
- Fruit and vegetables grown in soil treated with conventional fertilizers, result in mineral depleted produce. Most dry, and canned pet food contains conventional, or GMO grown produce – not organic grown.
The end result is a product that is at minimum 40% trace
mineral deficient.
To ‘make-up’ for the loss of trace minerals, the pet food
industry adds industrial trace minerals, called chelated minerals.
- Approximately 70% of these minerals come from China.
- Chinese-sourced minerals can be tainted with other heavy metals, i.e. non-organic arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, nickel and strontium from environmental pollution.
Industrial Trace Minerals
Industrial trace minerals fall into two basic categories – inorganic,
and organic. Inorganic (chelated) and organic trace minerals are mined using
the same methods – extraction from rock.
Inorganic trace minerals are not readily absorbed by the
body, nor readily eliminated. Organic (chelated) trace minerals are more bioavailable
than inorganic. Neither can match the bioavailability of trace minerals obtained
from a fresh whole food diet. When inorganic or chelated trace minerals intake
exceeds the body’s requirements, the body’s eliminatory system will work hard
to remove as much excess mineral as possible. Some of the excess may be stored
in the body’s organs – over time this can lead to a range of issues (i.e., anemia,
digestive upset, fatigue, inflammation, oxidization, poor immune system
response, increased risk of urinary tract infections, etc.), organ fatigue,
toxicity, and at worst death. Insufficient mineral intake can also cause a
multitude of health issues, and at worst death.
Chelated Minerals (organic minerals)
First, we need to define the word ’organic’ in context of industrial
trace minerals. The term ‘organic’ when used in this context indicates the
presence of carbon - it does NOT mean organic as in organic farming. The
chelated minerals used in pet food are not an “organic food additive”, that ARE
a synthetic food additive.
The first step in making chelated minerals involves industrial
mining of rock, from which the minerals are then extracted. After extraction,
the inorganic minerals are bound to a carbon-based substance using a
synthetic-chemical process. Binding the inorganic mineral to a carbon-based
substance increases the bioavailability of the mineral. When the binding
process is complete, the trace mineral is said to be ‘organic’. Any remaining unbound
particulate is removed. The resulting substance is then dried and ground to a
powder.
Now we need to quickly talk about chelating agents. Chelating
agents used in the manufacture of chelated trace minerals are natural or
synthetic-chemical amino acids, i.e. cysteine, l-cysteine and glycine, or
partially hydrolyzed proteins. Hydrolyzed proteins are obtained by intense
processing in which the animal proteins (i.e. from factory farm raised animals),
or plant proteins (i.e. GMO soy), or synthetic proteins are treated with caustic
denaturing agents to separate the amino acids from proteins. The caustic,
denaturants used are, for example - hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, and hexane
(a solvent made from crude oil).
Pet Food Products That Contain Chelated Minerals, and Inorganic
Minerals
- Dry Processed Pet Food (Kibble) – all contain chelated minerals, including:
- Premium dry food diets
- Veterinary prescription dry ‘food’ diets
- Grocery store and tractor supply store kibble
- Wet / Canned pet food – many, but not all
- Premium
- Veterinary prescription
- Grocery store and tractor supply
- Freeze Dehydrated and Freeze Dried – many, but not all
- Raw Frozen – some, but not all.
- I consider the presence of chelated or inorganic minerals in a raw frozen pet food product to be indicative of a problem with the whole food ingredients used in the product.
- A truly good quality raw food does NOT contain chelated minerals.
Take A Look at your Pet Food Labels
If you are using multiple items that contain chelated
minerals, your dog and cat’s eliminatory system is working over-time to excrete
the excess, partially bioavailable chelated minerals for his/her body.
- An example of a chelated mineral -
- Copper proteinate
- Copper amino acid chelate
- An example of an inorganic mineral –
- Calcium carbonate
- Copper sulfate (copper sulphate)
- Copper carbonate
- Zinc oxide
Chelated minerals are industrially mined heavy metals, pulverized,
and bound to synthetic amino acids and proteins that have been processed with
toxic chemicals resulting in a partially bioavailable trace mineral. I consider
chelated minerals to be a source of toxins.
The high incidence of inflammatory and chronic disease,
premature aging, renal failure, cancer, etc. seen in today’s companion animal
population is not ‘natural’, it is a man-made epidemic.
Dogs and cats are, casualties of the greedy pet food
industry, and the unethical individuals behind the industry.
You now know one more reason why I will NOT feed my dogs, cats
or ferrets highly processed food products. And why I do not recommend highly
processed food to my clients.
For the love of dogs and cats, pass it on.
Do you need holistic advice to support your companion animal's health and well being? Become a client. Book your consultation. My professional holistic nutrition, wellness and behavioral services are available to you:
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Article and graphics by Karen Rosenfeld
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Important Note
1.0 Use of Foods, Herbs, Alternative Medicines:
Safe use of items and protocols in the article above, is your sole responsibility.
Foods, herbs and alternative medicines have health issue, condition and conventional drug interactions. Safe use of all substances and protocol are your responsibility.
Before you use any substance or protocol do your research. Check for cautions, contradictions, interactions and side effects. Do not use substances or protocols not suitable to your animal's individual circumstances.
If your animal has an underlying condition substances and protocols may conflict.
2.0 Definition of Holistic…
Food, herbs, alternative medicines are NOT ‘holistic’ they are a substance and MAY, or may NOT be ‘NATURAL’.
If you use a ‘natural’ substance (ie. an herb) you are using a natural substance, not a holistic substance.
Holistic is not defined by use of one or several substances. Holistic is an approach.
Definition of “holistic” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press
Adjective
"relating to the whole of something or to the total system instead of just to its parts"
"Holistic medicine attempts to treat the whole person, including mind and body, not just the injury or disease."
Holistic is a way of approaching life, and within that health, and well-being.
3.0 Expectation a natural substance remedies a health or behavioral situation.
A natural substance used to treat symptoms. But, if factors causing the underlying issue remain you do not have a remedy.
Remedy requires a comprehensive approach. It is necessary to identify root cause. Remove items that trigger, cause or otherwise contribute to issues. Holistic approach includes design, implementation to treat, remedy and maintain long-term health.
4.0 Leave a Comment
I review all comments and publish those deemed appropriate for this site.
I answer questions deemed appropriate when I have time to do so.
Wishing your dog and cat the best of health!
Karen Rosenfeld
Ottawa Valley Dog Whisperer
Holistic Behaviorist - Dogs
Holistic Diet Nutrition Wellness Adviser – Dogs and Cats
karen@ottawavalleydogwhisperer.ca
1-613-622-1139
1-613-293-3707
00-1-613-622-1139
00-1-613-293-3707