Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats Read Online Free PDF Page A

chemically complete in their basic chemical form, but can lack the associated complex organic structures found in natural foods. These naturally formed complexes in which minerals are stored in the body are often referred to as chelates. Sometimes this association is created artificially and sold as“chelated minerals” in natural food stores, but, of course, the best form is that available in whole foods.
    Undoubtedly there is a great deal we still don’t understand about the way nutrients act and interact within the body. Manufacturers might add a number of synthetic or isolated vitamins and minerals and still not fully replace those natural forms lost in processing or insufficiently supplied in the first place. As I see it, this also means that trying to provide a natural diet that is as nutritious as possible is safer and more beneficial than using denatured or low-quality food and then trying to compensate by adding in a few isolated nutrients. Through our ignorance, we may be leaving out crucial but little-understood ingredients.
    INSTA-MEAL
    In spite of our discussion thus far on the inadequacies of labeling, let’s imagine that somebody actually put together a packaged food that has all the nutrients that have been discovered as necessary so far. It is marketed as a “complete” diet for human beings called “Insta-Meal.” At last science and business have combined their know-how to provide you with a simpler, cheaper way to handle the daily chore of planning and preparing meals.
    The label looks good. It says this product contains all the recommended daily requirements for fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals needed to keep you ticking. To compensate for any loss of natural nutrients in processing, the manufacturer has added an array of synthetic vitamin and mineral compounds bearing such impressive names as pyridoxine hydrochloride, calcium pantothenate, iron carbonate, potassium chloride, and manganous oxide—everything that nutritionists have found necessary.
    To make Insta-Meal look more appetizing, the manufacturer has added a sprinkling of FD&C Red No. 40 and seasoned the mixture with a dash of disodium guanylate (a flavoring commonly used in instant soups and processed Chinese foods). And to give the product a long shelf life, the makers have tucked in a little butylated hydroxy-anisole (a common preservative known as BHA).
    The least expensive version of this revolution in eating is blended, extruded, and cut into bite-size chunks about the size of croutons, then baked until crunchy. According to the ads, you can now have a complete diet for less than half the cost of eating the old-fashioned way. And all you need to do is shake some of the bits into a bowl and serve a little tap water on the side. What could be simpler?
    Worried about variety? You might try these exciting variations:
     
To every three cups of Insta-Meal, add one cup of hot water. Mix and let stand a couple of minutes. New Insta-Meal makes its own tasty sauce.
Mix two cups of Insta-Meal with two cups of milk, broth, or water in your blender. Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes. Presto! InstaCasserole!
Prefer a hearty, meaty style? Try our five canned flavors—Tuna Twist, Chunky Chicken, Mulligan Stew, Turkey Dressing, or, for vegetarians, Savory Soylinks.
For that occasional sweet tooth, try new soft-moist Insta-Patties, preserved with sugar. This item comes in four fruity flavors.
    The whole concept of Insta-Meal for humans is repulsive. Who would want to eat this same food over and over again? It is obvious that the “variations” are a joke. Yet, somehow, we have accepted the idea that such a diet is right for our pets. Perhaps the thought of eating kibbles for the rest of your own life helps make the point that pets forced to do so are being shortchanged.
    O KAY FOR Y OUR P ET , N OT O KAY FOR Y OU ?
    According to the manufacturer and several authorities on nutrition, the