The amazing power of turmeric for your furry companion!

Turmeric is one of my favourite foods. It is something I commonly recommend to my clients due to its amazing power to improve health and longevity.

You will likely know what turmeric is. It is that bright sunny yellow powder that stains EVERYTHING and is commonly added to curries. Its scientific name is Curcuma longa. The Indians and Chinese have been using it in food and medicinally for thousands of years.

Turmeric has been referred to as the “most effective nutritional supplement in existence”.[1] It contains various medicinal compounds, the most important of which is curcumin.[2]

The main benefits of turmeric are:

• It contains strong natural anti-inflammatory compounds.

• It dramatically increases the antioxidant capacity of the body.

• It boosts brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which is linked to improved brain function and a lower risk of brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s.

• It may reverse heart disease.

• It can help prevent (and potentially treat) cancer.

• It may be useful in preventing and treating Alzheimer’s disease.

• It can help treat symptoms of arthritis.

• It can alleviate symptoms of depression.

• It may help to slow down ageing and fight age-related diseases.[3]

It is not just humans who can benefit from the amazing power of turmeric. Animals can too!

Australian veterinarian Dr Doug English has been successfully using turmeric for years to control inflammation and pain in animals who suffer from itchy skin conditions, arthritis, infections, age degeneration and various cancers.[4] He has observed benefits in all animals in his care, which include dogs, cows, sheep, crocodiles, chickens, ducks, cats, alpacas, guinea pigs and rabbits.[5]

Dr English has found the spice helps with:

• Skin health.

• Arthritis.

• Cancers.

• Stimulating the immune system.

• Dementia.

• Irritable Bowel Disease.

• Liver detoxification.

• Lung disease.[6]

Researchers at the Colorado State University Animal Cancer Centre in the US are evaluating the anti-cancer properties of curcumin and how it might inhibit the growth of cancer cells related to feline vaccine-associated sarcomas (skin tumours that form at injection sites).[7]

To get the benefits of the amazing power of turmeric, Dr English recommends using only organic turmeric and combining it with cold pressed coconut, olive or flaxseed oil, and black pepper.[8] He says this increases the body’s ability to absorb the spice.

Why oil and pepper? The oil is considered necessary to dissolve the turmeric in the stomach so that the body can properly absorb the powder.[9] As for the black pepper, it contains the compound piperine, which slows the digestion of the turmeric, allowing it time to be taken into the blood stream.[10]

The simplest way to incorporate turmeric into your furry companion’s diet is to mix the powder with cold pressed coconut, olive or flaxseed oil and black pepper into their regular meal. You can start off just by using 1/8 teaspoon of turmeric powder and if needed (for example, if your furry companion is suffering from any of the above ailments), you can gradually increase to a maximum of about two heaped tablespoons.

I hope you and your furry companions enjoy the benefits of this amazing food and I’d love to hear your turmeric success stories in the comments section below!

[1] Kris Gunnars, ‘10 Proven Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin’, Authority Nutrition, http://authoritynutrition.com/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-turmeric/, viewed 27 August 2015.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid. See also https://www.emedihealth.com/turmeric-benefits.html, viewed 17 March 2020.

[4] Turmeric Life 2015, ‘Doug English – Turmeric for Animals’, http://www.turmericlife.com.au/doug-english-turmeric-for-animals/, viewed 27 August 2015.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Colorado State University 2011, ‘Contributing to Advances in Feline Cancer Treatments’, Animal Cancer Centre News, https://www.csuanimalcancercenter.org/assets/files/acc_winter_11.pdf, viewed 27 August 2015.

[8] Turmeric Life 2015, ‘Enhance Turmeric's Benefits’, https://www.turmericlife.com.au/pages/3-basic-ingredients, viewed 17 August 2020.

[9] Ibid.

[10] Ibid.

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