Cancer is not just the curse of the human world, it is also rampant in our beloved pet world.  The latest suggest that over 6 million dogs die from cancer each year with more than 1 in 2 dogs and 1 in 3 cats getting diagnosed with the disease.

Super Spice to the rescue

A new study published in the journal Anticancer Research reveals that one of the world’s most extensively researched herbs – Turmeric and the component inside called curcumin – has the ability to selectively target and destroy cancer stem cells while having little to no impact on healthy stem cells.  This is huge but the benefits don’t stop there.

Examples of Curcumin’s Power:

• Antioxidant properties
• Antitumor properties
• Boosts the immune system
• Decreases inflammation
• Decreases cell growth
• Decreases metastasis
• Inhibits cancer cell division and growth
• Inhibits enzymes that aid in the spread of cancer

 Getting the goodness in

One of the challenges with using Turmeric to fight cancer or heal inflammatory conditions like arthritis is accessing and retaining its goodness.  Curcumin only makes up approximately 5% of the spice and it’s also poorly absorbed by the gut and rapidly cleared from the blood.

So paste it!

An ancient Ayurvedic recipe has been combining turmeric, fat, and black pepper together for thousands of years for this very reason! Pepper is comprised of a compound called piperine which helps the curcumin (turmeric root) levels to skyrocket.

According to Australian Vet, Dr. Doug English, adding freshly ground peppercorns (piperine) to your mixture of turmeric root will increase intestinal absorption allowing time for the curcumin to be taken up into the bloodstream.

And what is the role of fat?  Again, according to research: “when eaten with fat, curcumin can be directly absorbed into the bloodstream through the lymphatic system thereby in part bypassing the liver.”

Use good clean organic fats like coconut oil, olive oil, or fish oil

Golden Paste recipe

Ingredients

• ½ cup of organic turmeric root powder
• 1 cup of filtered water (may need more)
• ½ up to 1 ½ teaspoons of freshly ground black pepper (fresh is always best because of the piperine levels)
• ¼ cup organic cold-pressed virgin coconut oil (you can also use olive oil)

Instructions

• Mix the turmeric powder with the 1 cup of water in a pan or pot.  You may need to add more water if needed. Stir the mixture on medium/low heat and in about 7 to 10 minutes, it should form a thick paste. (If your paste looks runny, just add a bit more turmeric and heat it for another couple of minutes.)
• Once turned into a paste, add the fresh cracked pepper and coconut oil, and then stir it up!
• Once cool, place the paste in a jar and store it in your fridge.
• The paste should last for about 2 weeks.

Feeding Guide

• Dogs – start with about ¼ to ½ tsp, depending on the size of your dog. You can increase the amount from there, up to about a Tbsp for larger dogs.
• Cats – start with 1/8 of a teaspoon of turmeric paste and build up over time if needed.
• Humans- start with 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric paste 3 times a day and then build up to the desired level.

For Gut’s Sake!

Rich in turmeric and other essential pet nutrients, add a teaspoon of DOGGY DAILY or MOGGY DAILY into a wet or dry dog food or cat food bowl to enhance your pet’s gut health and so much more.