Orijen Holistic Pet Food is superior to regular premium brands because it contains:
NO Meat By-Products or Bone meals
NO Chemical preservatives (BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin)
NO Grain fillers like corn or wheat
NO Artificial Flavors or colors
Health promoting herbs and roots
70% REAL meat and fish, 30% vegetables and fruits
Some ingredients such as corn glutean meal, additives, & chemical preservatives have been linked to skin problems and allergies, cancer, obesity, diabetes, infections, gastro intestinal diseases, excessive shedding, and more.
Here are some ingredients that you DO want to see in a good quality pet food:
100% Human Grade Ingredients
REAL meats such as Chicken, Salmon, Beef, Turkey, Lamb etc.
Little or no grains
FRESH vegetables and fruits
Vitamin E (tocopherals) as a natural preservative
*Check the ingredients panel if you are unsure what is in the food you are buying, some companies are very good at tricking consumers into thinking their products are healthy..
Here are the ingredients you DO NOT want in a pet food:
1. Meat By-Products, chicken by-products, poulty by-products (This item is by far the most controversial ingredient in the pet food industry. Meat by-products are items that humans do not or cannot eat because they are diseased, contaminated, rotten, or otherwise unfit for human consumption)
2. Chemicals such as BHT or BHA which are known to cause cancer.
3. Too Much Grain like Wheat or Corn or Barley
4. Not enough whole foods like vegetables and fruits.
5. Artificial Colors or Flavors (red #40 for example, or caramel color)
Below is a detailed list of many ingredients in traditional and holistic pet foods.
Vitamin A Acetate -Essential anti-oxidant nutrient; plays an important role in the healthy function of lungs and air passages. Helps maintain healthy eyes, skin, teeth and gums.
Thiamin Mono Nitrate Vitamin B1 Essential for converting food into energy. Helps create energy from food by promoting the proper metabolism of carbohydrates in the body.
RiboflavinVitamin B2 Works with vitamin B1 to convert food into energy. Essential for growth and reproduction. Promotes healthy coat and skin. Benefits vision and helps alleviate eye fatigue.
PyridoxineVitamin B6 Vital to the nervous system. Performs many essential roles in protein metabolism and the use of fats. Aids in the formation of red blood cells.
Folic AcidVitamin B9. Essential for the formation of red blood cells. Aids in protein metabolism. Helps to build antibodies.
Vitamin B12 Benefits growth, food metabolism, the nervous system and red blood cell formation.
BiotinB complex. The B vitamins are interdependent on each other to achieve a wide variety of metabolic functions and maintain the nervous system.
Vitamin C Essential amino anti-oxidant nutrient. Acts in the formation of collagen and in growth and repair of soft tissue, bones and teeth. Helps with iron absorption.
Vitamin D Essential for absorption of calcium and phosphorus. Necessary for healthy bones, teeth and cartilage.
Vitamin E Essential anti-oxidant nutrient. Helps maintain red blood cells. Can supply oxygen to the body to increase endurance.
Vitamin K Necessary for the formation of a chemical required in blood clotting and for normal liver functioning.
Calcium CarbonateNatural source of calcium. Essential for muscle contraction and neuromuscular transmission and for blood coagulation. Also vital to some of the body’s enzyme reactions.
Calcium Pantotenate Stimulates adrenal glands to produce natural cortisone and hormones. Essential for proper utilization of fats and carbohydrates.
Calcium IodateSource of iodine. A trace mineral vital to the proper functioning of the thyroid gland. It plays an important part in regulating the body’s energy, in promoting growth and in stimulating the rate of metabolism.
Potassium Chloride An alkaline based forming mineral. Together with sodium it is responsible for maintaining the proper fluid balance in the body’s cells. Regulates heart muscle action and blood pressure.
Ferrous Sulfate Essential for life; necessary to produce red blood cells and red pigmentation in muscles and certain enzymes. Red blood cells transport oxygen in the blood from the lungs to the tissues that need oxygen for energy. Needed for proper protein metabolism.
Manganese Proteinate Needed for normal bone structures. Important for the formation of thyroxin, the principal hormone of the thyroid gland.
Sodium SeleniteEssential mineral. Antioxidant that works together with vitamin E to be effective for correct enzyme systems. Also with iodine, necessary for the correct thyroid function.
Zinc OxideNatural form of zinc, Essential for proper growth. Helps detoxify liver from poisons and maintain vitamin A levels in the body. It supports the immune and regulates white blood cells.
Zinc Proteinate Is bound to a protein molecule to increase absorption of zinc.
ChlorideEssential mineral. Helps regulate the correct balance of acid and alkali in the blood. Also needed by the liver to filter wastes from the system.
Cobalt SulfateTrace mineral. Promotes normal blood cell formation.
Copper Proteinate Is bound to a protein molecule to increase absorption of copper.
MilletSeeds are an excellent source of Vitamins. A non-glutinous grain, millet is the most alkaline of the grains family.
Brown Rice Provides higher quainties of fiber andlower quainties of fat and protien than corn, wheat or soybean.
Amaranth Besides iron and protein, Amaranth is high in calcium, and it contains most of the B vitamins, as well as other minerals.
Barley A carbohydrate, which provides the body with energy. Considered to be a non-allegenic grain.
Oats High in trace minerals.
Salmon For it's protein content and source of omega 3,6 & 9 essential fatty acids. (The only fish meal not preserved with ethoxiquin.)
Flax Seed Stimulates the immune system and acts as an antioxidant. Also, rich in essential fatty acids.
Alfalfa A blood purifier which contain a fluoride compound that can aid in the prevention of tooth decay. Studies suggest that it neutralizes and moves carcinogens out of the intestines. Alkalizes and detoxifies the body and liver. Contains the best natural source of protein and in high in clacium.
CranberriesHigh in vitamin C. It's properties have been known to help cleanse the urinary tract by fighting bacterial infections, and to help heal wounds.
Apples Lowers blood cholesterol, improves bowel function and helps prevent urinary tract infections. High in tannins, may help prevent gum disease.
Garlic Well known for its immunizer antioxidant and helps in preventing fleas, worms ticks, gastric and skin problems. Helps the heart by lowering blood pressure. "In small amounts garlic provides all these benefits, large amount of raw garlic can cause illness in dogs. As goes the saying, too much of a good thing."
Yucca For better absorbtion of food and helps with arthritis, hip dysplasia, joint problems, and soft tissue swelling. Also acts as an odor control. Dissolves out and eliminates intestinal mucus and the wastes on the intestinal lining. Helps eliminate pathogenic organisms. Known to detoxify and cleanse the kidneys and liver.
CinnamonIncreases digestibility of food.
Rosemary All natural, free flowing antioxidant for use in the preservation of fats, oils, fat soluble vitamins and other oxygen sensitive ingredients. A detoxifying herb that works wonders for the liver, gall bladder, stomach, and intestines. Rosemary contains many antioxidants. In 1987 scientists found two more, carnosol and ursolic acid which prevents microbiological spoilage in foods better than what is currently used in the food industry. (BHT & BHA)
Nutritional Yeast All natural, free flowing antioxidant for use in the preservation of fats, oils, fat soluble vitamins and other oxygen sensitive ingredients.
Soya Protein Well known for use in the preservation of prevention of chronic diseases. Reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Soya has a very high protein content and soya is rich in vitamins, minerals and fibers.
Sage The "longevity" herb. RICH in antioxidants and substances that aid in the digestion of animal fats.
Marjoram Eliminates stomach upset. Another detoxifier to help keep the gall bladder healthy.
Peppermint The leaf extracts are used to treat indigestion, intestinal gas and to prohibit diarrhea.
Ginger A STRONG antioxidant containing substances resembling DIGESTIVE ENZYMES which break down proteins to promote nutritional absorption.
Parsley A breath freshener as far back as the early Romans, parsley is considered an herbal multivitamin.
Chlorophyll Best known for its deodorizing properties. Widely used as a breath freshener. Chlorophyll is to plants as blood is to the human body.
GLOSSARY
The Term "Essential" Indispensable to body function, yet cannot be made internally
Chelated Minerals "firmly attached" usually to an amino acid or other organic component so the two do not separate in the digestive system
Omega 6 & Omega 3 Two essential fatty acids, linoleic and linolenic. The building blocks for the brain, nervous system and eyes.
Some ingredients such as corn glutean meal, additives, & chemical preservatives have been linked to skin problems and allergies, cancer, obesity, diabetes, infections, gastro intestinal diseases, excessive shedding, and more.