| More is Not Better: The Omega Balance
The use of Omega-6 (linoleic) and
Omega-3 (linoleic acid) fatty acids in pet food is currently a hot topic among consumers. It has long been known that omega-6 fatty acids are necessary for healthy skin and coat. Most pet foods provide more than enough
Omega-6 fatty acids in the diet, primarily from grain and animal fat sources. However, current research indicates that it is not the absolute amount of
Omega-6 that is important but rather the proper balance of
Omega-6 to Omega-3 in the diet that promotes optimum health benefits.
Early research showed that Omega-3 supplementation resulted in moisture-retentive skin thus producing a shinier coat and a reduction in common skin irritations such as itching and flaking. More recent studies indicate that the use of
Omega-6 and Omega-3 are not only beneficial for skin and coat condition but for maintaining a healthy immune system as well. These fatty acids have been shown to improve immune function in puppies, fight off intestinal bowel disorder and arthritis in senior dogs, as well as create longer remission periods in cancer patients. As you can see,
Omega-6 and Omega-3 supplemented diets have benefits much more far reaching than once thought. The key to achieving these healthy effects lies not in the quantity added to the diet but in attaining the proper balance of
Omega-6 to Omega-3. Research shows that the ratio of
Omega-6 to Omega-3 should be between the range of 5:1 and 10:1 in order to achieve these claims. All Exclusive™ formulas fall within this recommended range.
The primary choices available for
Omega-3 supplementation are fish oil and flaxseed. Exclusive™ diets contain flaxseed as the
Omega-3 source. This is because flaxseed is neutral in taste and smell and shelf-stable. Fish oil, on the other hand is smelly, unpalatable and unstable. The source of flaxseed in Exclusive diets is grown in and purchased from Manitoba, Canada where the varieties of flaxseed have been found to contain the highest
Omega-3 content and to be the most stable in the world.
The bottom line; more is not better. Pet diets containing the correct omega balance result in optimum health benefits for pets. The
Omega-balance is a nutritional home-run, far beyond just another skin and coat remedy.
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