Spices & Herbs for a healthy dog’s diet

Not only can herbs and spices add an incredible flavor and aroma to food, but they can also have remarkable health benefits in your and your dog’s diet. 

If you have ever wondered whether your favorite spices and herbs are safe for your dog, today we’ll answer that question. 

Did you know?

A spice is a seed, root, bark, fruit or other plant substance that has been dried. It is primarily used for flavoring, providing aroma and/or as a food colorant. 

An herb is a plant with savory and aromatic properties that can have various uses for flavoring or garnishing food, but also for medicinal purposes and even for fragrances production!

India produces over 70% of the world’s spices and is also home to the greatest variety of spices in the world. 

And let's not assume that the consumption of spices is something of the past because in fact, the total spice consumption reached an all-time high of 12,269 kilo tons in 2020. That is a lot of spices!!

Health benefits of species for our dogs (and us!)

The advancement of laboratory techniques has allowed the identification of countless bioactive molecules in spices and herbs that are responsible for a variety of health properties, such as: 

• Anti-oxidant properties that support the immune system staying strong in the fight against chronic diseases.
• Anti-microbial properties, making spices and herbs a perfect ally in the prevention of infections.
• Anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce pain and promote the healing of injuries.
• Anti-cancer properties that promote the elimination of cancerous cells and prevent the proliferation of tumors.
• Regulation of glucose and lipids blood levels, supporting the metabolism in cases of diabetes or metabolic syndrome.

 Science has shown that most spices and aromatic herbs share some of these properties. Today, you’ll give you a hand (or shall we say a paw 😊🐾) to decide which of them is better to include in your dog’s diet:

Spices that can have health benefits for your dog include: 

 Yes, the amounts on the table are in “mg” and usually it is hard to measure such small amounts on our home-scales. No worries, here’s a rule of thumb: for small dogs, no more than ⅓ of a teaspoon of your spice/fresh herb a day; for a medium size dog, ½ a teaspoon and for a large dog, 1 teaspoon. 

As with any food, look for organic sources of fresh herbs and powdered spices and avoid spice mixtures, or essential oils that might contain salt and other unwanted artificial ingredients, and turn out to be toxic for your dog. 

As always, when introducing new ingredients to your doggy for the first time, do so in small amounts and monitor their reactions to ensure they enjoy it and tolerate it well.

Now you know … 

Now you know why we use all these spices and herbs in our freshly baked organic treats 😊.