Ma Snax Superior Dogs Treats™

3/1/11

March Treat: Green Apple with Reishi Mushroom, Thyme & Kelp

...It's March...time for a new treat of the month. This one's a personal favorite of mine and Penny's. It's a popular flavor for us and full of healthy goodness. [BTW: that's our girl on the cover]


So let's break it down...
Green Apples: we use organic dehydrated apples and if anyone needs reminding, apples are the original superfood.
Here's a few reasons why:
Apples have no fat, cholesterol or sodium, and contain small amounts of potassium, which may promote heart health, help maintain healthy blood pressure and a healthy weight.

Quercetin:
 May be a major reason why the old saying about eating "an apple a day" has been associated with good health. Quercetin, primarily found in apples, onions, and black tea, belongs to a group of plant pigment flavonoids that serve as a building block for other members of the flavonoid family. It combats the destructive "free radical" molecules that play a part in many diseases.

Specifically, quercetin may help to:
• Reduce cancer risk
• Prevent heart attacks
• Ward off eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration
• Control asthma
• Maintain health when suffering from Crohn's disease
• Prevent recurrent gout attacks
• Speed up healing of recurrent heartburn, or gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD)


Bone Protection
French researchers found that a flavanoid called phloridzin that is found only in apples may protect post-menopausal women from osteoporosis and may also increase bone density. Boron, another ingredient in apples, also strengthens bones.

Alzheimer's Prevention
A study on mice at Cornell University found that the quercetin in apples may protect brain cells from the kind of free radical damage that may lead to dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Lower Cholesterol
The pectin in apples lowers LDL ("bad") cholesterol. People who eat two apples per day may lower their cholesterol by as much as 16 percent.
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Medicinal Mushrooms: We use reishi mushroom powder in our recipe.
Hailed in ancient Eastern medicine as the "mushroom of immortality" and the "medicine of kings," reishi offers some pretty astounding health benefits.

Pharmacological effects of whole Reishi extracts in vivo and in vitro

  • Anti-allergic activity
  • Bronchitis-preventative effect, inducing regeneration of bronchial epithelium
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Antibacterial, against Staphylococci, Streptococci, and Bacillus pneumoniae (perhaps due to increased immune system activity)
  • Antioxidant, by eliminating hydroxyl free radicals
  • Antitumor activity
  • Antiviral effect, by inducing interferon production
  • Lowers blood pressure
  • Enhances bone marrow nucleated cell proliferation
  • Cardiotonic action, lowering serum cholesterol levels with no effect on triglycerides, enhancing myocardial metabolism of hypoxic animals, and improving coronary artery hemodynamics
  • Central depressant and peripheral anticholinergic actions on the autonomic nervous sytem reduce the effects of caffeine and relax muscles
  • Enhanced natural killer cell (NK) activity in vitro in mice
  • Expectorant and antitussive properties demonstrated in mice studies

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Kelp is in our recipe as well. we use a granulated Atlantic variety. What's beneficial about Sea Vegetables?
Kelp is high in iodine, potassium, calcium, and other minerals as well as vitamins, especially the B vitamins. The B vitamins among its many functions are well renowned for their ability to combat stress and increase energy levels.
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Thyme is more than just an aromatic herb with culinary applications.
Historically Thyme has been used for various purposes throughout the centuries. In medieval times, thyme was regarded as a plant that imparted courage and vigor. The ancient Romans considered it a remedy for melancholy. Ancient Egyptians used it in embalming.

Therapeutically thyme contains an essential oil that is rich in thymol, a powerful antiseptic, antibacterial, and a strong antioxidant. The oil of thyme is used in mouthwashes to treat inflammations of the mouth, and throat infections. It is a common component of cough drops. 

Thyme contains the flavonoids apigenin, naringenin, luteolin, and thymonin, which have antioxidant activity. Read more...

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Add to this the amazing properties of raw honey, molasses and rolled oats and we're talking about one super cookie. 

The treat special for March. If you haven't tried this one, you really should. Our dogs love it and by all reports, so do scores of others. 
15% off all thru March.