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| Frequently Asked Questions About Animals | ||
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In addition to knowing the appropriate application of each product, you may find
it useful to hear some of the questions most commonly asked by animal owners and
professionals, and answers from our experts.
A: Prevention is the key to longevity. Nutrition that supports the immune system is the key to prevention. SBGA is known to support the immune system as well as provide many fundamental essential nutrients that may otherwise be missing from traditional diets. Health is a process that occurs over time at a cellular level. Disease that occurs from nutritional deficiency or a compromised immune system is a part of this same process. By the time visible problems associated with nutritional deficiency appear, much cellular damage has already occurred. Feeding micronutrients such as those found in SBGA is an excellent way to support the body at a cellular level, maintaining strong healthy bodies -- cell by cell. The monumental experiments of Dr. Francis Pottenger, M.D., Ph.D., in the 30’s and 40’s proved that many aspects of the health and well-being of animals are directly associated with the amount of cooked food in an animal’s diet. Energy, longevity, degenerative disease, fertility, and behavior were influenced enormously (negatively) by cooked food. Animals are of perfect design. That perfect design has a blueprint for digesting raw food. The nutrients lost in the cooking process are crucial to their well-being. This loss occurs in both home-cooked or high-heat processed commercial foods. The addition of SBGA to their regular food replenishes their diet with a source of these natural, raw food-derived nutrients. SBGA is a special strain of blue-green algae that grows in the mineral-rich waters of Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon. This lake, found high in the Cascade Mountains, is fed by over 4,000 square miles of volcanically formed mountains. The wild-crafted SBGA that grows within this body of water provides more vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, and chlorophyll per gram than most other food sources. Natural balancing cannot occur properly unless all of the raw elements of basic nutrition are provided in an easy-to-assimilate form. SBGA is at least 95% assimilable and has a non-cellulose cell wall. Animals instinctively know they need the nutrients in this food. Small amounts added to the diet can supply incredible benefits for all animals of all sizes, including animal athletes. Blue-green algae is one of the oldest foods on earth and is at the very bottom of the food chain. Therefore, algae has been eaten by animals since the beginning of time. According to chiropractor/nutritionist and Simplexity Health Business Associate Dr. Philip Haselden, "no other product enhances the body’s ability to balance itself naturally to the degree this one does." It is the only food product available that is as good as the natural healing philosophy we believe in. Everybody, human or animal, needs and deserves what is in SBGA. A: Simplexity Health’s proprietary harvesting, processing, and packaging techniques set us apart from our competitors. For example, freshwater algae are very sensitive to light and heat. If SBGA is exposed to heat during harvesting, transport, or processing, it quickly loses much of its nutritional value. Whereas most of the methods available for drying algae involve high temperatures, Simplexity Health uses a special low-temperature drying method that allows SBGA to be processed without ever compromising quality. In addition, Simplexity Health’s SBGA is a naturally occurring, wild-crafted superfood with a broad spectrum of minerals, trace minerals, vitamins, chlorophyll, and a complete amino acid profile, all in a formula balanced by nature that allows the body to utilize all of the nutritional properties of the microalgae more efficiently. Q: I’ve heard that some algae is very toxic to animals. How is this algae different? A: Many varieties of algae, especially those growing on the sides of stock tanks and in stock ponds, are very hazardous to animals. Simplexity Health’s SBGA, harvested from Upper Klamath Lake, is not only nutritious but has been scientifically demonstrated through years of rigorous testing to be totally non-toxic. For nearly 10 years Simplexity Health products have exceeded every standard of purity established in the United States and Canada for nutritional supplements. Ongoing testing and quality assurance of any natural ingredient is essential, since any ecological system -- in particular that of an active system such as Upper Klamath Lake -- is changeable. For instance, during a few weeks in the summer of 1996 an unusual "bloom" of Microcystis -- a minor co-occurring blue-green alga capable of producing the toxin microcystin -- was detected in Upper Klamath Lake by Simplexity Health. Although Microcystis is a minor constituent of the Klamath Lake phytoplankton community, the 1996 bloom caused Simplexity Health to alert health authorities of a potential risk posed by algae products that do not undergo Simplexity Health’s strict scientific controls. This unusual bloom of Microcystis in Upper Klamath Lake has not re-occurred, nor did the occurrence compromise the purity of Simplexity Health products. However, it provides a useful historical illustration of the care that must be taken in the manufacturing of any natural nutritional supplement. Recently, the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) entered into a collaborative effort with the blue-green algae industry to develop a program aimed at ensuring safety of blue-green algae products, utilizing procedures that had already been in place at Simplexity Health for nearly five years. This program ensures that blue-green algae products produced by any harvester enrolled in the program meet or exceed all of ODA’s standards of health safety. Q: Will I need to keep feeding my animal its other supplements? A: The need for specific types of nutrients varies from individual to individual, as well as by species, existing health condition, source and type of food, environment, and stresses the animal is exposed to. In addition, you must consider the animal’s ability to assimilate the supplement being given (i.e., vitamins cannot be assimilated without the presence of the appropriate co-factors). Utilizing Simplexity Health’s line of algae, probiotics, enzymes, and antioxidants can greatly enhance an animal’s digestion and assimilation of nutrients, and offer basic fundamental elements that are missing. Many people have reported that after adding a specific product alone or a complete program of algae, enzymes, probiotics, and antioxidants, they no longer use many targeted types of supplements such as multivitamins, hoof supplements, and hair/coat supplements. Observation over a period of time and consultation with your animal health professional will best answer this question for a particular animal. A: No. Many products on the market that are designed for animal use take advantage of several factors. Although animal owners are now more likely to know that current diets for animals are missing vital properties required for good health -- such as enzymes, probiotics, and antioxidants -- there is a mistaken belief that animal nutrition can be inferior to human nutrition and still be effective. Animal supplements often use inferior ingredients and heat processing in order to supply a lower priced product. In addition, these products may support the misconception that nutrition can be achieved according to a formula based on animal species. This does not take into account the individual animal’s ability to assimilate the nutrients provided. It is important to remember that species-specific supplements are not supported in Nature. For example, it does not matter if an apple is eaten by a human or a horse -- the natural enzyme activity of the apple helps break down the apple regardless of what species has consumed it. This is true of all raw foods. A: SBGA is micronutrition, meaning that it supplies a broad spectrum of nutrients in small amounts. These amounts will not overwhelm the animal’s overall diet. For example, when looking at the nutritional breakdown of SBGA, the amount of protein may seem very high, yet it is fed in such small amounts that it provides very little added protein to the overall diet. The purpose of feeding SBGA is not to meet the animal’s total need of nutrients, but rather to fill in the missing micronutrients not provided by modern animal diets. A: When the body is out of balance, it is prone to a host of physical problems. Animals with healthy immune systems, good digestion, and ample nutrition live relatively free of physical discomfort. Supporting the immune system and digestive tract, which can involve supplementing with micronutrients and antioxidants, may greatly benefit animals suffering any type of physical discomfort. The need for medical attention or intervention may still be necessary. However, if we do not improve the immune system, digestion, and overall nutrition, even medical intervention will achieve limited results. Q: Has SBGA been known to help with behavioral problems? A: We know that our nutrition affects our emotional state. We know healthy bodies have healthy minds. Is this true of our animal friends? Many people are saying yes -- my dog, my cat, my horse, my parrot, etc., is so much happier, learns faster, is calmer, plays more, is more loving, and the list goes on for the positive behavioral benefits of complete nutrition. Many believe that getting all the nutrients necessary for building a healthy nervous system is a key to good behavior. Q: Is it OK to feed SBGA to animals taking antibiotics? A: Adding super nutrients to your pet’s regular diet does not interfere with antibiotics. It makes sense that having nutrients in a naturally chelated form, which are highly usable by the body, can only benefit the animal suffering from a condition that requires antibiotics. It is known that antibiotics destroy the necessary friendly bacteria, which are essential to good health. Therefore it is important to add probiotics such as Super Blue Green Acidophilus, Bifidus, and Spectrabiotic to your pet’s diet to help replenish the friendly bacteria. While antibiotic resistance for probiotics is desirable, none are completely immune to antibiotics, so it is best to take probiotics in between the times that one is taking antibiotics. For example, if an animal is given antibiotics three or four times daily (typically, at 8 am, 3 pm, and 10 pm), one may consider giving the probiotics at 11:30 am and 6:30 pm. Q: Does SBGA pass drug tests in screens of competing animals? A: SBGA is not a drug. The nutritional properties of SBGA are found in different amounts in foods of all kinds. The fact that so many different types of nutrients are found in one food makes SBGA a powerhouse of nutrition. Many winning racehorses and greyhound racing dogs are living testimonials of this. Q: Do animals like the taste of SBGA? A: Many do. There have been reports of animals breaking into containers and consuming the entire contents, and while it will not hurt them, it won’t do any good either. We recommend starting every animal slowly, just as you would with any new food. Some animals will not recognize the smell and will turn up their noses and walk away. To avoid this, place a small amount in the center of their regular feed, or in a treat with a strong aroma. Another option is to simply take a pinch between your fingers, lift the lip, and place the algae on the gum. Even the most finicky animals usually acquire a taste for it as their systems become more balanced. Q: What should people notice when starting their animals on SBGA? A: Every animal is different and may respond differently to this chlorophyll-rich food. Initial responses for strong, healthy animals usually include more playfulness, brighter eyes, increased sense of awareness, and more shine to their coats. Other animals may have toxins in their systems and tissues--ranging from additives or chemicals in their food to undigested food, environmental pollutants, and odd things they have ingested over the course of their lifetime--and as a result may show signs of internal cleansing. When beginning to feed this super nutrition, you may notice a period of adjustment. It is important to remember that it is necessary to cleanse the body, thereby greatly benefiting your animal’s health. Initial signs of adjustment may include slight digestion upset or loose stools, an increase in thirst, appetite, and the need for rest, or a decrease in appetite in some animals. If the animal has current allergy symptoms you may notice a slight increase in these symptoms in the beginning. All of these should be considered as possible signs of a simple cleansing process. If the process seems too uncomfortable for the animal, simply decrease the amount of algae being fed. Do this to allow the animal’s body to adjust slowly, and then increase the amount fed as the animal adjusts. Another option for supporting animals in this situation is to start them with SBG Zymes and Acidophilus for a week or two and then slowly introduce APA Blend or APA Blend Plus.
A: The first thing to remember is that algae is a food, so there is no concern about adverse effects from more than the recommended amount. This may not be the case if you were using a vitamin or mineral supplement that was not a complete and balanced food. Animals as well as humans need different amounts of SBGA depending on their diet and their body's current level of health. Likewise, being of perfect design, their bodies know where and how to use this balanced food. The guidelines provided in our "If you love animals" section work for most animals, but you may wish to adjust the amounts based on your animal's individual needs.
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