In recent times, everyone agrees that vegetables are healthy in the human diet. But there are also certain vegetables that our four-legged friends benefit from eating.

At ESSENTIAL FOODS, we use a variety of greens in our meals, carefully selected for properties that improve the dog's overall well-being.

Carrot
It's a myth that carrots give good eyesight - or do they?

Carrots contain carotene (which gives them a yellow/orange color) and which contains vitamin A. This vitamin actually helps to support good vision and is especially important for being able to see well in the dark.

In addition, vitamin A is particularly important for puppies, as it supports healthy growth and helps throughout life to boost the immune system.

Cauliflower
One source of vitamin A is not enough, and cauliflower is also rich in this important vitamin.

Cauliflower also contains B9 vitamins, which is an important folic acid. This helps the development of the fetus in pregnant women (both humans and dogs), and is essential in the conversion of proteins.

Ginger
Is there anything ginger can't do? We have really opened our eyes to this wonder drug in recent years, and ginger is also healthy for dogs, unfortunately.

Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties, helps against nausea and motion sickness, relieves flatulence (everyone who lives with a dog knows this problem) - and studies have shown that ginger can also be used as a remedy for heartworms (also known as dogworms).

In addition, ginger contains potassium, which helps nerve and muscle function, as well as calcium for healthy teeth and bones.

A tip that often abounds on the dog network is to give dogs with motion sickness a little ginger half an hour before departure - please share your experiences with this in the comments section below.

Ginseng
Another miracle remedy from the earth. Although studies into the properties of ginseng as a dog food are limited, experience-based studies show that ginseng improves the dog's general physique, immune system, cognitive abilities, blood sugar levels and liver functions.

Potato
An effective source of carbohydrates, of which there are otherwise not many in ESSENTIAL FOODS' meals.

A good alternative to grain, and therefore particularly suitable for dogs that cannot tolerate grain. Potatoes are also a good source of fiber and vitamin C.

Sweet Potato
Despite the name, sweet potatoes and regular potatoes are not actually related. Sweet potatoes are often overlooked in favor of their more common namesake, but are packed with beneficial nutrients.

Including carotene (just like carrots), vitamin A, vitamin C, antioxidants, potassium, fiber and magnesium. All these treats help maintain the dog's immune system and support healthy digestion and growth.

Spinach
A versatile plant, rich in iron, vitamin A and vitamin K. The latter is important for the dog's blood's ability to coagulate, as well as for absorbing proteins necessary in connection with a healthy combustion.

Although many of these ingredients sound like rabbit food, they contain important nutrients for dogs.

Dogs of the past would have absorbed more of these by eating herbivores, but now get the same vitamins and minerals through dog food - therefore it is important that the dog's food is varied, well thought out and of high quality.

Sources:

• https://www.petfoodinstitute.org/the-whole-bowl/z-pet-food-vitamin/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16117603/
• https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anton-Beynen/publication/322420322_Beynen_AC_2018_Diet_and_dog_farts/links/5a5870d6a6fdccf0ad1ac2cb/Beynen-AC-2018-Diet-and-dog-farts.pdf
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3668217/
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0083672908602277
• https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/2/34/htm