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Why Weight Loss Shouldn’t Be Your New Year’s Goal

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why weight loss shouldn't be your new year's goal

The time is almost here to say goodbye to the past year and say hello to the new!

With the holiday season wrapping up and the new year slowly creeping closer, there is no doubt many of us have already created our long list of life-changing resolutions that we *promise* to keep for the next 365 days. And one of the most popular resolutions to make an annual appearance? Weight loss.

Of course, striving to slim down and live an active lifestyle is a great goal to set for yourself, but the problem can arise when we look at the way people tend to measure this goal. Yep, we’re talking about the scale. It’s no surprise that the number staring back at you has held a lot of weight through the decades, but what if we told you it might not be the best way to track your health into the new year?

Confused? Keep on reading to discover why weight loss shouldn’t be your New Year’s goal, and what resolution you should set instead!

WEIGHT LOSS FOCUSES ON GENERALIZATIONS

Big-picture thinking has its perks, but when it comes to your body, you want to be as detailed as possible. We’ve all probably heard the word “BMI” tossed around in weight loss conversation or back in our high school health class. In fact, this is probably how you got the magic number in your head that you’ve been trying to hit on the scale for years. But do you know the actual science behind it?

Turns out, the methodology behind BMI isn’t as scientifically complex as you might think. Short for Body Mass Index, this long-practiced method aims to determine a “healthy” body based solely on gender, weight and height. And while previously seen as the pillar for weight management, this approach has earned a flawed reputation. By relying on a general ratio between height and weight, BMI cannot truly capture WHAT is contributing to the number on the scale. And because it fails to take into account everything from fat percentage to muscle mass, it can lead to faulty results.

This is because fat mass and muscle mass contribute to weight in very different ways. Fat is essential to survival, but when it is in excess, health issues can arise. In comparison, muscle mass is good for your health, but it also tends to weigh more by volume than the same amount of fat. This means an increase in the number on the scale could be attributed to a gain in muscle mass, even if body fat stays the same or even decreases. And that’s exactly why the limitations of BMI effect the method’s accuracy.

For example, people who are shorter, yet possess high muscle mass, are often classified as “overweight” by BMI standards. This is because their muscle causes them to exceed the recommended weight for their height.  Not to mention, everyone’s body is built differently, and BMI can often fail to consider these beautiful differences.

This is why body composition matters.

BODY COMPOSITION FOCUSES ON DETAILS

Body composition is a newer metric that has taken the fitness industry by storm. This in-depth approach takes a more detailed look at the body by examining the key factors that actually compose your weight. main focus is on fat percentage, but it also breaks down muscle weight, bone mass, and more. Body composition is most accurately measured by your doctor, but it can also be tracked with a body fat caliper or by measuring the circumference of your waist, legs, and arms.

Here is an example of what average body composition may look like:

Body builders are a great group to examine when illustrating the advantages of body composition over BMI. While these athletes may tend to weigh more than the average person in their height/gender class, much of this weight is a result of their impressive muscle mass. From a BMI perspective, they would often be thrown into the “obese” category, whereas their body composition would indicate they actually have a healthy fat percentage.

Because body composition focuses on the details to create a full body picture, it’s a great way to help determine which specific lifestyle habits may be contributing to overall weight and which habits may need adjusting. So, whether your personal goal is to build muscle or lower body fat this New Year, gauging your progress according to body composition will help you lay out a clear path that is easy to visualize and follow—without having to constantly check in with the scale.

TIPS FOR A HEALTHY BODY COMPOSITION

  • Work out 3-4x a Week: Exercise is crucial when it comes to developing a healthy body composition. Cardio workouts are ideal for burning calories and lowering body fat while weight training is a great go-to for building muscle and increasing tone. Feel free to mix and match your workout based on your personal fitness goals! Do NOT jump into a 30+ minute intense workout if you haven’t done one in awhile. DO start small, even if its just 5 minutes of stretching properly and build from there. This isn’t a race, it’s taking care of your health so you can get to the lifestyle you desire.
  • Prioritize Nutrition: A healthy body isn’t ALL about cardio and weights. In fact, creating a balanced diet that prioritizes good nutrition is just as essential to reaching optimal body composition. Eating meals high in fruits, veggies and protein—and avoiding those high in sugar and fat—is an excellent way to ensure your body gets proper fuel. Do NOT eat a boring meal plan, you’ll get tired of it and give up. DO find exciting new meals to try that align with your goals.
  • Get Enough Sleep: You might think “just one more episode” late at night won’t hurt…but science says different. Lack of sleep is a sneaky culprit that can contribute to stored body fat, especially in the stomach area. This is because lack of sleep raises cortisol levels (i.e. the stress hormone) causing the body to cling to excess fat. So, if lowering your body fat percentage is at the top of your New Year’s list, make sure to get those zzzs. Do NOT push yourself beyond the point of tired. DO try to recognize your bodies signs it’s time to rest, or slow down…it’s OK to take a nap.
  • Stay Hydrated: Did you know that at least 60% of your body is made up of water? Not only does water act as a building block for our cells, it also helps transport nutrients to the muscles in order to help increase strength and provide energy…something you definitely need when hitting the gym. Do NOT drink those “sports” drinks they are usually packed with so much sodium it will to the opposite and dehydrate you. DO drink water, add things to it like fresh fruit slices, mint or lavender.
  • Take Progress Photos: Because body composition focuses more on a healthy fat percentage than the number on a scale, it is much easier to see results by the way your clothes fit or the way you look in the mirror. To get a better idea for your progress, try taking before and after pictures thorough your fitness journey. This will help you visualize both loss in body fat and increase in muscle tone.
    • Stand in natural light: Natural light is a must when it comes to shooting a clear photo. This lighting will ensure that your picture can be in clear focus and isn’t impacted by shadows, highlights or blur. Even better, make sure the light matches by taking your before and after photos around the same time of the day.
    • Consider the angle: Taking your picture at the right angle is another pro tip. Eye level is the optimal height, as it won’t distort proportions with odd angles. Remember, these shouldn’t be selfies! So, try setting up a tripod or have a friend take the photo for best results.
    • Snap a photo from all sides: Don’t just take a picture facing the camera. Get a full body photo of the front, back and sides of your body. This way you can see all of the changes happening in the different areas.
    • Pick the right outfit: Opt for fitted swimwear or a sports bra with well-fitted shorts. Avoiding baggy clothes will help show off your shape and give you a clear understanding of what is happening on the outside. Also, don’t forget to wear the same outfit in both your before and after photos.
    • Keep the background simple: Less clutter equals a better view of your progress. Try standing in front of a blank wall for minimal distractions.
Examples of good before and after progress photos.

These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. We are not medical advisers, just merely posting research and suggestions. You should always know your own body and seek medical advice from professionals.
Credit: Modere Latest
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265215#Waist-size-linked-to-diabetes-risk,-regardless-of-BMI/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15797686/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6566799/

Avocado Lime Shrimp Salad

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🥑🍤Avocado Lime Shrimp Salad🥗🍅
The perfect lite, refreshing summer dish!
Ingredients:

  • 14 ounces jumbo cooked shrimp, peeled and de-veined, chopped.
  • 1 1/2 cup (9.51 oz) tomato, diced
  • 4 1/2 ounces avocado, diced
  • 1/4 cup (.80 oz) jalapeno, seeds removed, diced fine
  • 1/4 cup (.88 oz) chopped green onion
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tbsp + 2 tsp chopped red onion
  • ¼ teaspoon fresh pepper to taste

Directions: In a small bowl combine green onion, lime juice, olive oil, pinch of salt and pepper. Let them marinate at least 5 minutes to mellow the flavor of the onion.

In a large bowl combine chopped shrimp, avocado, tomato, jalapeno. Combine all the ingredients together, add cilantro and gently toss. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.

Makes 2 servings

Refreshing Summer Drink Ideas

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Summer is here! Well in Central California at least! Here’s a healthy & tasty way to keep cool!

Cucumbers are very refreshing and hydrating. While they are composed mostly of water, the skin is rich in fiber and contains silica, potassium, and magnesium. A lot of people don’t like the skins of cucumbers, but they are worth eating so you can get those minerals. Make sure you use organic cucumbers if you’re going to eat the skin.

Coconut water is very hydrating and is full of natural electrolytes.

Parsley is full of nutrition with a large amount of available vitamin K, C, and A, along with anti-oxidants that help cleanse the blood. Parsley is also a great source of folic acid, which is one of the most important B vitamins. To green smoothies and beverages, parsley adds a mild “green” flavor that is light and refreshing. Because of the high nutritional value of parsley, I’ve started keeping it on hand regularly and I use it in just about everything.

You could add a variety of ingredients to this recipe. Watermelon would be divine. Honeydew would also be a delicious flavor to compliment the cucumber and citrus.

Ingredients

• 2 cups coconut water

• 1 small cucumber, washed and thinly sliced or chopped

• ½ cup fresh lemon juice

• 1 large bunch parsley, chopped fine

• 1 tsp. fresh, grated ginger

• ½ tsp raw honey

• ice

Instructions

There are two ways you can make this – it’s delicious either way:

1. Chop the cucumber and parsley and add to a quart jar. Add the honey, coconut water, lemon juice, and ice. With a tight fitting lid, shake vigorously until combined. Serve immediately. When you get done with the beverage, you’ll have a fresh little salad in the bottom of your glass. Some people might think this is weird – I thought it was tasty.

2. In a blender, add all the ingredients, except the ice and pulse to combine. Pour over ice and serve. If you want it more like a slushee texture, add some ice and blend to desired consistency.

Energy Drinks Truth & Lies

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In the US, the energy drink and shot industry grew 60% between 2008-2012 and was worth $12.5 billion in 2012. Sales are projected to reach $21.5 billion by 2017. These enormous sales numbers are due to the effective marketing strategies geared toward adolescents. Companies use different strategies to attract the young consumer. Cans and bottles usually consist of colorful graphics and catchy names. Commercials are placed on television networks including MTV, MTV2, Adult Swim and Comedy Central that are predominantly viewed by adolescents. Extreme sports competitions such as the X Games are mostly watched by the young population and therefore are heavily sponsored by energy drink companies. These companies also sponsor the athletes. Young consumers see their favorite athlete drinking and promoting an energy drink and want to imitate their favorite superstar athletes by acting, dressing and drinking just like their idol. They do this to try to live their idol’s lifestyle and maybe one day walk in their shoes. A recent study showed that in 2010 adolescents saw an average of 124 television ads for energy drinks/shots and 122 soda ads. The same study also showed that children between the ages of 2-11 saw almost the same amount of 5-Hour Energy commercials as they saw Capri Sun fruit drink commercials.

Many health risks arise from the consumption of energy drinks, especially for the young consumer. The main issue is due to the large amount of caffeine in these drinks. In 2007, there were 5,488 cases of caffeine overdose in the US. Forty-six percent of those cases occurred in individuals under 19 years of age. Drinking too much caffeine, especially if the individual does not consume large amounts of caffeine on a regular basis, can have rapid cardiovascular effects. Caffeine causes heart rate and blood pressure to increase. This in turn can lead to irregular heart activity, seizures, diabetes, mood and behavioral disorders, sleep disturbances, caffeine dependence and withdrawal. Genetic factors also determine if an individual is at a greater risk for complications with the consumption of caffeine. Caffeine is also a diuretic and may lead to dehydration. It is important to stay well hydrated and not consume large amounts of caffeine before or during exercise. The combination of altered cardiovascular activity along with dehydration may lead to many complications and even death. It is also important not to mix energy drinks/shots with medications or alcohol.

Sugar in energy drinks can lead to a variety of health problems. A diet high in sugar can overwork the pancreas, which generates insulin to balance sugar intake, and makes the individual more susceptible to diabetes. Sugar also makes blood very thick and sticky, preventing it from flowing in small capillaries that supply the gums and teeth with nutrients. Teens consuming about 2,000 daily calories should limit their daily sugar intake to 20-32 grams (5-8 teaspoons). It is important to consume natural sugars found in fruits, vegetables and dairy, while avoiding added sugars found in foods such as desserts, sodas and energy drinks. Main complications from energy drink consumption develop because of the high concentration of different ingredients that act to stimulate the body and mind.

The ingredients in energy drinks all have specific effects and can affect a person differently, depending on their characteristics. Focus on trying to get enough sleep, proper nutrition and exercise regularly to keep your energy level up.

What to do if you REALLY need an extra boost???

There’s no doubt that life in general – and modern life in particular, places incredible demands on our individual resources. Let’s face it, life can be exhausting! Plus when you’re parenting 4 tiny humans you can bet your lucky stars momma needs some extra energy!

When it comes time for an energy boost, it’s most likely the best solution isn’t a “pick me up” that is full of synthetic ingredients and refined sugar, that gives you a quick buzz then causes you to crash.

However there IS a natural way to get more energy. Modere’s Energy Shot has only natural ingredients, with none of the junk! One 90ml bottle a day:

• promotes a natural energy boost

• promotes alertness and concentration

• delays fatigue

• naturally stimulating

• revitalizes mind and body

• helps you meet mental and physical challenges

It contains natural caffeine from Guarana and Green Tea, acai berries and B1 vitamins, and a range of other fruit extracts with NO artificial colors or other junk ingredients!! They are the perfect replacement for mainstream energy drinks or coffee.

Other natural ways to boost your energy

• Stay hydrated – regularly drink filtered alkaline water

• Consume protein with every meal (snack on nuts and low GI fruit)

• When working from a desk, get up every half hour for fresh air and stretch your legs

Give it a try! Use this link & get $10.00 OFF your first purchase: CLICK HERE

Mediterranean Chicken

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Put dinner on the table in minutes with this Healthy Instant Pot Mediterranean Chicken recipe. It has traditional Greek flavors using tomatoes, kalamata olives and oregano. So tasty and so simple to prepare. 

• Prep Time: 5 minutes

• Cook Time: 15 minutes

• Total Time: 20 minutes

• 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

• 3-4 Skinless boneless chicken breasts

• 1 can no salt diced tomatoes

• 1/2 onion diced

• 2 TBS minced garlic

• 20-25 pitted Kalamata olives

• 2 TBS extra virgin olive oil

• 2 TBS All Purpose Greek Seasonings

• 1 TBS dried oregano

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Cut each chicken breast into 4-5 large pieces.

2. Turn Instant Pot on Saute

3. Add oil, diced onions, and garlic and cook for 3-4 minutes.

4. Sprinkle both sides of chicken pieces with Greek seasoning.

5. Place 1/2 of the chicken breasts into the Instant Pot and brown on both sides (this will take about 3 minutes per side). Working in batches, remove and set aside the first batch and add the second batch. Remove all of the chicken once browned.

6. Add the canned tomatoes, olives and dried oregano.

7. Using a wooden spoon scrape up all of the brown bits stuck to the bottom of the Instant Pot.

8. Arrange the chicken breasts into the tomato-olive mixture.

9. Set the Instant Pot on Manual/High for 15 minutes.

10. Allow it to self-release for 10 minutes, then pressure release until all of the steam has escaped.

11. Serve over a bed of fresh mixed greens!

Gluten Free Gingerbread

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Gluten Free & Vegan Gingerbread This recipe makes moist and cake-like gingerbread that packs a sneaky serving of black beans in each bite. They are loaded with protein, fiber, and nutrients for a healthier treat. (I’ll be adding another more crisp option)

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups cooked black beans , or 1 (15 oz.) can drained and rinsed

• 1/2 cup gluten-free flour blend

• 1/4 cup melted coconut oil

• 3/4 cup coconut sugar

• 1 teaspoon ground ginger

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 tablespoon blackstrap molasses

• 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

• 1 tablespoon coarse granulated sugar , for topping (optional)

Instructions

1 Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a 9-inch square baking dish with parchment paper. In the bowl of a large food processor fitted with an “S” blade, combine the black beans, flour, oil, sugar, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, salt, baking soda, vanilla, molasses, and vinegar. Process until a smooth batter is formed.

2 Pour the batter into the lined baking dish and sprinkle the top with the tablespoon of coarse sugar, if desired. Bake until the top feels firm to a light touch, about 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely before removing the bars from the pan and slicing.

3 These bars will keep well at room temperature for up to 48 hours tightly covered, but for best shelf life keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Cucumber Greek Salad

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This Cucumber Greek Salad is light and refreshing, and full of healthy ingredients. With minimal prep, it makes an easy side dish for any meal!
🕑10 minutes

Ingredients: Vegetarian, Gluten free
∙ Serves 8

Produce

2 Cucumbers
2 tsp Oregano, dried
1/2 Red onion
4 Roma tomatoes

Condiments

1 Black olives, pitted and sliced
1 1/2 tbsp Lemon juice

Spices

1 Salt and pepper

Oils & Vinegars

1/4 cup Olive oil

Dairy

1/2 cup Feta cheese

Are You Consuming Fake Sugar?

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As few as one diet soda daily may increase the risk for leukemia in men and women, and for multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in men, according to new results from the longest-ever running study on aspartame as a carcinogen in humans. Importantly, this is the most comprehensive, long-term study ever completed on this topic, so it holds more weight than other past studies which appeared to show no risk. And disturbingly, it may also open the door for further similar findings on other cancers in future studies.

 

The most thorough study yet on aspartame done, on over two million people, in years

For this study, researchers prospectively analyzed data from the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study for a 22-year period. A total of 77,218 women and 47,810 men were included in the analysis, for a total of 2,278,396 person-years of data. Apart from sheer size, what makes this study superior to other past studies is the thoroughness with which aspartame intake was assessed. Every two years, participants were given a detailed dietary questionnaire, and their diets were reassessed every four years. Previous studies which found no link to cancer only ever assessed participants’ aspartame intake at one point in time, which could be a major weakness affecting their accuracy.

 

One diet soda a day increases leukemia, multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphomas

The combined results of this new study showed that just one 12-fl oz. can (355 ml) of diet soda daily leads to:

– 42 percent higher leukemia risk in men and women (pooled analysis)
– 102 percent higher multiple myeloma risk (in men only)
– 31 percent higher non-Hodgkin lymphoma risk (in men only)

These results were based on multi-variable relative risk models, all in comparison to participants who drank no diet soda. It is unknown why only men drinking higher amounts of diet soda showed increased risk for multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Note that diet soda is the largest dietary source of aspartame (by far) in the U.S. Every year, Americans consume about 5,250 tons of aspartame in total, of which about 86 percent (4,500 tons) is found in diet sodas.

 

Confirmation of previous high quality research on animals

This new study shows the importance of the quality of research. Most of the past studies showing no link between aspartame and cancer have been criticized for being too short in duration and too inaccurate in assessing long-term aspartame intake. This new study solves both of those issues. The fact that it also shows a positive link to cancer should come as no surprise, because a previous best-in-class research study done on animals (900 rats over their entire natural lifetimes) showed strikingly similar results back in 2006: aspartame significantly increased the risk for lymphomas and leukemia in both males and females. More worrying is the follow on mega-study, which started aspartame exposure of the rats at the fetal stage. Increased lymphoma and leukemia risks were confirmed, and this time the female rats also showed significantly increased breast (mammary) cancer rates. This raises a critical question: will future, high-quality studies uncover links to the other cancers in which aspartame has been implicated (brain, breast, prostate, etc.)?

There is now more reason than ever to completely avoid aspartame in our daily diet. For those who are tempted to go back to sugary sodas as a “healthy” alternative, this study had a surprise finding: men consuming one or more sugar-sweetened sodas daily saw a 66 percent increase in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (even worse than for diet soda). Clearly the healthiest soda is no soda at all.

Here’s just a few of the other possible side effects:

We need to stop looking for quick easy fixes and get back to enjoying real food and real activities. We can’t expect great health and an enjoyable life when we don’t fuel our bodies right.

Easy Breakfast Cups

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Breakfest-Muffins1This recipe has saved our morning sanity. It’s so easy and we make a bunch all at once so we have 1 – 2 weeks worth of breakfasts DONE and ready to go.

Our mornings start bright and early at 5:15am so it’s a huge time saver when you have kids to get ready and get out the door!

Ingredients:

12 Eggs
Cheese (Any Type, Your Choice)Sausage Bits, Bacon Bits (Pre-Cooked)
Diced Onions
Potato (Cubed, or Shredded, dehydrated or slightly pre-cooked)
Fresh Salsa
Olive Oil
Muffin Tin

Directions:

Lightly spray or rub down your muffin tin with olive oil. Simply add a few onions, bacon bits, cheese, and potatoes to each cup. Then crack 1 egg over each cup. Place in oven at 325 degrees for 20-30 minutes. Just pull side of egg cup with a fork and if the cup comes up easily its done cooking.

Tah-Dah! You just made breakfast for a week!

In our house we make 2-3 dozen every Sunday. We just store them in baggies in the fridge. Each morning we just pre-heat our toaster oven while we are making our coffee and pop 3-6 into the oven to warm. By the time our coffee is ready so is breakfast!

You can mix and match different veggies and meats into your cups each week to spice it up. Or even scramble your eggs before and just pour them in for a different texture! This recipe is so easy you can even let your kids help out. The tasty possibilities are endless!

Clean Living For Pets

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As a family we are committed to living the healthiest life possible and that includes our furry family members too.

If you care for your fur-babies like we do then you’ll want to take a moment to read this research.

Toxic-Dog-Chews

 

THE MOST DANGEROUS PET CHEW EVER: RAWHIDE!

How can one of the most popular chew sticks on the planet be so dangerous for your pets, you ask? I mean, most dogs chew on rawhide for hours on end, and not only does it keep them busy, but they seem to last forever.

Well if you understood what it took to make this toxic “raw” leather stick, you would quickly understand what the problem is.

Aside from the horror stories circulating all over social media these days, of pets needing emergency surgery after consuming rawhide, the majority of pet parents today, especially the newbies, believe that this chew is some sort of dried up meat stick. Let me debunk that myth right away!

A rawhide stick is not the by-product of the beef industry nor is it made of dehydrated meat. Rather, rawhide is the by-product of the “Leather Industry”, so theoretically it is a leather chew. Sounds awesome, right?

“Producing rawhide begins with the splitting of an animal hide, usually from cattle. The top grain is generally tanned and made into leather products, while the inner portion, in its “raw” state, goes to the dogs.” TheBark.com

So, how does this leather, which is conveniently rolled up into pretty shapes, actually get made into those rawhide chews?

Follow along my friends and I will enlighten you on how this hide travels through a leathery process where it transforms from hide to a not-so beautiful, colorful, chew stick. Here is a paraphrased tutorial that was explained by the whole dog journal several years back:

STEP 1: Normally, cattle hides are shipped from slaughterhouses to tanneries for processing. These hides are then treated with a chemical bath to help “preserve” the product during transport to help prevent spoilage.

(No one wants to purchase a black, spoiled rawhide stick!)

Once at the tannery: the hides are soaked and treated with either an ash-lye solution or a highly toxic recipe of sodium sulphide liming. This process will help strip the hair and fat that maybe attached to the hides themselves.

(No, no one wants to see a hairy hide…)

Next on this glorious journey, these hides are then treated with chemicals that help “puff” the hide, making it easier to split into layers.

The outer layer of the hide is used for goods like car seats, clothing, shoes, purses, etc. But, it’s the inner layer that is needed to make the rawhide. (Oh and other things like gelatin, cosmetics, and glue as well!)

STEP 2: Now that we have the inner layer of the hide, it’s time to go to the post-tannery stage! Hides are washed and whitened using a solution of hydrogen peroxide and/or bleach; this will also help remove the smell of the rotten or putrid leather. Bonus!
(Research also shows that other chemicals maybe used here to help the whitening process if the bleach isn’t strong enough.)

STEP 3: Now it’s time to make these whitened sheets of this “leathery by-product” look delicious! So, here is where the artistic painting process comes in.

“Basted, smoked, and decoratively tinted products might be any color (or odor) underneath the coating of (often artificial) dyes and flavors. They can even be painted with a coating of titanium oxide to make them appear white and pretty on the pet store shelves.” – whole-dog-journal.com

“…the Material Safety Data Sheet reveals a toxic confection containing the carcinogen FD&C Red 40, along with preservatives like sodium benzoate. But tracking the effects of chemical exposure is nearly impossible when it’s a matter of slow, low-dose poisoning.”– thebark.com

Ok, now that these hides have been painted, it’s time for the final process.

STEP 4: Getting it to last forever!

Because the FDA does not consider these chews to be food, really it’s a free for all when it comes to the manufacturers of these leather strips, and the products they may want to add to these chews, to get them to last forever. Any sort of glue can be added here to get these bad boys to never come apart.

When tested: Lead, arsenic, mercury, chromium salts, formaldehyde, and other toxic chemicals have been detected in raw hides. So it’s safe to say that any sort of glues can be used as well!

Finally, it’s time to package and attach all the glorious marketing labels to the product.

Check out the fine print warning that’s attached with some of these rawhides:
“Choking or blockages. If your dog swallows large pieces of rawhide, the rawhide can get stuck in the esophagus or other parts of the digestive tract. Sometimes, abdominal surgery is needed to remove them from the stomach or intestines. If it isn’t resolved, a blockage can lead to death.“

(Oh, how lovely…)

And there it is! It’s now ready to be shipped to store shelves where it can be purchased for our loving animal companions.

How do proactive veterinarians feel about these chews?

Here is world-renowned veterinarian Doctor Karen Becker’s take on the matter:

“The name ‘rawhide’ is technically incorrect. A more accurate name would be processed-hide, because the skin isn’t raw at all. But the term “rawhide” has stuck.

Rawhide chews start out hard, but as your dog works the chew it becomes softer, and eventually he can unknot the knots on each end and the chew takes on the consistency of a slimy piece of taffy or bubble gum. And by that time your dog cannot stop working it — it becomes almost addictive.

At this point, there’s no longer any dental benefit to the chew because it has turned soft and gooey, and, in fact, it has become a choking and intestinal obstruction hazard.“

P.S. Ready for the jaw dropper?

An investigation by Humane Society International stated in their report, “In a particularly grisly twist, the skins of brutally slaughtered dogs in Thailand are mixed with other bits of skin to produce rawhide chew toys for pet dogs. Manufacturers told investigators that these chew toys are regularly exported to and sold in U.S. stores.” – dogingtonpost.com