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"LEAN FATS” Help Produce Stronger, Leaner Dogs by Bob
Fritz
Fats are getting the attention they deserve for
increasing canine performance. The days of mega-dosing
carbohydrates are on their way out, replaced by more
effective fats and other energy sources that give today’s
fanciers a major competitive edge in producing leaner,
stronger dogs.
Although all fats contain about 9 calories per gram, there
are real differences among them. Some fats improve
performance and leanness, while other fats, given in exactly
the same amounts, make your dog fatter. Luckily, much that
was formerly mysterious about fats has cleared up, giving
you the power to increase your dog’s drug-free performance.
Fats are classified by their chemical structure. The fats
most commonly used for dogs in keeps are also the worst.
These are generally saturated fats, which are cheap, and
therefore, everywhere. Saturated fats are not bad for dogs
because of health risks associated with human intake, like
elevated cholesterol or heart disease. The drawback to
saturated fats is that they actually make dogs fatter than
some other fats.
It is a fact that compared to some other fats we shall
review, saturated fats are more commonly deposited as body
fat. Gram for gram, saturated fats are stored rather than
burned by your dog’s body. For a dog in winter in Alaska,
getting fatter due to saturated fat intake is a good idea.
For a dog that must be lean, ripped and able to use fat for
energy, saturated fats are not the best.
Saturated fats, in general, are those that get hard when
cold. Sources of saturated fats include animal fats,
including to a lesser degree, chicken and other fowl.
Saturated fats have been shown to make test subjects fatter
due to several reasons. First, saturated animal fats,
especially beef fat (lard), are more slowly oxidized (burned
for energy) that other types of fats that will be discussed
later. Saturated fats have a more difficult time getting
though the cell membrane to be burned for fuel.
Second, saturated fat intake tends to slow the metabolic
rate. Studies show that after eating saturated fats, the
body’s oxygen consumption-an index of the metabolic
rate-slows when subjects ate saturated fats compared to
fats, which are discussed in the following paragraphs.
Saturated fats are high in “Omega 6” fatty acids.
LEAN FATS
A much better choice for performance dogs are several types
of “lean fats”, some old and others quite new.
Toping this list are fats called mono, or polyunsaturated
fats, which are higher in “Omega 3” fatty acids. Generally,
these are fats derived from seeds, plants or cold-water fish
oils. These fats vary in their content of omega 3 fatty
acids with flax being the richest source.
Omega 3 fats are burned by the canine body very easily and
rapidly compared to saturated animal fats. In other words,
Omega 3 fats, given in exactly the same amounts, are more
likely to be burned by your dogs body than stored as fat.
Gram for gram, Omega 3 fats deposit about 10% less of their
energy as fat on your dog’s body. That may not sound like a
lot, but over time, storing less fat and burning more of it
for energy produces better performance. For dogs having to
make weight, Omega 3’s can yield very positive results.
Another benefit of omega 3 fats is their anti-inflammatory
effects. These fats help suppress the swelling and
inflammation associated with hard work. As a side benefit,
Omega 3s produce a great coat.
Both polyunsaturated and mono saturated oils are easily
obtained in health food stores and better supermarkets. They
are also found in some dog supplements. Make sure sources
are cold pressed and not “partially hydrogenated”. Good
sources are flax, canola and olive oil.
ANOTHER LEAN FAT
Another fat that helps get dogs lean are MCTs. MCTs are
predigested fats, generally derived from palm or coconut
oils. Unlike other fats, which must undergo processing with
bile salts, MCTs are quickly absorbed. In fact, within 10
minutes after eating MCTs, they appear in your dog’s blood
stream, compared to 1-12 hours for other fats.
MCTs are very useful for dogs attempting to get ultra-lean.
However, in excess, MCTs can cause diarrhea. MCT oil can be
obtained at health food stores and mail order sports
nutrition companies found in the back of lifting magazines.
MCTs are also found in some dog supplements.
STILL ANOTHER LEAN FAT
A new type of fatless fat is now on the scene-glycerol.
Glycerol helps improve performance by about 25%. But
glycerol also reduces lactic acid build up, boosts hydration
in muscle cells for about 4 hours, and also reduces core
temperature.
Glycerol works better on dogs than humans. Dogs produce
their own glycerol when they breakdown fat from their body.
Providing more glycerol in the diet is very effective for
improving canine performance, but only if done correctly.
Glycerol, unlike carbs, provides energy but does not block
fat breakdown. Glycerol will be a highly effective
nutritional tool for fanciers once they understand to how to
use it. Glycerol can be obtained from health food stores and
mail order supplement companies. Glycerol is also found in
two advanced dog supplements
About the Author
Bob Fritz is the owner
Animal Naturals, LLC. "The Nature of Pet Care to
Come" |
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The Articles
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8 dog training tips for you and your dog
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Good Dog Health Starts Early
Lean Fats Help Produce Stronger Leaner Dogs
The Importance of Healthy Dog Treats
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