20-year-old dog and 140-year-old human

Updated: 2013-03-11 14:02

By Zhao Qiguang (Chinadaily.com.cn)

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Avoid carbs and gluten.

Wolves did not eat carbs until they became dogs. The wolves turned from fierce carnivores to tail-wagging pets because they became able to digest carbohydrates, say evolutionary biologists.

 The captured wolf cub stayed alive by eating the leftovers of primitive humans and survived in our caves and huts. Dogs evolved through association with hunter-gatherers, so they began to coexist with our ancestors, but their digestive systems and whole bodies would not easily accept this new method for survival.

Human beings have become accustomed to eating grains, but the latest research about healthy eating recommends a better balance of proteins and fruits and vegetables, which is beneficial for humans and dogs alike.

Many people are now discovering they have celiac disease or gluten intolerance, so for them, cutting out gluten from their diet is especially important, but everybody should look at how many carbs they are eating, and especially refined grains that have been stripped of their nutritional value.

More vegetables.

Dogs should eat raw vegetables and fruits too! You should also limit their dog food. Zhuangzi describes carefree immortals like this: "Eat vegetables and wonder, float like an unanchored boat."

Blend fruits and vegetables.

Fruits and vegetables are hard to digest, but your body needs a lot of them, so you should blend them. Unblended raw food will create a lot of extra work for the stomach, intestines, kidneys, and pancreas to work. Smoothies can be absorbed more easily than other foods because they are already liquids, plus, they still contain all of the fruits and vegetables’ natural nutrients and fiber.

Besides, raw vegetables are not delicious on their own, so blending them with healthy fruits also makes them tastier for both humans and canines. Huanhuan, and other dogs, enjoy smoothies as enthusiastically as meat.

Wolves have stronger teeth and eat raw meat, and dogs have been domesticated, so they have followed and become accustomed to human diets. Dogs do not have health gurus and other authors like me to insist on the benefits of eating greens, but you would be surprised to see how they are attracted to green smoothies if you just add a little bait, like walnuts or a little dog food.

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