Peanut Butter Love
By Melissa Handley

Dog treats come in many flavors and textures, but peanut butter seems to be a classic tried and true favorite for most pets and their people. To get my dogs to do anything they don’t like, such as luring them to a soapy tub of water, all I have to do is grab a gooey glob of peanut butter and they are entranced. With this I instantly become a powerful sorceress, leading them through the house with a silver spoon of magic butter.

This feeling led me to learn more about different types of peanut butter and what other secrets it may have to teach. As humans, we relate to this love of food and want to share it with our pets. However, sometimes there are healthier alternatives to these traditional treats. With just a few tweaks to a classic favorite you can discard some of the unhealthy traits that seem to come with it. There are easy tricks to learn when reading peanut butter labels or creating your own dog treats in a less toxic way.

Toxin Free Tips

Peanuts grow in the ground. Many parts of our soil are now filled with harmful pesticides in nutritionally depleted soils. Peanuts seem to absorb many substances from the soil and this makes them more prone to carrying a lot of toxins. This is just one great reason to buy organic peanut products.

Peanuts also contain lots of fungus and mold. Something called aflatoxins are often present in peanut butter and can contribute to illnesses that are affected by mold. Many pets now have weaker immune systems from poor diets, inactivity, and stress, just like their humans. Their health is mirroring our own. Unfortunately many of these illnesses or sensitivities are affected by molds and fungus that are harmful if they become too abundant in the intestines. This can trigger overgrowth of Candida in the body and mimic a variety of illnesses from itchy skin diseases to chronic digestive problems and panic disorders.

Unfortunately, many “healthier” peanut butters sold in bulk bins at health food stores or in jars with no preservatives can have some of the highest mold content. Overall, limit dog peanut butter consumption. This is especially important for pets with mold related illnesses like allergies, intestinal imbalances, and skin problems.

Oh, but the love of peanut butter is so strong that molds and fungus are easy to ignore. However, in this case you can have your cake and eat it too, in moderation that is. In order to continue to use peanut butter treats for your pets it is easy to become more aware of a healthier option with no difference in taste.

Here are some healthier peanut butter tips:

Buy “organic” peanut butter.

Only purchase peanut butter that has been tested for “aflatoxins.”

Get your peanut butter sugar free.

Try making your own peanut butter treats from scratch.

I began making my own dog treats when I learned how to make gluten free and flourless recipes for myself. The best thing about this recipe is that it is quick and easy to make. I became more aware of ingredients and dissatisfied with some more expensive treats and their not so healthy ingredients. With this recipe you can use a bone shaped cookie cutter and also bake these as gifts for others.

You can also alter this recipe for a healthy human peanut butter cookie. This will make it a flourless gluten free cookie without the carbs that cause a spike in blood sugar. To do this use the same recipe above, just add some agave nectar to adjust to your desired level of sweetness. This can be anywhere from ¼ cup to 1/2 cup depending on how sweet you like it.


Peanut Butter Love Dog Treats

Ingredients:
1 Cup Organic Aflatoxin Free Peanut Butter
1 Organic Egg
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder

Mix all together in a glass bowl until thick and creamy. You do not need to over mix. Roll into tiny balls or flatten into large cookies depending on the size of your dogs. Place on a baking tray and bake at 375 degrees. Bake 4-5 minutes for tiny treats or around 8-11 minutes for regular cookie size treats.

Melissa Handley has experience working in alternative wellness centers and spas learning from nutritionists, herbalists, and energy workers. By studying nutrition and food allergies for both people and pets, she has been able to help improve the health of her adopted dogs and cats. Melissa is also certified in Reiki Energy Healing for people and pets. She is currently studying to obtain an M.S. in Acupuncture, and Chinese medicine in California. For more information visit www.Hippie-Dog-Health.com .