Brussel Sprouts - Super Food for Pets

Brussel sprouts, like broccoli, are from the cruciferous family and are a natural superfood that is awesome to feed your pet. 

Raw Brussel sprouts are one of nature's keys to suppressing cancer cell growth. When eaten raw a chemical reaction naturally takes place within the sprout whereby a precursor compound reacts with an enzyme, myrosinase, to produce sulforaphane a natural anti-cancer ingredient. 

It's such an intricate and precise reaction that it only happens when cutting or mastication occurs of the raw brussel sprout. Any attempt to heat the sprout kills off the enzyme that's fundamental to the reaction and the sprout loses a lot of its anti-cancer superpowers. Wow!

Raw Brussel sprouts are a fantastic form of preventative medicine and are great to feed to both cats and dogs. However, it's more difficult to include this superfood in your cat's diet, but we've listed some options below.

Brussel sprouts also hold another very special key for the body. They are one of the very few things on the planet that help repair and maintain the delicate intestinal lining of the gut wall and stomach, whilst also protecting the gut against pathogens. 

Without a doubt, every pet should be fed some raw Brussel sprouts, not only to maintain the lining of the intestinal wall but also as a blocker against cancer cell growth. They are also a really good seasonal vegetable to introduce into your pet's diet for the autumn and winter months that help them maintain a strong immune system.

If your pet has cancer look to introduce some raw Brussel sprouts into your pet's diet on a daily basis to help reduce the growth of the cancer cells. 

Benefits of Brussel Sprouts 

• Are cancer-preventing
• Help protect and heal the gut and stomach
• Aid in fighting pathogens in the gut
• Contain carotenoids that support eye health
• Natural source of Vitamin C that helps with the repair and growth of tissues 
• Great source of vitamin K for muscle and bone strength
• Rich in fibre, great for pets with constipation issues and diabetes as the fibre helps regulate blood sugar levels and keeps everything moving
• Good source of phosphorus and calcium
• Good source of B-vitamins, including folate necessary for a healthy pregnancy
• Have potassium which supports nerve health and function
• Natural source of Vitamin A, good for supporting your pet's internal organs
• Contain manganese which helps metabolise cholesterol 
• Support the health of the immune system
• Are great for cats and dogs that always want to eat as their fibre content also acts to suppress appetite
• Are anti-inflammatory which helps reduce the risk of chronic disease
• Are a good source of plant-based omega 3 fatty acid, which helps reduce inflammation and support cognitive function
• Contain vitamin E
• Contains choline which helps prevent cognitive dysfunction
• Aid in opening up the body's detoxification pathways
• Help prevent DNA damage
• Are anti-ageing
• Help prevent and recover from leaky gut

Are Raw Brussels Safe for Pets?  

Side Effects 

There is no downside but feeding for the first few times, or if you feed too many Brussels to your pet, they may experience some gastrointestinal discomfort in the form of bloating and flatulence. 

Introduce these slowly and If your cat or dog has some abdominal discomfort, or suffers from IBS simply reduce the amount you're feeding so you find the balance that works in harmony with your pet's body without causing any discomfort.

How to Fed Brussel Sprouts to Cats & Dogs  

Raw, raw, and raw! The best and most effective way to access the anti-cancer reaction for your pet is to slice or dice the Brussels at the time of feeding, then pop them directly into your pet's bowl and mix them in. They are high in fibre so a little goes a long way. Think a pinch or two for cats and small dogs to a teaspoon or two for large breeds. Then as your pet is more used to them, you can increase the amount to suit your pet's individual constitution. You don't want to feed too much too soon as the high fibre content could cause your pet to open his bowels, lickety-split.

When your dog is a Brussels expert like some advanced raw feeding pets, you'll be able to give them pretty much halved or whole, and your dog will create the anti-cancer enzyme reaction whilst chewing raw Brussel sprouts, making it totally bioavailable to his body.

For cats, small dogs, or if you're just starting out introducing this awesome mini cabbage into your pet's diet, it's best to finely blend and sprinkle into/over your pet's food. 

A handheld blender works best as it's quick, easy, and makes the pieces small enough for your cat or small dog to eat. Any leftover raw sprouts can be kept in the fridge and added to the next mealtime. 

Remember to always feed raw if you're using Brussels as an anti-cancer preventative or aiding in the fight against cancer

If you're dog or cat won't eat them raw, then lightly steam them and mix them into your pet's food. Your pet will still greatly benefit from all the other nutrients found in Brussel sprouts, even without the sulforaphane, and over time, reduce the amount you're steaming your Brussels so you're moving more towards raw. 

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