The Super Food Ingredient Your Dog Needs: Fabulous Flaxseed

by Jane McDonald August 09, 2017

As our culture becomes more aware of what we are putting in our bodies, comes the recognition of “super foods,” which are foods that are particularly nutrient-rich and improve overall health and well-being. Along with well-known super foods like blueberries and kale, there is a long list of lesser known super foods like kafir, acai, goji berry and the topic of today’s post: flaxseed!

What Is Flax?

If you’re like me, you might be thinking: isn’t flax a textile? Yes, flax is the plant that linen is made from! Flax has been being woven into fabric since the Paleolithic Era 30,000 years ago and later was considered a sign of purity in ancient Egyptian culture. Like most of the earth’s best plants, from seed to flower, flax can be practically utilized, as well as consumed. Flax is a fiber crop that also boasts beautiful pale blue blooms making it a sensible and lovely addition to any cooler-environment garden.

Why Are Flaxseed Good for My Dog (and Me)?

The fruit of the flax plant is a small bulb filled with seeds, which are the super-seeds we are after. Flaxseeds offer a bullet-worthy list of benefits:

Known to maintain healthy skin, nails and hair, which is why flaxseed is in our healthy Baked and Soft Treats!
Contain immune supporting alpha-linleic acid that offers benefits to your dog’s daily wellness
Rich in omega-3 fatty acids (the stuff in fish-oil supplements) that reduce triglycerides and cholesterol, and helps to prevent blood clots
Proven natural anti-inflammatory effect, which could help arthritic dogs and injured dogs
Helps with re-establishing normal thirst and urination, aiding in restoring weight and appetite and increasing energy level

Believe it or not - we could go on! Flaxseed and its oil have seemingly endless benefits - plus it’s naturally gluten-free and antioxidant rich. Isle of Dogs honors the connection to health and well-being on the inside and out - check out our colorful ingredients page to learn more about flaxseed and the other ingredients that go into our industry leading treats and food.