Many cat owners today are worried about feline diabetes and are looking for natural ways to treat the disease. One supplement being touted is Flaxseed Oil. It's known to be good for humans, but is it good for cats?
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The Facts
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Feline diabetes is caused when the cat's body cannot produce enough insulin to process the sugar absorbed from cat food. Flaxseed Oil is a rich source of Omega 3 fatty acids, especially ALA (alpha-linoleic acid).
Significance
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Feline obesity has been shown to be a predisposing factor for feline diabetes, and the prevalence of corn in dry cat food has come under scrutiny. Cats are obligate carnivores whose kidneys can't process corn as easily as herbivores or omnivores can.
Function
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Flaxseed Oil is one type of Omega 3 supplement that can be added to a cat's diet in order to redress imbalanced nutrition in commercial cat food.
Considerations
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Because cats are obligate carnivores, fish oil might be a better choice of Omega 3 supplement than Flaxseed Oil.
Benefits
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Flaxseed Oil is high in unsaturated fat, especially Omega 3 fatty acids, which can reduce overall insulin resistance and help create flexible cell membranes which process insulin more efficiently.
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