Are We What We Eat?

I digress a bit today to tackle the topic of food--specifically those that help heal you, as in the ones that Chef Seamus Mullen has found to be beneficial to his rheumatoid arthritis. In fact, these so called "hero foods" are the topic of his next cookbook, due out in the Spring, "Seamus Mullen's Hero Food: How Cooking With Delicious Things Can Make Us Feel Better."

I bring this up because of course sharing these delicious foods with your pet should make them feel better too! According to Mullen, the addition of leafy greens, small-oil laden fish like anchovies and sardines as well as olive oil, stone fruits and almonds have helped beat back the inflammation at the root of his rheumatoid arthritis. Of course, medication has helped as well, but according to the New York Times, "he's zealous about the nutritional potency of stone fruits." That would be those with pits like peaches, cherries, nectarines and mangos.

Just yesterday, I was barraged with claims about coconut oil--for your pets--that is portended to cure everything from hot spots to ear infections. One of our chefs in the book, Cornelia Guest, uses coconut oil in her sinful vegan cookies. How could something so fattening be good for you?

Which is why I take all these claims with a large grain of salt. Yes I think eating healthy is great--for people and pets--but I also think that eating too much of any one or two or three things is not necessarily the best thing for anyone.

What about you?