7 Human Food Trends That Pets Love Too

Pet parents want their fur babies to live happy, healthy lives. And making sure dogs and cats get the nutrition they need is a big part of that equation. As more humans turn to wholesome, nourishing ingredients and make natural lifestyle choices, pets also benefit from the top healthful trends.

Here are 7 human food trends that pets can benefit from too.

This dark, leafy green packs a major nutritional punch for two-legged health nuts. It contains vitamins A, C and K in addition to minerals including copper, potassium, iron, manganese and phosphorus. Kale helps lower blood pressure, improve bone health, and it even lowers the risk of cancer.

But this super food also has benefits for canines. Treats from Dogs Love Kale—in yummy flavors including apple, pumpkin and peanut butter— are loaded with beta carotene, calcium, vitamin K, vitamin C, and lutein. These delicious morsels will help your dog attain a soft, shiny coat and healthy skin.

Scientific evidence shows that consuming foods with probiotics, or live microorganisms, can have multiple health benefits for humans. Probiotic-rich foods such as unflavored yogurt, pickles, sauerkraut and kimchi all help reduce cholesterol levels, improve immune function and aid digestion.

For pets, probiotics can have equally helpful effects. Using Only Natural Pet Probiotic Blend on a regular basis benefits the intestinal health of both dogs and cats and can cure foul smelling stools, flatulence and occasional diarrhea. Getting your pet’s intestinal tract running efficiently will help promote overall health and longevity.

Chomping on fruits and vegetables helps humans get a boost from antioxidants. Beta-carotene is key to eye health, flavonoids benefit heart health and vitamin E helps promote healthy skin, among other things. Berries and nuts pack a major antioxidant punch and help pet parents flourish.

For dogs, antioxidants can improve immune responses and vaccine recognition, and they also slow down the aging process of cellular molecules.

Many two-legged people are making the switch to a grain-free and gluten-free lifestyle. This means cutting out breads, pasta and sugar from your diet plan. The popular Paleo diet promotes this way of life, touting meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds as the main sources for nutrition.

Just like grain-free diets don’t make sense for all humans, they also aren’t a good fit for all dogs. However, some dogs and cats suffer from grain intolerance that cause vomiting, bloating and other types of digestion issues. They can also aggravate allergies and skin disorders.

According to a market study by Package Facts, retail sales in the nutrition/energy bar category are expected to approach $4.5 billion by 2016. Those numbers show just how much active individuals rely on this on-the-go food form.

Grocery stores are packed with tons of yogurt options for humans. The yummy dairy product offers a big dose of calcium along with, vitamin B-2, vitamin B-12, potassium,and magnesium. The active cultures and bacteria in yogurt support digestive health and bone health.

For pups, yogurt is a good addition to a healthy meal plan because it enhances the immune system, reduces the chances of yeast infections and reduces cholesterol. Dog owners can add in a small amount (approximately 1 tbsp) at mealtime or offer up a snack of frozen yogurt as a summertime treat.

Even if you’re not a big fan of salmon for dinner, salmon oil supplements have big health benefits for humans. The omega-3 fatty acids in salmon oil help reduce bad cholesterol in the body, provide essential nutrients for eyesight and fight off ailments such as asthma, psoriasis, and Chohn’s disease.

Deidre Grieves is a senior content strategist and digital producer for petMD. Wiener dogs are her life.