A ferret’s diet is a crucial element for a long life, without a proper diet ferrets are at risk for various health problems. Ferrets are carnivores (meat eaters); therefore they cannot survive unless their a diet consists of lower fiber and high protein.

The only food option available for pet ferrets, until the mid 1980’s, was high quality cat food. Nowadays there are various choices available for ferret foods, although high quality cat foods are still a decent option.

The new choices of ferret foods on the market provide the necessary higher-quality fat while keeping down the quantity of carbohydrates. This combination of fat and lowered carbohydrates in vital in order to achieve a maximum life expectancy.

This type of diet is very important for that of a baby ferret. When making a purchase, be sure to look for products which contain at least 35- 40% protein and 18-30% fat. It should contain 2% fiber, must include 21 amino acids and be ingrained with good carbohydrates such as brewer’s yeast or rice flower.

You must also, take into consideration the fact that various ferret foods are made with badly processed frozen fish, and your ferret will refuse to eat it. Some finicky ferrets would rather starve than eat that kind of ferret food.

You’ll notice as you shop that high quality ferret food is usually more expensive than higher quality cat food. The overall cost is kept down by the fact that ferrets eat small amounts of the food.

Additionally, ferrets that are fed an overall healthy diet do not usually require any supplements.

A ferret must eat at least two meals a day in order to obtain the caloric intake needed to sustain a healthy life.

Just keep in mind that ferrets are small animals therefore their portions should be small too. If a ferret’s meal consists of a moist diet, the food is only edible for about forty five minutes, soon after that the food should be removed.

You must provide fresh water, at all times, for ferrets on dry diets. Most ferrets seem to prefer drinking from a dish rather than a water bottle, although if water is given in a dish it needs be changed several times throughout the day to ensure its purity.

It is not necessary to giving your ferret treats, although it can be very useful when housebreaking your ferret. The best options for a snack are cooked eggs and meats.

It is best to avoid candy and fruits since they are high in sugar. dairy products like ice cream and milk, nuts and any nut products; these foods will cause many nutritional problems. Some of the various health problems associated with these products are malnutrition, intestinal blockage, diarrhea, obesity, tooth decay, hypoglycemia and insulinoma.

Treats should be used sparingly, otherwise your ferret may start to refuse its normal daily diet. Foods that you should avoid feeding your ferret, at all costs, are vegetables or grains, which are not digested very well. And onions are poisonous to ferrets.

Providing a ferret with the proper nutritional diet is crucial for a long healthy life. It is the best way to ensure your ferret is comfortable and happy; it also reduces the risk for any serious life-threatening diseases.

Ferret owners have an impeccable reputation of showing an abundance of love and affection towards these fuzzy and friendly pets but, the best way to express love to your ferret is to reward them with a great diet.

Many chronic dieters start each day with a renewed sense of hope that “today is the day I am going to stick to my diet”. Breakfast then becomes the natural starting point for any diet, meal plan, healthy eating vow, etc. Now, Im all for starting each day with a positive outlook, but sometimes, in regards to our diet, we aim for perfection and it backfires. For example, when someone starts a new diet they often times put a ton of energy into prepping and planning their meals. They may even wake up early to make sure they have time for the perfect breakfast. As time passes they may begin to put off food prep and start hitting the snooze button a few times and before you know it theyre back to a refined grab n go breakfast, the drive through or worse yet- skipping breakfast all together.

A Real Life Example of How Simple a Healthy Breakfast Can Be:

Recently while helping a client plan some meals I pulled out my [imaginary] magic wand and asked her “If you could eat whatever you wanted for breakfast without worrying about your weight, something that would keep you sustained through the morning and that you like to eat, what would that be?” She reported back that her favorite breakfast is eggs, whole grain toast with real butter and coffee with cream. She also went on to say that this breakfast is easy for her to prepare, she likes it, and she feels satisfied through the morning when she eats this. Despite this, she was a bit shocked when I said “okay, well start your breakfast meal plan with eggs, toast and coffee”. She felt that she needed to avoid carbs and up her protein and veggies at breakfast to lose weight. I did convince her to add in some fruit if she needed it but she really had already found a breakfast that was going to work for her. As Im sure youve heard me say before, permanent results are about consistency not perfection.

Id like to share some practical breakfast tips that will hopefully help you break the yo-yo diet cycle and shift your focus to feeling good and fueling your body with foods you love. Since breakfast is the most important meal of the day I find it fitting that I devote an entire series of blog posts to the topic. Here is what you have to look forward too:

A Non-Diet Approach to a Healthy and Easy Breakfast

Part 2- Creating a Balanced Breakfast: If your breakfast only consists of 1 or 2 food groups then you are likely missing out on balanced nutrition. Stay tuned for a step-by-step guide to creating a balanced breakfast plus some sample non-diet menus.

Part 3- Back-up Breakfast Options: Lets face it, we are all bound to have “one of those days” where we are lucky to make it out the door alive. That doesnt mean your breakfast has to be sacrificed. Ive got some great tips to keep your breakfast on track even when you are not.

Part 4- What to do if Youre Just Not a Breakfast Person: I see it all the time. Many people just dont have an appetite in the morning. I dont support pushing ourselves to eat when we arent hungry but I do have some tips on how to get your hunger going in the morning so you can fuel your body right.

Part 5- Super Smoothie Recipes: I love a good smoothie in the morning. It is a great mix of nutrition, hydration and convenience.

Haven’t you noticed that almost all of us live a “sinful” eating habit? It’s quite easy. You do prefer steaks over salads, right? How about that blueberry cheese cake over that yogurt for dessert? Did I mention double pepperoni and cheese over some veggies? Fact is we crave what is almost unhealthy for us. Most of us are voracious eaters and don’t really care what we put in our mouth at times. If we do, it’s because we’ve been diagnosed for an ailment after leading a life of carefree eating. Candidiasis is one ailment that hits the gluttons of eating. Do not laugh as this isn’t a ludicrous statement. Some of us have it without even knowing it. See a doctor.

Candidiasis is a fungal infection that encompasses both superficial and systemic. Candidiasis superficially will cause inflammation and discomfort but what really is the alarming type is the systemic type as this is a potentially life-threatening disease. Symptoms of such vary depending on where is the affected region. Candidiasis can be treated with drugs, pills and creams. What will be asked from you though is a 360 degree lifestyle change. This is unfortunately a must for people suffering from such.

Like many serious ailments, Candidiasis will demand that you eat the right, healthy food and lead a very healthy lifestyle. Say goodbye to guilty pleasure like chocolates and booze. Say hello to yogurts and the like. Vegetables will be an integral part of the diet though not all are given the green light to be munched on. Starchy vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, corn, peas and etc should be avoided. Other than the aforementioned, almost all vegetables are good for the diet. This will suck mold and sugar and starve the fungus of the regular diet that feeds it as they are also low in fat and calories. Vegetables should be taken raw and fresh. This is a good source of dietary fiber and will give us all the extra energy we need for our daily tasks. Protein is also a part of the diet. Beef, chicken and fish are a healthy source of protein. Where is pork? Pigs usually eat dirty things. Enough said.

Herbs and spices should also be considered in the diet. They are good anti-oxidants that maintain your best health. These are even known to fight cancer and coronary heart ailments. It should aid in the Candida issue as well. What’s best about this is that this will add flavor to the already limited and bland diet that is being enforced unto you. Since we are in the topic of anti-oxidants, how about teas? Did you know that Tea is the second most widely consumed beverage in the world? Second only to water (duh)… With that in mind, how about drinking and consuming a healthy beverage instead of any other regular drink? This prevents blood clotting, lower cholesterol levels, deactivate cancer promoters and help stimulate the immune system that Candida itself is destroying. Before you do munch on anything next time, ask yourself “Will this food lead me to Candida and eventually make me eat raw garlic for breakfast?” Good for you Mr. Halitosis.