Medicinal Mushrooms Benefit Your Senior Dog
Specific medicinal mushrooms are important foods for senior dogs to address stress, the immune system, and quality of life. BioStar has updated its Optimum K9 Senior to include medicinal mushrooms like Organic Cordyceps and Organic Reishi to provide:
• stress support
• immune support
• antioxidant support
• energy and vitality
• anxiety support
Stress in senior dogs
Senior dogs experience more stress than their younger counterparts. They can become increasingly irritated, agitated, or anxious. They may feel more vulnerable as their mobility decreases. Their hearing and senses change too, leading to increased anxiety.
Including specific medicinal mushrooms like Cordyceps and Reishi are important for senior dogs to address stress, the immune system, and quality of life.
Cortisol in senior dogs
When a dog is stressed their body releases cortisol, a part of the flight or fight defense mechanism. Dogs that experience chronic stress have elevated cortisol levels that can affect the immune system. Elevated cortisol levels can increase weight gain.
Ongoing stress affects the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, causing imbalances in the gut microbiota.
Senior dogs and a healthy inflammatory response
Ongoing stress can also lead to imbalances in the normal inflammatory response. Increasing foods high in antioxidants such as fungi, can help the body protect itself from free radical damage.
Health benefits of Cordyceps mushrooms
Cordyceps provides immune support and is also used in veterinary complementary medicine to support small animal respiratory disorders. Some holistic practitioners refer to it as a “quality of life enhancing mushroom.” Cordyceps also enhance energy and well-being.
Cordyceps Mushrooms
Health benefits of Reishi mushroom
Reishi mushroom is known in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as the mushroom of immortality. Reishi is an immune modulator. “Agents that enhance the functioning of the host immune system could be expected to enhance health in terms of improved resistance and, thus, removal of malignant or premalignant cells.” (Wachtel-Galor, Yuen, Buswell. 2011) Reishi helps to reduce anxiety and increase feelings of well-being. It also provides antioxidants for balanced inflammatory support.
Red Reishi Mushroom
Our organic mushrooms are grown on wood
Some companies grow mushrooms on oats, grains, or rice substrates. The traditional substrate for most medicinal mushrooms is wood, just like you would find in a forest. BioStar’s sourced medicinal mushrooms are grown on hardwood logs, and grown in shade houses, not laboratories. These shade houses provide a constant flow of fresh air and natural sunlight. The mushrooms are harvested by hand and sun dried.
Mushrooms grown on grains, oats or rice can have high polysaccharide content. This content is mainly the starch or gluten found in the grain medium.
Our senior dogs do not need more starch or gluten.
Mushrooms grown on wood contain higher levels of beta glucan, a highly researched polysaccharide. Beta glucan acts on immune receptors to protect the body from pathogenic microbes, environmental toxins and carcinogens.
Optimum K9 Senior co factors
Like our original formula, our newly revised Optimum K9 Senior contains tulsi (holy basil), the foundational stress herb of Ayurvedic Medicine. It is considered a tonic for the mind and body. Tulsi assists in regulating adrenal gland production of cortisol.
Optimum K9 Senior provides bovine colostrum with 38% IgG for enhanced immune support and cellular growth factors.
Additional beneficial foods
Organic spirulina is a type of blue-green algae that provides a wide range of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
Organic kale supplies sulfur essential for protein synthesis, the production of collagen, and important enzymes including Superoxide Dismutases (SOD).
Organic kelp provides a variety of minerals that support the pituitary, adrenal, and thyroid glands. Kelp also supports a healthy metabolism.
Proprietary Probiotic blend provides micro-encapsulated L.acidophilus, L.reuteri, L.salivarius for GI tract support.
Almond flour is a great food source of vitamin E, an important antioxidant.
Nutritional yeast provides a full spectrum of amino acids and B-vitamins.
Organic blueberry powder is loaded with antioxidants, and is a good source of vitamin K for bone health.
Dessicated beef liver supports energy, provides essential amino acids including Taurine, and provides CoQ10 for healthy heart function.
Hemp seed fines provide fiber, protein and essential fatty acids.
Optimum K9 senior with medicinal mushrooms
• Provides senior dogs with full spectrum vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
• Provides immune support from Organic Cordyceps, Organic Reishi, and Bovine Colostrum.
• Supplies antioxidants for a healthy inflammatory response.
• Supports a healthy biological response to stress and anxiety with tulsi (holy basil), one of the most revered plants in Ayurvedic Medicine.
• Supports vitality and well-being.
Give your senior dog the best of science and nature with Optimum K9 senior!
About the Author: With over 30 years experience in the equine and human supplement industry, Tigger Montague knows nutrition from the synthetic side as well as the whole food side. She started BioStar US in 2006 with formulas she created in her kitchen. Before she started the company, she was an avid rider and competitor with eventing and show jumping, until she got hooked on dressage in the late 1980’s. She has competed on horses she’s owned and trained all the way from training level to Grand Prix.
References:
Akramiene D, Kondrotas A, Didziapetriene J, Kevelaitis E. (2007). Effects of beta-glucans on the immune system. 43(8):597-606.
Fukai, T., & Ushio-Fukai, M. (2011). Superoxide dismutases: role in redox signaling, vascular function, and diseases. 15(6), 1583–1606.
Wachtel-Galor S, Yuen J, Buswell JA, et al. Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi or Reishi): A Medicinal Mushroom. In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. 2011.
