Tag: <span>fresh food</span>

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If you have a Red Throated Parrot, you have a very rare and beautiful pet bird. To raise and enjoy your bird, you must be willing to be patient, work hard, and dedicate a lot of your time. But you will be rewarded with the affection of an incredibly colorful and personable companion. Here is a guide for its care and health that will help you enjoy a long and wonderful life together.

Provide a Healthy Diet–The Red Throated Conure will thrive on fresh organic fruits and vegetables. Supplement this with a high quality pellet mix. Table food is also good including eggs, pasta, bread, crackers. Nuts make an excellent treat when given occasionally. Don’t forget to vary their diets to keep their interest high. And try to make their food as visually appealing as possible by mixing different colors and textures.   

One of the most nutritious food sources is sprouted seeds. They are low in fat as they sprout and offer a different set of nutrients daily as they continue to grow. They are truly a food that keeps on giving. You can buy seeds that are already sprouted, or you can opt to do it yourself. But they are a wonderful investment in the health of your Conure.  

Avoid avocado, peanuts, caffeine, chocolate, rhubarb and foods that are high in sugar and salt. These can prove to be fatal.  

Provide Spacious Living Quarters–The bigger the cage, the happier your Red Throated beauty will be. The cage should be large enough for your bird to spread its wings fully in any direction that it faces. A variety of horizontal perches at different levels will allow for climbing, but they must not cramp your Conure’s ability to spread its wings inside the cage. They also need to spend several hours a day outside the cage. 

Providing your bird with play areas and perches outside the cage in an area that is bird safe is an excellent way to keep your bird fit, engaged, socialized, and healthy.  

Be Generous with Human Interaction–Making a happy home for this parrot means dedicating several hours of your day each day to interact with your bird. This can include talking, petting, training, or just hanging out together as you read, pay bills, watch TV, or work at your laptop. Scheduling this time every day will increase the level of trust between bird and owner, and will help your bird remain tame and relaxed around you and other family members.  

Because they are members of a flock in the wild, they need and expect this social interaction. By spending this time with your bird, you are more likely to avoid behavioral issues such as aggression, feather plucking, and screaming.   If you are unable to dedicate at least this amount of time with your Conure, choose another bird as its companion, or rethink your choice of bird.  

Be Proactive with Disease Prevention-Red Throated Conures are subject to a number of diseases. And even though there is no guarantee, there are many things that you can do to lessen the chance that disease and infection will cut your Red Throated Conure’s life short.  

Keep Wellness Appointments–Schedule an appointment at least every 6 months with an avian vet. Remove fresh food from the cage after an hour to reduce the chance of your bird ingesting mold and mildew that has grown on the food. Clean the cage daily to eliminate small pieces of dried droppings from becoming airborne and potentially spreading disease. 

Keep the Air Clean–Filter your bird’s air to keep its air passages clear by removing the large number of airborne pollutants that are present with a bird in captivity. Filtering the air continuously will help your Red Throated Conure avoid respiratory infections that can be so deadly.

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Source by Debbie Davis

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Often the German Shepherd is a very healthy breed that is capable to living an average of 12 to 16 years. For those with a well-bred German Shepherd it is unlikely that they will have any major health problems. However, all German Shepherds are susceptible to certain health conditions. This includes Canine Hip Dysphasia or CHD in which the skeleton has a developmental problem and the femur doesn’t sit correctly within the hip socket. Another condition is Von Willebrand’s Disease, which is a blood disease that affects the ability to the dog’s blood to form clots. Without proper care and regular baths a German Shepherd can also develop skin allergies.

An important part of caring for your German Shepherd’s health is a balanced diet. You need to give them fresh food in order for them to have a long and happy life. Fresh meats such a turkey, chicken and beef are okay. Although you should also mix in some vegetables, rice and eggs for a balanced diet.

By feeding a good and healthy diet, brushing the teeth as often as possible, regular grooming and providing plenty of exercise and attention you can make sure you keep your German Shepherd in excellent health. In order to spot any common German Shepherd health conditions before they become serious it is a good idea to perform a weekly home health exam. This can also help you to easily detect any changes that can occur due to injury, disease or dog related emergencies because you will be aware of your dog’s body.

Taking your dog to the veterinarian on a regular basis is the best way to care for your German Shepherd. All vaccinations should be current and you should have a regular physical and health exam done. It is best to choose a veterinarian that is familiar with the health problems specific to a German Shepherd and can deal with any specific hereditary disease of the breed.

Maintaining good German Shepherd health relies greatly on diet. An adult German Shepherd can eat at least forty pounds of dry food a month, although this amount can change for a dog with a higher metabolism or a dog with an increased activity level. For example, a younger dog that is more active will require more fuel in the form of food than an older dog or one that is more inactive.

Most owners choose to feed a high quality commercial food and then supplement it two to three times a week with a little bit of meat. Again the amount of food you feed depends on the dog’s activity level but most will take two cups of food a day and you should take away any uneaten portions after thirty minutes.

You want a food that will be high in protein so it should focus on lamb, fish or chicken rather than wheat, rice or corn. Meat based foods will benefit your German Shepherd in the long run even though they are more expensive. It is also best to avoid feeding your dog anything that has additives if possible.

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Source by Jan Ryan

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Pets are Feng Shui, according to Feng Shui expert, Yvonne Phillips — author of Feng Shui ABC.

“Pets emit a strong, positive form of energy in your home because they are constantly in motion. There is no better Feng Shui for your home,” said Yvonne, “than having an animal run around spreading positive chi.”

Pet Feng Shui for Pet Health & Pet Energy

Yvonne noted that animals are drawn to the best energy in a room or home. Generate positive energy in your home, and you will enhance your pet’s overall health and happiness.

“Your animal will lie down on the area that has the best energy in the home.

“They will always lie down on a rug, instead of the hard floor unless they are a hugh animal and have lots of fur to keep them warm.”

Pet Feng Shui with Fresh Food, Fresh Water and a Clean Bed

Yvonne stressed that pets like fresh food and water the same as you do! They also like a favorite blanket and favorite toy, so spoil them with what they love.

Pet Feng Shui by giving your pet a clean bed!

“We have included them in our homes, so we should make the appropriate choices of where they sleep or eat in order to live with us successfully. You like a clean home, they like a clean home as well.”

Pet Feng Shui with a Clean Home

Yvonne raised another important pet Feng Shui issue: cleanliness. Keep pet plates clean at all times. Be sure not to leave soap residue in your pet’s dish or water bowl. Soap residue can be very harmful for animals. Pets, especially cats, are drawn to well lit areas (like the window sill). Make certain those areas are clean and accessible — that you don’t have anything in the way that can be knocked over.

Pet Feng Shui with Color

Cats can see several colors. My cat is partial to red blankets.

Yvonne indicated that her cat is drawn to both red and green.

She suggested that pet Feng Shui plates should be pretty and colorful. Yellow bowls and plates can create an especially happy pet eating area.

Negative to plastic! I’ve tossed out all those tiny plastic bowls sold in pet stores.

My cat eats from a colorful glass plate and drinks from a glass bowl. He’s much happier — purring throughout the entire meal.

Yvonne recommends that you can also use red to energize and feng shui a pet’s eating area.

The eating area should also be a protected space — a corner out of the path of humans. Cats (more so than dogs) like privacy while they eat.

Pet Feng Shui with Natural Salt Lamps and Natural Salt Candleholders

It’s difficult to determine if wall colors affect cats and dogs, but pets can definitely sense the energy flow within a room.

I use Natural Salt Therapy for Pet Feng Shui in every room of my house.

Natural salt lamps and natural salt candleholders release negative ions in abundance – known for enhancing your well-being, energizing the room and gently purifying the air.

Natural salt lamps and candleholders cleanse and purify home air from harmful bacteria.

They also combat dangerous indoor electro “smog” (computers, televisions, etc.) — thus further safeguarding your pet.

And here’s another natural salt benefit. Salt lamps and salt candleholders radiate a stunning, soft pink/red glow.

Pets are attracted to natural light and especially to the rich warmth of natural salt lamps and salt candleholders.

Yvonne recommends natural salt lamps for her clients and also uses them in her own home.

A Feng Shui basket of Salt Crystals will also elevate and harmonize room energy for your pet.

Copyright by Dr. Joyce Starr, 2006. All Rights Reserved.

**Attn. Editors: You are free to use this article, so long as the Copyright & Resource Box remain intact.

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Source by Dr. Joyce Starr

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Dog owners are now hesitant to feed their dogs with processed or commercial dog food due to recent reports and news about food contamination on commercial dog food causing illnesses and premature deaths of dogs. This is really scary that is why more and more pet owners are turning to healthy homemade dog food recipe to make sure they are feeding their dogs with healthy dog food.

It is a growing concern now to most pet owners that commercial dog food contains preservatives, harmful chemicals and made from poor-quality meat that could result to various diseases. News of rampant recalls of this due to numerous reports of kidney failures on animals leading to deaths has alarmed most pet owners to be cautious in feeding their pets with this type of food. This is the answer to avoid food poisoning and diseases.

Healthy homemade dog food recipe do not contain harmful chemicals or additives that will put your dog’s health at risk. Your dog will benefit more and will be healthier if you switch from commercial dog food to healthy homemade recipe. You are sure that you are feeding your dog with fresh, high quality and healthy recipe.

Before switching from commercial dog food to healthy homemade dog food recipe, it is recommended that you consult you vet to know the nutritional needs of your beloved canine friend and to discuss your new diet plans.

If you find it hard to create a healthy homemade recipe, you can research the internet for healthy recipes or ask help from the experts on how to make healthy recipe for your dog. Putting a little extra time for the safety and health of your dog is not a waste of time; after all you love your pet and want to spend more years of companionship with your canine friend.

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Source by Gerry Restrivera

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Although feeding your hermit crabs can be an enjoyable and relatively easy experience, there are certain precautions you’ll want to take to ensure happy and healthy crabs.

Because these guys are susceptible to many microbes and certain infections, sterilization of your crab’s environment and food is especially important. Remember that your little guys will be living in a more tropical and humid environment, which can also breed certain types of microbes, so sterilization is that much more important.

There are a few steps to take while crafting your crab’s diet. When feeding hermit crabs, take the following precautions into account:

* Stay Away from Tap Water – Tap water is chlorinated purposefully in our water sources to remove harmful bacteria. Unfortunately tap water and chlorine specifically is harmful to your hermit crabs, and will result in deterioration of their shell and will also result in the slow deterioration of the skin. At times, the blemishes we see can be the beginning of an infection from fungi or algae.

* Stay Away from Artificially Flavored Foods – When feeding your crabs, stay away from foods that are not organic or have added artificial flavors. Such pesticides from non-organic produce and artificial chemicals will reduce their health in no time. Obvious foods not to feed your hermit crab include potato chips or other snack foods.

* Stay Away From Organic Foods with Copper Sulfate & Ethoxyquin – Copper is an essential nutrient for your crabs, but sometimes the mineral is present in foods as copper sulfate. Copper sulfate is very toxic for your crab’s health. Other options when feeding them include leafy green vegetables containing the oxalate enzyme, which binds with the calcium mineral to assist your crab throughout their molting process.

* Stay Away from Hot or Spicy Foods – Steer clear of hot and spicy foods. Your crabs will appreciate most whole foods without added spice, as they have different taste buds than humans. Feeding them spicy foods will do significant damage in your crab’s digestion system.

* Stay Away from Refined Sugar & Table Salt – It isn’t a good idea when feeding your crabs to add either table salt or refined sugar. If you feel you want to season your crab’s food, you can use a bit of aquarium sea salt, fresh parsley, organic honey, and organic molasses. Generally speaking, your crabs are happy with the natural taste of fresh fruits and vegetables, which have enough natural sugars.

Although this is a short list of the potential diet dangers when feeding your crabs, there are a few other points to consider. When washing and preparing fresh food, use of de-chlorinated water is best. You can also boost your hermit crab’s health by feeding them fresh vegetables containing oxalic acid and zeaxantin. Providing a variety of fresh and wholesome foods for your hermit crab will only result in a healthy and happy pet.

It’s important to note that these little guys grow constantly, and frequently replace their outer shell or exoskeleton. Feeding them calcium rich foods during this process is very beneficial.

Lastly, it’s a good idea to keep your hermit crabs away from exposure to chemicals, pesticides, and perfumes.

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Source by Peter G Williams

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The healthy, positive effects of a raw food diet have been very much in the headlines recently. Much has been said in books and articles about the negative impact that cooking foods has on our health. Cooking fruits and vegetables leeches them of vitamins and enzymes that our bodies need to be healthy. Many people are making the switch to raw foods, and are finding that they look and feel better.

However, making the switch to raw foods doesn’t mean you should dive right in. Any diet change, even to a more healthy diet, is a stress on your body. There are steps you’ll want to take to make sure that you stay healthy while eating a diet of raw fruits and vegetables. Many people, when starting with raw foods, aren’t sure what they should be eating, and eat too much or too little of certain foods. Even when eating raw, it’s important to have a healthy balance. That’s why the first step on your journey to a healthy system of eating should be a visit with your doctor or a dietician. They can help you set up a diet based on raw foods that meets your needs.

While of course you’ll want to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, you’ll want to stick to those that are organically grown and as much as possible, locally grown. Why? Organic foods are free of the pesticides and other chemicals that can be found in many foods. Locally grown means you aren’t only helping yourself, you’re helping your community. Plus, when food is locally grown, you know you’re eating food that’s in season and fresh.

Of course, fruits and vegetables generally have almost no fat, and despite some claims, fat is a necessary part of our diet. On a raw diet, we get our fats from some fruits like coconut and avocado, and also from nuts. The problem is many start a raw diet, and eat too much of these high fat items. If you over load your diet with foods like nuts and avocado, that’s not healthy either. This is another reason why it’s a good idea to meet with your doctor or dietician to help you determine the best diet plan for you.

A last word of advice is to know the source – not only of the food you eat, but also of the advice you follow. Friends or family might tell you about how awesome the raw food diet is, and how great they’re doing and suggest that you try it. Their advice may be very well meaning, but again, it’s important that you check with your doctor. If, for example, you have a allergy to gluten and your friend recommends a diet full of whole grains, it can cause serious health issues.

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Source by Kelly Cannon

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Our modern, urbanized lifestyle relegates most of us to a sedentary lifestyle. Sitting or working behind the computer is commonplace. While it is almost impossible to give up our jobs, there are ways in which we can incorporate exercise into our hectic schedules. If you live in an apartment, make the effort to walk your way up to your residence. If you take public transport to work, try alighting from the train or bus one stop earlier and walking the rest of the way. Take time off to exercise at least twice a week, 30 minutes each time. Vigorous exercise engages your cardiovascular muscles and improves blood circulation, reducing the risk of high blood pressure.

Maintain A Healthy Diet

Our food intake today includes some form of processed food. Increased affluence has led to demand for better lifestyle and with it, food that looks appealing and tastes good. While it will be impossible to eradicate processed food altogether in your diet, try replacing some of it with fresh food. Replace sausages and bacon with fresh meat. Use natural seasoning like species and herbs instead of pre-packed condiments. If you need to snack, choose apple slices or cupped corn over potato chips. When eating out, ask for reduced salt or go salt-free. Cutting down on salt goes a long way towards giving yourself a healthier body.

Reduce Stress

We live in a competitive world. The pressure to perform both in the workplace and at home brings stress to us at a level never witnessed before. If you feel that you are burning out, drop your work and go for a walk. Take a stroll through the park or sit quietly by the beach. Breathe some fresh air. Find a moment of solitude and let your mind enjoy some peace, even for a short 30 minutes. Better still, set aside at least an hour every week to spend some quiet moments by yourself. Do not wait till the stress starts to build up. Prevention is better than cure.

Avoid Excessive Alcohol

Research has shown that excessive alcohol consumption has the effect of increasing your blood pressure level. In addition, alcohol contains calories, which leads to weight gain, one of the factors leading to high blood pressure. If you are a heavy drinker, aim to reduce your intake gradually over time. If you must drink at social functions, limit yourself to just one or two drinks. Having less alcohol cleanses your system and puts your body on a path towards normalcy.

Quit Smoking

Smoking is one of the foremost contributors towards the increase of blood pressure. Smoking increases your blood pressure temporarily but instantly. Frequent smoking increases the frequency of increased blood pressure and the long-term effects of such temporary blood pressure increases cannot be ignored. Aim to quit smoking over time. Reduce your number of cigarettes gradually till you have quit totally. There is another benefit to be enjoyed: The gradual absence of nicotine also reduces your chances of getting narrow arteries and hardened artery walls, two major factors leading to blood clot, which in turn causes heart attack or stroke.

Summary

In summary, exercise, eat healthily and remove stress from your life. Also aim to reduce your alcohol intake and quit smoking. A few simple changes in lifestyle not only greatly reduces your chances of getting high blood pressure but also makes you more fit and feel good!

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Source by Dipak Majumder

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Spices and herbs have been recognized around the world, for thousands of years, as a way to add flavor, depth, and complexity to food. The possible combinations of spices provide endless possibilities for flavoring a dish. The options are further increased by the difference in taste between fresh spices and dried spices, and the flavor development achieved by adding the spices at a specific time in the cooking process. With the limitless flavor options they provide, spices showcase the skills of a chef and his/her finesse in mastering the use of spices. A chef’s skill is made evident from the fact that under-seasoned food is bland and unsatisfying, but over-seasoned food is often inedible. Experimenting with different spices is a great way to improve a dish’s flavor without sacrificing the nutritional value of a food. Spices add flavor without calories and often decrease the amount of salt a dish requires, making the dish suitable to health-conscious customers. Since spices are such an integral part of the culinary arts, consider storing them in a pepper mill for quick grinding.

The combination of spices used in preparation of a dish affect the identity of a dish. Spice mixes often reflect a certain culture that uses those spices, giving food of each ethnicity a distinct flavor that sets it apart from other types of ethnic foods. Cilantro, lime, garlic, and cumin are staples in Mexican food. Morrocan foods will incorporate dried ginger, turmeric, paprika, cinnamon, and cumin, though usually not all at once. Lemongrass, lime, fresh ginger, fresh red chili pepper, soy sauce, and Mirin (a sweet rice wine) are associated with Thai, Vietnamese, and Japanese food.

Dried and fresh herbs and spices differ greatly in their flavor. Dried herbs and dried spices usually have a stronger taste than fresh products due to the decreased amount of water they contain. The difference is highlighted by the use of dried ginger in Moroccan food, and fresh ginger in Asian food. The vast difference in the foods shows just how drastically the flavor of a spice can be altered when dried.

Regardless of the desired outcome of the dish, there are some guidelines that apply to all spices. The most popular spices are used in all ethnic seasonings. These include salt, pepper, and garlic. Spices should preferably be new. For fresh herbs and spices this means that they should have a non-wilted appearance and pleasant smell. Dried spices will lose their flavor over time, so it is recommended to buy whole spices and grind them using a spice grinder.

Playing around with spice combinations can yield delicious results. When added while the dish is cooking, the spice will evenly flavor the entire dish. Fresh herbs and some other spices are added right before serving, allowing the flavor and texture of the herbs to be crisp and fresh. The ability to balance and layer flavors when cooking is the key to successfully using spices. With practice, one’s cooking skills can be greatly improved by using spices.

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Source by Jay Stefans

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So what are the main Greek Foods that the typical Greeks would Eat? One popular Greek dish is kotopoulou lemonato or Lemon Chicken this is just basically a fresh chicken with sliced roast potatoes seasoned with salt pepper Freshly squeezed lemons,oregano drenched with extra virgin olive oil roasted to perfection.

Another tasty Greek Dish is Yemista. (Peppers and Tomatoes stuffed with rice a little onion tomato sugar),roasted in the oven in olive oil with potatoes served with fresh bread from the bakery to dip in the olive oil.

Horiatiki is a Greek tomato salad served with feta cheese and Greek Olives sprinkled with oregano a touch of vinegar and olive oil. One of my personal favorites Souvlaki is another popular Greek Dish it is Pork marinated in a special marinate served in pitta bread. Served with some Greek salad and topped with tzatziki my favorite yogurt and garlic dip it is delicious.

Taramasalata is a dip made from cods roe breadcrumbs, lemon, olive oil which is very tasty eaten with pitta bread as a starter or with fresh bread from the baker.

Moussaka is also very popular though I would say it is one of the few less healthy Greek dishes it comprises of a layer of fried potatoes layer of minced lamb in a tomato sauce layer of fried aubergine or eggplant.Then another layer of minced lamb topped off with a bechamel sauce with cheese before being roasted in the oven for 30 minutes.

A tip for making your moussaka healthier is to fry the potatoes and aubergines in olive oil instead of vegetable oil.

My father used to make a delicious trout stew with olive oil, onions white wine potatoes fresh tomato all thrown in to the pot and some Greek herbs just simmered for an hour. Which was really tasty not to mention healthy This was some of the Greek Food I used to eat as a child and as an adult but when you look at the amount of people eating McDonalds KFC and food from a chip shop filled with cholesterol.

It is easy to feel sorry for them and think there must surely be something better than this.

So if you are looking to live longer and have a healthy diet why don’t you give This Greek Cooking a try what have you got to lose.

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Source by Sotiris Bassakaropoulos

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If you feed your dogs manufactured dog food do you really know what you are feeding them? I recently came across a class action lawsuit that been filed against various pet food manufacturers, having read the details and done further research I decided that I couldn’t safely feed my dogs any manufactured food so I needed to research some healthy homemade dog food recipes. The priorities when looking for good recipes was to ensure that the food would be healthy, it would be quick to prepare and it would be cheap.

My first stop was my local butcher who I use every week. I explained to him that I was going to make my own dog food and asked him what he could supply that was cheap. He now happily provides me with a large bag of off cuts and meat that would soon be out of date every Saturday evening. I you don’t have a local butcher speak to the local supermarket and see what they can provide you with. You’ll often find that they drastically reduce prices on meat that will soon go out of date.

After sourcing the meat I then managed to source a supple of cheap vegetables from the local farmers market. Many farmers use to throw away misshaped or bruised vegetables at the end of the market, not anymore! The final ingredient I sourced was large catering packs of brown rice. The rice is very nutritious and helps to bind the food together.

Now that I have assembled all the ingredients it’s time to prepare the food. A really quick and simple recipe is to take 2 cups of cooked rice, 1 cup of meat which can be raw or cooked and a cup of grated vegetables, carrots and cabbage are good but try to avoid onions. Mix all these together with a small bit of lard or vegetable oil and feed to your dogs. I can guarantee that after only a few weeks on a menu like this your dogs will be fitter and healthier than before.

There are a few things you need to be aware of before you start to change your dog’s diet. Firstly their digestive systems aren’t as advanced as human ones so you’ll need to change their food gradually over a few days. Start by adding a small amount of your homemade dog food to your dog’s meal mixing it with the normal food. Over a period of three to four days gradually increase the amount of homemade food and reduce the manufactured food. Always ensure that you keep plenty of fresh water available for your dog to drink with his meals. Small dogs need only to be fed once a day while larger dogs should be fed twice.

By choosing simple homemade dog food recipes it is possible to extend your dog’s life span significantly and to save money. Why not try it for a month and see the improvement in your best friend.

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Source by Allison Thompson