What we Can Learn about our own Health from Animal Health

Some people know what they want to do in life right from the start, others like myself move into jobs and careers on an ever-evolving basis.  My oldest daughter is one of the former, always knowing that she wanted to be a veterinarian, the decision was easy, getting there not so.  Vet school is a tough, grueling, competitive scholastic endeavor but for those who make it, like my daughter, the rewards are great.  Unlike the human doctor, the veterinarian champions those who can't speak. 

Recently in my favorite health newsletter; Alternatives by Dr. David Williams, he had an article about what we can learn about our own health from animal health and being a cattle producer and into natural health I was intrigued.  There are many newsletters on health out there but most are just a disguise for selling some product, Dr. Williams on the otherhand is one that I love because it is packed with useful information based on time, research and experience.

As a cattle producer I have learned that in order to be successful our animal's weight is one of the most critical factors in our operation.  Our animals weight is about profit, loss and the sheer ability to stay in business.  In the cattle business animals are bought and sold on weight and to get the weight that is crucial to profitability we have to look at each animal and decide: Do they require too much food to gain weight? Do our cows mother well and are they fertile? Do they have enough milk and do they produce healthy calves?  If not the animal needs to be culled.  With tight margins in a business that right now is very challenging due to the extreme drop in cattle prices what does someone like my  husband and I do to stay in business?  In order to survive we learn to prevent and cure diseases in our herd through nutrition and a good immunization program, it is that simple.

The care and treatment of animals is much different than the human.  There is no Blue Cross/Blue Shield or second opinions and in a business like the cattle business many times time and money are deciding factors on how animals will get treatment or if you can even save that animal once they reach a critical point.  For this key reason it is why Veterinary schools teach more about nutrition and cellular health than any other medical school in any discipline.  Veterinarians are also exceptional diagnosticians because they can't ask their patients questions and in many cases have to try and save an animal's life using the most cost-effective means available.  

Those in the livestock business like myself and veterinarians understand that proper nutrition isn't a maybe, it is an absolute.  Animal nutrition is the single most important aspect of our daily business.  We know from experience that the best diet produces the healthiest animals and no animal can live up to their genetic potential if they live on a poor diet.  Think about that the next time you go to reach for that bag of chips or the fast food drive through.  Your choices dictate your health potential, it is just that simple.

When assessing human health the saddest fact is that most doctors today never look for nutritional deficiences or even believe they matter when diagnosing humans.  We are told so many times that our diets are enough and that taking supplements just creates expensive urine; wrong, wrong, wrong.  To prove this wrong all we have to do is look at the early studies on nutritional deficiencies in livestock.  This research has proven that specific nutritional deficiencies have a direct cause and effect on health.  As we move into a new year and focus again on our health think about nutrition.  Do your own research. Tear apart your diet to see where it is good and where it needs improvement.  Realize that good supplementation is not wasteful.  Exercise and take command of your nutrition in order to reach your highest potential and stay healthy.  Learn from those who can't speak and the doctors who care for them.  Your health and proper nutrition is your greatest gift!

​You can learn more about Dr. Williams and his health newsletter at www.drwilliams.com