Pure vs. Purified- What's the Difference?

It can be difficult to wade through the vocabulary related to health-food products and nutritional supplements, even for pets. There is little regulation of terminology on what is considered “natural” and other terms can be equally ambiguous. When it comes to omega fatty acid supplements such as omega-3 and omega-7, two terms are especially confusing: pure and purified.  What is the difference? Is there a difference and is it important? Will I be purchasing an ‘inferior’ product if I pick one over the other?  Don’t worry - I’m going to set the record straight on what these terms mean and why it is important to choose the right one.

What is "purified" omega-7 oil?

-This is what "purified" omega 7 looks like-

Omega-7 oils are beneficial for your pet’s health in a variety of ways, but not all products are created equal.  When a product says “purified” on the label, it can be very misleading, this usually means the product has been heavily processed by chemicals like bleach and surfactants to “purify”, or isolate a specific nutrient. Many “purified” omega-7 oils start as anchovy crude oil and go through a series of 6 or 7 processing steps to reach the final product. (refer to the image above)

Why choose a pure, whole-food sourced omega-7 oil?

‘Purified’ oils may contain residual chemicals from processing, which can be harmful to your pet’s health. Some of the residues may even contain known carcinogens! This purification process also exposes the fatty acids to high temperatures, breaking them down and causing the oil to go rancid. Rancid oil can not only have a funny flavor or smell, making it less palatable to your furry friend, but it also loses its nutritional value.

Pure sea buckthorn oil naturally contains the world’s richest source of omega 7, up to 40%, without ever having to process or isolate the nutrient in order to achieve these high levels. SeaBuck produces oil extracts using a simple process called CO2 supercritical extraction. Basically, this works like a big espresso machine. High-pressure, recyclable CO2 is put through ground sea buckthorn seeds, forcing out the oil component. 

This low-temperature (90-100 F), whole-food processing of SeaBuck products retains the integrity of the omega-7 fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants.  SeaBuck’s pure oil extraction is free from any chemical washes, surfactants and residues. You can’t find that level of purity with a “purified” fish oil product. 

In short, mother nature knows best. Whole-foods and minimally processed supplements are better absorbed and assimilated into the body than man made/altered supplements. As a veterinarian, I have a hard time recommending products that may contain chemical residues or harmful carcinogens. You will certainly gain more from selecting the purest, least refined products to include in your and your pet’s diet. Your pet will thank you!

What's your opinion on "pure vs. purified"? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. 

Natural Hairball Remedy: Omega 7 and Sea Buckthorn

Hairballs can be a major issue for a number of housecats. They make your cat very uncomfortable and can ruin your upholstery!  There are a variety of ‘hairball remedies’ on the market that claim to help your feline friend, but which one is best for addressing the problem as naturally as possible?

What exactly causes hairballs?

Before I discuss which product may be best for your cat, we need to understand why cats produce hairballs in the first place. Hairballs are actually not a normal occurrence in healthy cats. Cats are very tidy, fastidious groomers and when they groom themselves, they swallow hair. This hair should simply pass through the digestive tract. Experts think that hairballs are a product of stomach or intestinal problems, skin disease, and can even be a symptom of other issues, such as kidney failure.

Cats that have skin problems such as fleas or allergic dermatitis will groom themselves more than others, leading to more hair ingestion. Some cats may produce hairballs a couple of times a day, causing further irritation. Chronic irritation can slow down the movement of ingested contents (food and hair) through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and predisposes vomiting.  Some cats that chronically produce hairballs or vomit may also suffer from undiagnosed irritable bowel syndrome or constipation.

What are your options?

If your cat is frequently producing hairballs or vomiting undigested food, have him or her examined by your veterinarian. Additional diagnostics may be necessary such as bloodwork or x-rays if your vet suspects concurrent constipation or another medical problem.

If your cat is suffering from health problems, it is best to consult your veterinarian before trying a remedy. There are a great number of hairball remedies out on the market that are ‘over-the-counter.’ Most are made from a variety of natural and synthetic ingredients.

• Petroleum jelly
• Petroleum jelly is an old remedy for addressing hairballs, but has not been proven to help move hair through the GI tract. Petroleum-based remedies won’t address any underlying inflammation either. Some cats dislike the taste while others readily eat it in their food.
• ‘Bezo-pet’ or ‘Laxatone'
• These products are also mineral oil or petroleum jelly-based products, which also contain a fish or malt flavor additive.
• Lactulose
• This is a prescription-strength laxative that stimulates the GI tract and helps to propel hair and other ingested contents along. It is often prescribed for cats who suffer from constipation as well as hairballs. Often it is too strong for some cats and can cause diarrhea.
• Psyllium
• Psyllium is a fiber found in grains such as wheat and corn husks. It is the ‘active ingredient’ in ‘over-the-counter’ laxatives and fiber supplements such as Metamucil.  It has a grainy texture and human products are often flavored.  It is best used in cats with stool problems but is reported to occasionally help with hairballs.
• Pumpkin
• Pureed or canned pumpkin is an all-natural hairball remedy. It is thought that pumpkin’s high fiber content helps to soothe the irritated stomach and helps “pull” the hair along in the gastrointestinal tract. While dogs readily like the sweet flavor of pumpkin, many cats just don’t have a sweet tooth.
• Sea buckthorn omega-7 oil
• Omega-7 rich, whole-fruit sea buckthorn helps soothe irritated GI tracts in many species from horses to cats. Owners who supplement their cats with omega-7 oil see a great improvement in their cats hair coat and a drastic reduction in the number of hairballs produced. Some report that their cat’s hairball problem completely disappeared, calling it “a hairball cure”! Whole-fruit sea buckthorn helps to soothe irritation and inflammation in the stomach. This inflammation predisposes cats (and other mammals, like horses) to ulcers and poor GI motility. Poor motility leads to hair getting stuck in the stomach, predisposing hairball formation.
• The fiber content and lubricating properties of sea buckthorn and omega-7 oils help hair to move at greater ease in the GI tract. 

"You know, now that it’s been about a month, I've noticed that Katie has not thrown up a hairball in a LONG time. On the recommendation of my vet, I tried Cat Lax which seemed to improve things but not completely. She’s been hairball and throw-up free ever since the Omega 7 oil."~ Debbie G.

For preventing hairballs, sea buckthorn-sourced, pure omega-7 oils are by far the best “bang for your buck.” It is a natural whole-food source and pure, not purified using harmful chemicals. It will also bring a brilliant shine to your cat’s coat and may help minimize skin problems such as dry, itchy skin. 

Do you have a hairball success story to share? Tell us about it in the comments.