We, as humans, don’t always look after our daily nutritional needs and more often than not need to rely on supplements to make sure our needs are met. The same theory applies to our pets, including our dogs. While most dog foods claim to be nutritionally complete they offer a one size fits all approach that isn’t necessarily applicable to your dog. Things such as energy levels, illness, pregnancy, and age can affect the nutritional requirements of your dog. Your dog may also be having skin or coat issues that need addressing. In cases such as these nutritional supplements may be the answer. But what are the best nutritional supplements for dogs?GARLIC Garlic in large quantities over an extended period of time has shown to be harmful. However, the small amount of garlic in supplements for dogs is deemed safe. Garlic is often given to dogs as a blood purifier, to prevent cancer, and aid in circulation. Garlic is often a secondary supplement in our next category which is brewer’s yeast, and many supplements are garlic flavored to make them appealing to dogs.BREWER’S YEASTBrewer’s yeast nutritional supplements for dogs are rich in B vitamins, which can assist your dog with all types of vital functions. B vitamins have been shown to help metabolize carbs, fats and proteins, which in turn can assist in weight loss. Brewer’s yeast is also rich in chromium which can reduce blood cholesterol levels. Perhaps the most well known benefit to brewer’s yeast supplements for dogs lies in its ability to repel fleas. It is not to be used as a cure for existing fleas however, but rather, as a preventative measure.MSM (METHYL SULFONYL METHANE) MSM is used in supplement form for dogs to support healthy skin, fur, and connective tissues. It has been shown to reduce pain and swelling resulting from arthritis, bursitis, strains and sprains. MSM is also used in relation to skin issues, allergies, and digestive issues.Check with your veterinarian before providing your dog with any type of nutritional supplement. Dogs suffering from any of the symptoms listed in the above article may benefit from a nutritional supplement for dogs, but there may be an underlying problem that requires medical attention as well. When purchasing nutritional supplements for dogs buy a trusted brand, or one that is recommended by your veterinarian, and be sure to give the supplement only in the recommended dosage.

Long known, is the fact that there are very few natural ethnic skin care products in the mainstream cosmetics industry to address skin of color properly. Seems almost everything formulated for our skin in the ethnic market is either too drying, too irritating, too greasy, or just plain too ineffective.What makes some formulators of these products think these type of products are going to help our skin? One would wonder what they were thinking. Is there any hope?It is extremely pleasing to say ‘indeed yes’, there is. Start using natural ethnic skin care products. Stop using toxic products. We know just how sensitive our skin is, so the first thing we need to do is avoid chemical-laden skin care and personal care products like the plague.These types of products can prove to be devastating to our skin in many ways. Unfortunately, these products were saturating and even dominating the cosmetics industry for quite some time.In both the ethnic personal care market as well as the mainstream personal care market, there’s a lot left to be desired. By now, you probably have a good idea why it is not recommended to use most mainstream personal care products for sensitive skin of color. Not to worry, natural personal care products are the answer.Natural Skin Care: Herbs Make the Difference for Ethnic SkinWhen it comes to natural skin care, herbs contained in products can have a very positive impact on ethnic skin. There is a fundamental difference in the way herbal skin care and conventional skin care works.Herbs themselves, contain not only single active constituents, but many active constituents that provide necessary nutrients to the skin. These multiple compounds acting together, can more effectively address skin problems from every angle.Remember, plant cells and human cells are very compatible. What does all this mean? It means that herbals treat not just the symptoms, but the underlying cause of any existing skin or health condition more effectively.It is well-known that herbs are more gentle in nature, on not only the skin, but the body as a whole. This can be attributed to the fact that herbs have been extracted as naturally occurring substances. Herbs are gentle and do not produce any major, toxic side effects on skin.This is especially beneficial for skin of color, as it is more reactive by nature than most other skin types and needs both the gentlest, and most effective treatment. Make no mistake about it, herbal skin care may be gentler, but this does not mean it is less effective. You’ll be pleasantly surprised!Remember, 60-70% of what you put on your skin has the ability to penetrate your pores and eventually end up in your blood stream. If you are going to use products to address your skin condition, why not use something naturally healthy as well?Natural products either purchased or home-made from natural ingredients, should be the preferred choice before conventional personal care products are sought after from the mainstream cosmetics industry.Herbals vs. Modern Drugs in the Skin Care IndustryModern drugs contained in mainstream or conventional skin care products (including benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, kojic acid, etc.) are manufactured in laboratories and then produced in mass quantities in factories.Before reaching the general public, these drugs are tested on a large number of users. The knowledge that forms the basis of the conventional or mainstream skin care industry is based on experimental findings and observations.To that extent, herbal treatments are also supported through years of fact-based evidence that has accumulated over generations and across cultures, thus their value is well-known.The unfortunate fact is that the approach to testing herbal beauty remedies has not been as thorough and rigorous as the testing that is seen in the mainstream beauty industry.So much money has been put into funding the analysis of modern drugs (also contained in many skin care products) that they should be able to produce evidence for the benefits of herbal treatments. In the modern drug and personal care markets, it’s all about the money.It is much less cost-effective for mainstream cosmetic and skin care makers to produce active, natural and organic skin care products than to produce unnatural and even unsafe ones.Remember that herbal treatments are different in that they are a complex mixture of a variety of active compounds. These active compounds work together to heal skin more effectively and are difficult to separate making duplication and measurement a difficult task for the mainstream formulator.One Word of CautionWhen selecting herbal ethnic skin care products for our dark skin, we must still be cautious for our skin’s sake. Beware of companies who tout themselves as offering you so-called ‘natural’, ‘herbal’ and ‘organic’ skin or hair care products and they really are not!When it comes down to it, there may be tiny amounts of only one, two or maybe even three organic and/or natural ingredients in the entire product followed or preceded by a host of chemical ingredients such as coloring agents, preservatives, stabilizers, thickeners, PH balancers, fragrance and such. Please read labels carefully. Avoid these products. Your skin will thank you.The Bottom LineDark skin types should be treated with the thorough understanding of our skin’s characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses. Once we understand this, we can treat it more effectively with natural herbs and avoid the recurrence of excessive skin problems. We can start by becoming more educated about our beautiful dark skin (you are because you’re reading this article).First, avoid unhealthy and unnatural skin care products, incorporate more fresh, nutrient rich foods in our diets, and use natural ethnic skin care products designed for ‘us’ (even if you have to make your own). You’re on your way!