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The Hidden Chemicals in Your Turkey
With the Thanksgiving holiday fast approaching, there is usually quite a bit of buzz about tryptophan in our holiday foods. So, just what is Tryptophan? Tryptophan is an amino acid needed for normal growth in infants and for nitrogen balance in adults. It is an essential amino acid, which means your body cannot produce it - you must get it from your diet. The body uses tryptophan to help make niacin (Vitamin B3) and serotonin. Serotonin has been clinically proven to produce healthy sleep and a stable mood. It is also used to help treat Down’s Syndrome and aggressive behavior. Tryptophan can be found in: Cheese, Chicken, Eggs, Fish, Milk, Nuts, Peanut butter, Peanuts, Pumpkin seeds, Sesame seeds, Soy, Tofu, and... Turkey. So, when you feel sleepy after all the feasting, it’s not because you’ve had a good work out (though carrying the turkey to the table might qualify), it’s because you’ve just received a heathy dose of nature’s sleep drug. Enjoy.
For Your Pets
During the holidays it is tempting to let your pets enjoy a bit of feasting, but some human foods are not okay for dog or cats. Turkey is fine, but be sure to take off the skin. While the skin is not necessarily harmful to your pet, it absorbs a lot of
things from the cooking process that are. Alliums (onions, garlic, leeks, scallions) add great flavor for us, but are toxic to pets. The fat is not good for pets either, mainly because it is something out of their normal diet (this includes cheese, sour cream, butter, and gravies). Bones are good for chewing, but not poultry bones - even a large turkey bone can shatter and injure you pet. Many people are unaware that grapes, and subsequently raisins, can be toxic to pets. They can cause kidney failure in dogs. On the other hand, cranberry sauce is just fine for pets but watch the amount of sugar in it. Artificial sweeteners are a big NO because they often contain Xylitol which is poisonous to animals, and potentially deadly to dogs. And... NO Chocolate, especially baking chocolate. Dairy products are okay if you know your pet can handle it, but cats often develop lactose intolerance when they become adults. Plain green beans are a wonderful treat for pets. Fresh vegetables are a great addition to any diet, as long as they are not mixed with alliums (see above). What people may consider a small amount of alcohol can be toxic for a smaller animal. Keep in mind that alcohol poisoning can occur in pets from items like fruit cake (the recipe may have called for rum or other liquor), as well as unbaked bread.
Warm up your Toes - Gooding Gobbler November 27th at 8 a.m. at North Valley Academy a fun way to raise funds for our parks and playgrounds Register online at Active.com, at the Wild Mane, or on the day of the race (7 a.m.)
November 26
,2014
Volume 38 ~ Number 48 News from the Heart of Idaho Camas • Lincoln • Gooding
CourierNews.webs.com
This Saturday In
Shoshone
November 29th Tree lighting at 6:00 L.C. Courthouse Lawn Antique Appraisal Day 2nd Time Around Free appraisals from 10:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Also an open house
Shop Small on November 29th
The Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce is encouraging the public to come to Shoshone, Richfield and Dietrich, to support local business for Small Business Saturday. November 29th is Small Business Saturday all over the United States - an American shopping holiday held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year. First observed on November 27th, 2010, it is a counterpart to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which feature big box retail and e-commerce stores respectively. By contrast, Small Business Saturday encourages holiday shoppers to patronize brink and mortar business that are small and local. continued on page 9.....