Living a healthy, balanced lifestyle should be a priority for everyone, which includes eating the right foods and exercising your dogs regularly. The first and easiest step of this is making sure to eat the right foods. However, it’s important to know that some of these foods can be toxic for family pets! We’ve collected some of the healthiest food options out there for you and explain why you need keep them safe in the kitchen and away from pets.

1. Chocolate: The Power of the Cocoa Bean

For People

Chocolate is one of the most loved treats in human history. It has a positive effect on the circulatory system, helps improve brain stimulation, digestion and mood while helping prevent colds! Even though chocolate is very high in energy and sugars, which can lead towards potential obesity without exercise, it can be very good for helping promote everyday health when eaten in moderation. This means a chocolate bar once a week as a reward, not a regular lunch time snack.

For Pets:

Chocolate is very dangerous for dogs to consume, even in small amounts. Dark chocolate is the scariest because it has the most toxic elements of any chocolate for pets. It should never be offered as a treat and you should be especially cautious during holiday seasons: Easter, Halloween and Christmas are the most dangerous. Exercise good judgment and keep the chocolate out of reach.

2 & 3. Grapes and Raisins: The Fruit of the Gods

For People

Grapes and raisins are great sources of natural energy, vitamins, electrolytes and minerals, as well as antioxidants, fiber and other phytonutrients. These include folic acid, lutein, calcium, iron, fluoride, potassium, zinc, magnesium, copper, manganese and resatrol, which is an anti-inflammatory, cholesterol reducer and anti-cancer agent all-star. These are also shown in wine, to a lesser degree.

For Pets:

Grapes and raisins can be toxic to dogs for unknown reasons but it is widely thought that it is the result of some component in the skin of the grape. Eating these can lead to near-immediate kidney failure and should be avoided at all costs.

4 & 5. Onions: The Layers of Taste

For People

Onions have sulfides that help lower blood pressure and blood lipid levels while stopping platelet clumping or unnecessary blood clotting. Eating onions helps the growth of good bifidobacteria, lowers the odds of developing colon cancer and stops harmful bacteria from taking root in our abdomens. Onions can also help prevent coughs, colds, bronchitis and asthma while also increasing our appetites!

For Pets:

Members of the legume family like onions are potentially harmful to dogs because even though allicin is so helpful for us, it works the opposite way with our pets. In fact, it actively creates an anemic result on our pups. Stay away!

6. Macadamia nuts: Putting the “Nut” in Nutrients

For People:

Macadamia nuts contain no cholesterol, are gluten-free and are packed with dietary fiber. They are also great sources of calcium, manganese, selenium, zinc, iron, B-complex vitamins and mono-unsaturated fats (usually abbreviated as MUF) which help drop “bad” cholesterol levels. This great mix of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals is excellent at helping stay healthy.

For Pets:

These kinds of nuts are poison for dogs. It constrains their circulatory system and under no circumstances should we ever give them Macadamia nuts. Use extreme caution!

7 & 8. Plums and Peaches: Overloaded Value Fruits

For People

Plums are very high in Vitamins A, C and K, as well as fiber, potassium and tryptophan (not to mention numerous antioxidants!). That makes plums a great fruit for keeping healthy, working overtime by giving protection from potentially dangerous phenols, iron overload and muscle degeneration. They’re also delicious!

Peaches are simply a super food. They are great sources of vitamins and minerals (A, B1, B2, B6, C, E, K, Niacin, pantothenic acid, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron, sulfur and zinc) that are mostly contained in the skin of the fruit. They are also a natural remedy for impotence, nausea, vomiting, obesity, depression, memory loss, infertility, immune system issues, stress, skin rashes, inflammation, skin acne, fatigue, anxiety and many more! They’ve even overloaded with water, making them an excellent choice for people trying to actively lose weight.

For Pets:

The pits of plums, peaches and persimmons, as well as the seeds from fruits like apples, contain cyanide, which is very toxic for dogs. Even the fleshy fruit interior of these kinds of fruits comes in contact with the pit and should not be trusted. Keep these fruity choices to yourself!

9. Mushrooms: The Flavorful Fungi of Food

For People

Mushrooms are jam-packed with vitamins, nutrients and minerals (B6, C, D, niacin, thiamin, folate, pantothenic acid, dietary fiber, copper, protein, zinc, phosphorus and selenium) while also being low in cholesterol and saturated fats. They also raise “good” while lowering “bad” cholesterol levels, help maintain a healthy balance of vitamins and minerals in our bloodstream, prevent anemia, keep insulin levels stable, increase bone density and help protect against all different kinds of potential cancers.

For Pets:

Even the mushrooms we buy at the grocery store can be potentially harmful to our pets. Depending on the kind of mushroom, your animal may experience vomiting, tremors, seizures or anorexia.. The best suggestion: play it safe and keep them away. Don’t be afraid to sweep your backyard periodically to keep wild mushrooms at bay either.

10. Avocado: The Butter of Vegetables

For People:

Avocados are great sources of both mono and polyunsaturated fats, which make them great choices over foods were considered to be more “junky” that are high in saturated fats. They contain a ton of essential vitamins and minerals (A, B6, C, E, calcium, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, magnesium, copper, iron, thiamin, niacin, folate, phosphorus, zinc, manganese) that can help improve our diets in a big way!

For Pets:

Just like the pits and seeds of other fruits, the pits of avocados are equally toxic to pets because of their cyanide content. Again, just be careful about how accessible your fruits and vegetables are to your pets!

Hopefully these tips can help both you and your pets stay fit, healthy and safe!