Food for Thought: KIBBLE IS KILLING YOUR DOG?!

Esteemed members of the Meat Mafia…

Welcome back to another edition of our Food for Thought Newsletter where we bring you all the information you need to know to live a healthy and thriving life.

On today’s edition we’re going to discuss:

• MEAT.MAFIA.MERCH 🥩 

• Should Your Dog Eat Kibble?

• Health Insurance: Is There a Better Solution?

• Tweet of the week: what is the new 1%?

MEAT.MAFIA.MERCH 🥩

Ladies & gentlemen, the moment has arrived. We’ve officially launched merch and we’re so excited to share it with you all. It’s a limited-release drop of hats and shirts for our most faithful listeners of the podcast. If that sounds like you, go check out our site and pick yourself up a hat and/or shirt to officially become a member of the Meat Mafia.

Should Your Dog Eat Kibble?

Many pet owners are unaware that dogs are naturally carnivores, evolved to thrive on a meat-based diet. Nevertheless, 76% of dog owners feed their dogs kibble. Here are some key facts that highlight why dogs are biologically designed to eat meat:

1. Evolutionary history: Dogs have been eating a meat-based diet for millennia, since the dawn of their existence. Their digestive systems have not changed significantly in the short time since commercial pet foods were introduced.

2. Biological adaptations: Dogs have several physical traits that indicate they are carnivores:

- Short, simple digestive tracts

- High levels of hydrochloric acid in their stomachs

- Sharp teeth designed for tearing meat

3. No requirement for carbohydrates: Even AAFCO, which sets pet food standards, confirms that dogs have no nutritional requirement for carbohydrates in their diet.

4. Moisture from food: Dogs are designed to get most of their moisture from their food, not water bowls. Raw meat is about 70% moisture, compared to only 6-12% in dry kibble.

5. Inability to properly digest plant matter: Dogs lack the digestive enzymes needed to fully break down and utilize plant-based ingredients.

6. Health issues with carb-heavy diets: The high carbohydrate content in many commercial dog foods (40-70%) is linked to rising obesity rates and other health issues in dogs.

7. Benefits of species-appropriate diets: Many pet owners report significant health improvements when switching their dogs to raw, meat-based diets - from better coat condition to reduced allergies.

8. Ancestral diet composition: The natural canine diet consists of approximately 80% muscle meat, 10% organ meat, and 10% raw meaty bones.

Understanding that dogs are carnivores by nature can help pet owners make more informed decisions about their furry friends' nutrition. While commercial pet foods have only been around for less than 100 years, dogs have been thriving on meat-based diets for thousands of years.

If you’re a dog owner and interested in learning more, go check out our episode with Amy Zalneraitis on episode 230! Also, if you become a fan of We Feed Raw after listening to the episode use code MEAT to get 30% off your next order.

Health Insurance: Is There a Better Solution?

We are so intrigued by industries where the power is concentrated amongst a handful of big players. It’s actually crazy how many industries there are that are only controlled by a few players. Take the beef industry for instance: 4 companies control 85% of the beef. Then, take the insurance industry where 73% of the market is highly concentrated.

Crazy.

As health insurance becomes less and less competitive, and the service becomes more commoditized, we can expect to see some negative externalities. Here are just a few examples:

1. Inflated Costs

One of the biggest issues in the health insurance industry is the inflation of healthcare costs. The current system often leads to artificially high prices for medical procedures, prescriptions, and other health-related services. This inflation makes healthcare more expensive for everyone involved.

2. Lack of Transparency

Many people find it difficult to understand exactly what they're paying for with their health insurance. The system often lacks transparency, making it challenging for individuals to make informed decisions about their healthcare spending.

3. Complex Billing Systems

The healthcare billing process can be incredibly complex and confusing. Many patients struggle to understand their medical bills and insurance statements, leading to frustration and potential financial mistakes.

4. Limited Control Over Healthcare Choices

Traditional health insurance often restricts which healthcare providers you can see and what treatments are covered. This can limit your options and potentially impact the quality of care you receive.

5. High Out-of-Pocket Expenses

Despite paying monthly premiums, many insured individuals still face high deductibles, copays, and other out-of-pocket expenses. These costs can add up quickly, especially for those with chronic conditions or unexpected medical emergencies.

6. Bureaucratic Hurdles

Dealing with insurance companies often involves navigating a complex web of paperwork, approvals, and appeals. This bureaucracy can be time-consuming and stressful, especially when you're already dealing with health issues.

7. Misaligned Incentives

The current health insurance system doesn't always incentivize preventive care or cost-effective treatments. This misalignment can lead to higher overall healthcare costs and potentially poorer health outcomes.

8. Lack of Flexibility

Traditional health insurance plans often lack the flexibility to adapt to individual needs and circumstances. This one-size-fits-all approach may not be suitable for everyone.

9. Dependency on Employer-Provided Insurance

Many Americans rely on employer-provided health insurance, which can create job lock and limit career mobility. Losing a job can also mean losing health coverage, adding stress during already difficult times.

10. Rising Premiums

Health insurance premiums have been steadily increasing over the years, outpacing wage growth for many Americans. This makes coverage increasingly unaffordable for individuals and families.

If you’re like us you may be wondering…

THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY!

We think there likely is. In episode 240 of the Meat Mafia Podcast, we were joined by Andy Schoonover, the owner and founder of CrowdHealth, a crowdfunding solution for healthcare costs. Brett and I have been members for the last 18 months, and recently joined the CarnivoreCrowd within CrowdHealth.

The CarnivoreCrowd is designed to bring together metabolically healthy people who want an alternative to health insurance, but still want peace of mind when it comes to health care coverage. The CarnivoreCrowd serves as a way to share medical expenses amongst like-minded, healthy people. Check out the community in the link below and if you want to join use our code MEATMAFIA to pay $99 per month for the first 3 months.

Join the CarnivoreCrowd!

Tweet of the Week

We saw this tweet and were absolutely stunned…

It’s becoming so expensive to live within the existing system that it’s no surprise birth rates plummeting. This is CRAZY! Luckily, there are innovative companies out there working on new solutions for old and growing problems like this one.