Dogs don’t suffer because something is missing — they suffer because they’ve lost their essential connection with humans. In a world where we have everything, the dog is left without the one thing it truly needs — a stable, present, calm human.
I don’t mean physical presence, but energetic and emotional presence. Everything else — food, accessories, cosmetics — becomes meaningless when connection is gone.
How Caring for Dogs Became a Consumer Identity
The modern dog owner lives under the pressure of an industry that convinces us we can’t be responsible owners unless we constantly buy things. Dogs and consumerism have become so intertwined that caring for a dog has turned into a matter of image, not relationship. Shopping is no longer functional — it’s become a moral duty. We feel inadequate if we don’t buy regularly, and when we can’t afford it anymore, we start believing we no longer deserve our dog.
When Money Disappears — the Illusion of Love Crumbles
When the illusion of consumption collapses due to job loss or personal crisis, people often decide to give their dog away. They think they can no longer care for it, not because they can’t feed it, but because they can’t participate in the expensive „system of care.“ This is the result of a distorted message: that love for a dog depends on money.
What a Dog Truly Needs — Simplicity and Presence
A dog doesn’t need a lavender pillow or a spirulina supplement. It needs stability, clarity, and contact. It needs to know who leads and who stays, even when everything changes. No purchase can replace that.
A Personal Story — Betti and the Illusion of Perfection
I was once part of that system. Betti was a Bichon whose owners followed every „professional standard“—weekly grooming, perfect white coat, show results. But they eventually gave her away, believing they weren’t „good enough“ for her anymore.
Betti ended up with their cook—a woman with no money but a priceless advantage: she had no need to prove anything. She trimmed Betti’s hair with kitchen scissors and never tried to turn her into a trophy. For the first time, Betti could simply be a dog.
A dog doesn’t ask for luxury; it asks for the presence of a human who understands.
The Responsibility of Professionals
Experts, trainers, and groomers shape the idea of a “good owner.” When we raise that bar so high that it depends on money and perfection, we share responsibility for every abandonment caused by guilt.
Returning to Simplicity — Returning to True Love
If we pause, we’ll see how simple it is to give a dog what it truly needs: a human who understands it. Someone who knows that silence sometimes matters more than another toy.
The Pure Love and Harmony approach teaches that a relationship with a dog isn’t a luxury. You don’t need special equipment or a perfect home. You just need yourself—not as a buyer, but as a human who stays when everything else fades.
At Integrative and Holistic Grooming Education, we prioritize the bond over the brush. True care is about being present, not just providing products. Explore our philosophy: Linktree Sasha Riess
Dogs and the culture of conflict reveal that conflict is an inevitable part of life and that the way we respond to it shapes our relationships, boundaries, and personal growth. In the human world, conflict is often seen as a threat or the beginning of a fight, while animals show us that conflict can be a healthy signal, the start of change, and an opportunity for learning.
When we understand the natural logic of conflict, we more easily recognize the patterns we repeat and the lessons we avoid. Animals, especially dogs and horses, experience conflict very differently. Their instincts are clear, their reactions direct, and their relationships transparent. They give us the chance to see ourselves in a way we otherwise never could, without masks, without illusions, and without rationalizations.
This text is a journey through that mirror.
Why Humans Fight and Why Animals Don’t
Conflict among humans often comes from emotion and ego. Expectations and unspoken needs also play a major role. In nature, conflict is brief, functional, and solution-oriented rather than destructive.
How Dogs Build a Culture of Conflict Without Aggression
Dogs and horses do not have the concept of guilt. They have no need to prove they are better. Their behavior is a message about the state of the relationship, about misalignment, about misunderstanding. In that sense, they teach us something we constantly forget: conflict is not an attack, conflict is information.
When animals clash, they show boundaries clearly. They hold them. They respect them. And they move on. Humans, on the other hand, carry the same wounds, the same themes, and the same fears of abandonment or unworthiness for years.
Evolution and the Culture of Conflict
Our biology is not made for chronic conflict. Evolutionarily, conflict was short, energetic, and resolvable. Modern humans live in long-lasting emotional conflicts that stretch over months or decades. The body remains locked in tension, raising cortisol (the stress hormone), weakening the microbiome, and lowering the immune system.
This is where dogs become our teachers. Animals show us exactly how deeply the nervous system is connected to relationships.
What Dogs Teach Us About Our Nervous System
A dog does not react to our words. A dog reacts to our state. It feels our fear, our doubt, our hidden aggression, and the sadness we suppress. The dog is not a symptom. The dog is an indicator. What we manage to hide among humans, the dog sees instantly.
Dogs and the Culture of Conflict as a Mirror of Our Emotions
Dogs reflect our inner world clearly:
If you become unsettled, the dog becomes unsettled.
If you calm down, the dog calms down.
If you hold a boundary, the dog relaxes.
If you have no boundary, the dog begins to control.
The dog does not return your ego. It returns your unresolved emotional material.
Monty Roberts and a Lesson from the World of Horses
Monty Roberts teaches that a horse does not accept violence but accepts clarity. A horse flees from force but connects with stability. Dogs behave the same way. They enter the relationship only to the extent that we are mentally present.
When we have a clear identity, a clear boundary, and an emotionally regulated state, the dog follows us. When we are contradictory, fearful, or attempt to control through pressure, the dog resists, avoids, becomes anxious, or takes on responsibility it should never carry.
Animals show us what a pure relationship looks like without the conflict of ego.
Dogs and Emotions: How the Culture of Conflict Shapes Our Relationships
The dog carries the world we create for it: our rhythm, our stress, our way of solving problems, our unspoken emotions, our impatience, and our chaos. When dogs get sick, become nervous, or react impulsively, they are often carrying emotional weight that is not theirs. Many owners believe it is a behavioral problem, but most often it is a relational problem.
The Microbiome, Stress, and Why Dogs Somatize Our Choices
Chronic stress changes the microbiome in dogs just as it does in humans. Stress affects digestion, immunity, hormonal balance, behavior, and frustration tolerance. When a dog’s nervous system stays in survival mode, the body stops regenerating and functioning properly.
Science, Veterinary Medicine, and the Microbiome Through the Lens of Conflict
Veterinary medicine often treats the symptom instead of the cause. If a dog vomits, the stomach is treated. If a dog bites, training is prescribed. But in many cases, the deeper issue is a lack of secure attachment, a lack of leadership, or emotional instability in the home. This is when relational conflict becomes bodily conflict.
A dog shows us what a pure relationship looks like without the conflict of ego.
How to Develop a Culture of Healthy Conflict With Your Dog
Clarity brings safety. Boundaries bring stability. Silence brings peace.Predictability heals the dog’s nervous system. Relationships always come before technique. A dog wants you, not a trick.
Conclusion: Conflict as a Teacher
Conflict is not the enemy. Conflict is navigation. It shows where it hurts, where boundaries are missing, where you have abandoned yourself. Dogs teach us that conflict is resolved through presence.
At Integrative and Holistic Grooming Education, we believe that a healthy dog starts with an emotionally aware owner. Discover how to build a deeper, stress-free connection with your pet. Explore our resources: Linktree Sasha Riess
From my years of working with dogs, persistent itching almost always points to an internal imbalance. When a dog eats only kibble, problems often arise in the microbiome — the colony of beneficial bacteria in the gut that keeps the immune system balanced.
Kibble, especially lower-quality brands, contains preservatives and heat-processed proteins that a dog’s body can’t fully digest. When the body doesn’t know what to do with these substances, the brain sends a signal: “Get it out!” The result appears on the skin — through itching, redness, and inflammation.
Allergies and Histamine: How Itching Starts
When an allergic reaction occurs, the body produces histamine — a compound that triggers itching and skin irritation. This means your dog’s body is reacting to something it can’t digest properly. The outcome: inflamed areas, flaky skin, paw licking, and constant scratching.
Allergies are actually a sign of a weakened immune system. They appear when the body can’t properly process food or toxins and tries to eliminate them through the skin, lungs, or kidneys.
Dietary changes and natural probiotics can help a dog struggling with persistent scratching.
Natural Nutrition to Reduce Itching
The first step is to change the diet. Introduce fresh, natural food — cooked or raw — with added probiotics and prebiotics to restore gut health. Avoid industrial kibble for a while and observe your dog’s skin and behavior.
Also, add flaxseed and pumpkin seeds — natural sources of omega fatty acids essential for healthy skin and coat. Grind them in a coffee grinder and sprinkle over meals. This supports skin regeneration and helps reduce itching naturally.
Itching Isn’t Just a Skin Problem
Constant scratching is rarely a skin issue — it’s usually a symptom of an internal imbalance. When a dog eats only kibble, its system gradually loses equilibrium.
A balanced diet, natural mineral support, and probiotic supplementation can restore harmony and help your dog live comfortably again — without the constant urge to scratch.
At Integrative and Holistic Grooming Education, we believe that beautiful skin and coat start from within. We teach you how to recognize the symptoms of internal imbalance and restore your dog’s natural glow. Explore our programs: Linktree Sasha Riess
A dog living in harmony with nature — calm, healthy, and free of stress — is the image of true well-being. Caring for a dog’s health and providing proper nutrition are essential foundations for a long, joyful life.
Dogs who share life with humans are not just companions — they absorb our emotions, our energy, and our stress. Understanding how nutrition, emotional awareness, and the owner’s inner balance affect the dog’s body is the key to preventing psychosomatic illnesses and maintaining vitality.
Why It’s Important to Watch Diet and Environment
Almost no wild animal suffers from cancer. But when a dog lives with humans, that changes — our emotions and our stress directly influence its body. The closer the dog is to us, the more it becomes a mirror of our inner state. That’s why diseases linked to stress and emotional imbalance appear more frequently in dogs who live tightly connected to humans.
Proper Nutrition and Its Effect on the Immune System
When a dog reaches six months of age and beyond, care should go beyond medical procedures like sterilization. True care means creating a safe and peaceful environment — one where stress does not poison the body. Dogs instinctively absorb and process their owners’ emotional tension in an attempt to protect them. This makes it crucial for us, as owners, to remain calm, aware, and emotionally present — because our state shapes their health.
Balanced nutrition is more than food—it is the foundation of your dog’s immunity and emotional stability.
The Connection Between Mind, Food, and Immunity
Balanced nutrition is not just about physical health — it’s also about emotional stability. Healthy meals rich in natural ingredients, consistent daily rhythms, and gentle human energy together strengthen the immune system and prevent disease.
Psychosomatic Effects of Chronic Stress
Chronic stress can lead to deep physiological changes in dogs, including psychosomatic conditions and even cancer-like illnesses. A dog is not merely a pet — it’s a sentient partner in our shared ecosystem. Its body reflects our emotions, our peace, and our turmoil.
Health Through Awareness and Nutrition
Preserving a dog’s health begins with proper nutrition and awareness of the shared space we create together. Wholesome food, regular walks, clean water, and emotional balance form the invisible structure of health and longevity.
The Owner’s Responsibility
Caring for a dog is both a physical and an emotional responsibility. To truly nurture health, one must understand how stress, food, and environment intertwine. When we become mindful of our own emotions, we protect not only ourselves — but also the being that trusts us most.
At Integrative and Holistic Grooming Education, we view the dog as a whole. Our mission is to guide owners toward a deeper understanding of the link between nutrition, emotion, and physical health. Discover more: Linktree Sasha Riess
Why You Should Not Pet Your Dog While Firecrackers Are Going Off
Many dog owners try to comfort their pets during the holiday season when the noise of firecrackers begins. However, what seems like love and care can actually deepen fear and create a larger problem. Here is what you should never do and how to truly help your dog.
Petting Your Dog While They Are Afraid Only Confirms Their Fear
When a dog begins to show signs of fear—trembling, hiding, whining, or looking around in panic—it is natural to want to comfort them. However, experts warn that in moments like these you should not pet your dog, sing to them, or speak softly, because the dog interprets this as confirmation that their fear is justified.
Your reaction, even if it is filled with kindness, signals to the dog that something is truly wrong. They assume that you also find the situation unsettling, and that you are not able to “lead” or take control. As a result, the next time they will be even more frightened and will seek the same kind of comfort, which unfortunately does not help them.
Why Fear of Firecrackers Can Be Dangerous
Fear of firecrackers is not harmless. Some dogs experience extreme stress, run away from home, or even die from the shock and panic. Dogs feel lost and unsafe because they do not trust that their owner can protect them.
In these moments, it is essential for you to remain calm and steady, without overreacting. Do not show that their behavior disturbs you. What they need is your stability, not your sympathy.
Instead of petting and comforting, a dog needs the calm and security that comes from a steady owner.
Stay Calm and Give Your Dog a Sense of Safety Instead of Comforting Them
There is a simple and effective way to help your dog feel safe during firecracker noise: the wrapping technique. If you do not have a special anti-anxiety vest, you can use a soft cotton bandage or a piece of cloth.
Wrap the dog gently so that the fabric applies light pressure to specific points on the body, creating a sensation similar to a gentle hug. This gives the dog a physical sense of security while you remain composed and do not focus on their fear.
When the dog sees that you are calm and going about your day, they begin to rely on you and understand that there is no real danger. Over time, the fear becomes significantly weaker and may even disappear entirely.
A Calm Owner Creates a Calm Dog
Dogs absorb our energy and behavior. If you panic, sing, pet, or try to comfort your dog during moments of fear, they believe the situation is dangerous. Instead, show calmness, consistency, and steady leadership. This is what truly helps the dog overcome their fear of firecrackers.
At Integrative and Holistic Grooming Education, we teach you how to read your dog’s signals and lead with love and stability. True care is knowing when to act and when to remain a calm anchor for your pet. Explore our resources: Linktree Sasha Riess
“Dog Friendly” – The Hidden Cost of Emotional Marketing
In recent years, around the world and in our region, we increasingly see signs and advertisements proudly stating “dog friendly.” Owners of shops, restaurants, cafes, and even certain Western churches open their doors to dogs, sincerely believing they are making a gesture of love and inclusion. At first glance, it appears to be a sign of progress and greater respect for animals.
However, when we look at this phenomenon through a deeper, systemic understanding of the human-dog relationship, beneath the sentimental facade lies a painful truth and a profound misunderstanding of a dog’s nature. What humans perceive as freedom and togetherness, dogs often experience as stress, confusion, and loss of safety.
At the same time, dog-themed cafes, birthday spaces, special menus, and emotional marketing concepts appear everywhere. It seems devoted to the love of dogs, but in reality, it is a sophisticated way to extract more money from owners who are emotionally attached to their pets. The dog, who should be honored for its nature and uniqueness, is increasingly reduced to a marketing prop and a tool for profit.
The “Dog Friendly” Chaos – The Stress of Dogs in Human Spaces
The inspiration for this column came a few days ago when I witnessed a scene inside a store. On the surface everything looked pleasant, people walked in with their dogs, smiling and enjoying the idea of being welcome. But the dogs quickly showed another picture.
A couple entered the space with two dogs, while another couple passed by the entrance with their own dog. That brief moment of encounter was enough for one of the smaller dogs to begin barking uncontrollably. The owners became nervous and embarrassed. They tried to calm him with words and petting, but every attempt only intensified the dog’s excitement. Their eyes looked at me as if asking, “What do we do now?”
Barking Is a Symptom – Not a Dog’s Problem, but a Family Imbalance
What seemed to people like a simple behavioral issue was, to me, an obvious sign of deeper imbalance. That dog had taken on the role of leader, decision-maker, and protector within its family. His barking was not “bad behavior” but the natural consequence of occupying a role that does not belong to him. When a dog feels responsible for making decisions and protecting the household, his nervous system stays on high alert.
I said aloud, “Poor dogs.” The woman replied, “But at home he is perfect. He never barks, he is calm and obedient.” I gently responded: if everything were truly in balance at home, the dog would carry that balance into the world. If problems appear outside, this is a sign of hidden imbalance inside the home, something people often overlook or consider normal.
Public barking is a symptom of taking on the leadership role, not just a bad habit.
The Illusion of “Rescued Dogs”
The man added that “nothing can be done” because both dogs were rescued, as if this were a permanent obstacle. I explained that rescued dogs are often the easiest to guide into a new, secure emotional structure. Dogs who lived on the street already understand the value of order and hierarchy. They know how to follow the one who shows stability and responsibility. Problems more often arise in dogs who have lived only in human households, where boundaries between human and canine worlds become blurred.
The Method of Love and Order – How to Be a True Leader, Not Only a Friend
I explained the principles from the Harmony Guide. Nothing I ask of people are tricks or obedience techniques. They are natural patterns dogs already understand. Kindness, calm presence, clarity in decisions—these create harmony. When the human becomes a leader through love and responsibility, the dog steps out of the role of protector and finally relaxes.
I suggested they avoid taking their dogs to cafes, churches, or busy places for the next two weeks. Instead, they should create a new structure at home. They were ready to learn, and that brought me joy. The problem is never the dog. The problem is the human misunderstanding of what “being welcome” means to a dog.
The Forgotten Truth – A Dog Does Not Understand the Concept of “Going Out”
One of the most important truths people forget is that dogs do not understand the human concept of leaving and returning. For a dog, every new place is a new world. When we take a dog into a church, café, or restaurant, he does not experience it as a short visit. He steps into a completely new environment with new scents, dogs, and people. He immediately has to determine where he belongs and what role he must take.
This is a huge task for an animal living entirely in the present moment. While we drink coffee imagining we are giving the dog joy, the dog is silently evaluating danger, boundaries, and responsibility.
Profit Over Wellbeing – When Love Becomes a Marketing Tool
Why then do shops, churches, and institutions promote themselves as “dog friendly”? The answer is simple: profit. People love their dogs, and where dogs are welcome, more customers come. Owners of these spaces rarely intend harm, but few truly understand what it means to bring an animal into a human-designed environment that is unnatural for them. Humans feel pleasure. Dogs feel subtle stress.
Calm presence, love, and order – this is what a dog truly needs, not an outing.
The Path to Harmony – Respecting the Dog for What It Truly Is
If we want a real relationship with dogs, we must respect who they are. This means stopping the projection of human roles onto them: child, angel, emotional companion for outings.
A dog is a dog. Its place is beside humans, but not inside human rituals that overwhelm its instincts.
Love is not taking the dog everywhere.
Love is providing structure, calm, and safety.
When we take responsibility for decisions, when we become leaders through love, the dog no longer needs to bark, control, or decide. He can finally be what he is meant to be.
“Dog Friendly” as a Mirror – A Call to Re-examine Ourselves
The “dog-friendly” trend is more than a cultural shift. It is a mirror showing how humans project their emotional needs onto animals. We call it love, but often it is the extension of our own ego. This pattern spreads into human relationships, shaping how we treat our children, partners, and friends. Perhaps the greatest proof of maturity is the ability to see another being as they truly are. Only then can harmony begin.
At Integrative and Holistic Grooming Education, we believe that every physical symptom is a message. Understanding these signals and addressing them through a holistic lens—understanding the true nature of the animal—is at the heart of everything we teach. Learn more and join our community: Linktree Sasha Riess
In family relationships, we often hear that forgiveness is the key to peace, but in reality, the role of forgiveness is far more complex. In the parent-child relationship, we should neither judge nor forgive, because both actions disrupt the natural order of love. Instead, the sentence “Yes, this is how it is” brings the deepest form of release without taking on burdens that do not belong to us.
Why We Should Not Judge or Forgive
When we say that forgiveness is not always the path to healing, it may sound contrary to everything we have been taught. But within the natural family order, the child must not rise above the parent. If the child says “I forgive you,” the child unconsciously takes the position of a judge, and this disrupts the order of love.
What It Means to Take On a Parent’s “Guilt”
Forgiving a parent places the child above the parent, as if the child is evaluating the parent’s actions and deciding what is good and what is not. This is a form of unconsciously taking on the parent’s burden.
How a Disrupted Order Affects Future Generations
When a child stands above the parent, the consequences can echo through generations. Feelings of guilt, fear, insecurity, destructive behavioral patterns, and even psychosomatic symptoms may emerge. To stop this burden from continuing, the answer is simple: do not judge and do not forgive.
A moment showing the importance of maintaining the order in the parent-child relationship.
The Power of “Yes, this is how it is”
Acceptance does not mean justification. It means acknowledging that the parent gave what they could with what they had. This sentence restores order: the parent is the big one, the child is the small one.
The child keeps: Strength, discipline, and life energy.
The child releases: Wounds, violence, and disoriented emotional attachments.
“Yes, this is how it is” as the healthiest form of liberation does not try to change the past. Judgment belongs to a higher power; the burden stays where it belongs, and you are finally free to live your own life.
At Integrative and Holistic Grooming Education, we believe that understanding our roots and emotional order is essential for true health. Every physical symptom—in humans or dogs—is a message about balance. Learn more: Linktree Sasha Riess
Dogs do not experience food and hunger the same way humans do. While owners often believe their dog is constantly hungry or enjoys food the way we enjoy our favorite meals, their relationship with food is entirely different. It is important to understand how dogs feel hunger and what food represents to them, because this changes how we feed them and how we interpret their signals.
How Dogs Actually Experience Hunger
For dogs, hunger has a completely different meaning than for humans. While humans associate hunger with taste, rituals, comfort, and emotions, dogs experience food functionally. Food is simply a source of energy that allows them to be capable, active, and ready for life.
In nature, dogs instinctively apply a natural rhythm similar to what we now call autophagy—a mild fasting period that helps the body regenerate. For wild dogs, hunger is not a tragedy; it is a vital part of their daily recovery cycle.
The „Manipulation“ of Love
Dogs often use food to “manipulate” their owners, but not out of bad intent. They intuitively understand that food is the strongest emotional point in our relationship. Because we express care, love, and connection through feeding, they use food-seeking behavior as a way to engage with us.
Do Dogs Truly Enjoy Food Like Humans Do?
Dogs do not enjoy food emotionally. We eat when we are sad, lonely, or stressed, assigning emotional meaning to every bite. Dogs do not do this. They eat to:
Maintain energy levels.
Support physical readiness.
Enable biological survival processes.
While a dog eats with enthusiasm, it is a response to a natural need, not a search for emotional satisfaction or comfort.
Dogs eat when biologically necessary, without emotional overeating.
When We Think the Dog Is Hungry, but It Isn’t
Owners often misinterpret „begging“ eyes or following them to the kitchen as starvation. In most cases, this is communication, habit, or a request for attention. This is why experienced handlers say: “A happy dog is a slightly hungry dog.” Mild hunger is natural, healthy, and part of their biological rhythm.
What Owners Should Know
Dogs feel hunger differently. For them, food is not an indulgence or an emotional outlet. It is energy, function, and a way to remain stable. By understanding this, we can avoid overfeeding and build a relationship based on true needs rather than misinterpreted emotions.
At Integrative and Holistic Grooming Education, we believe that every physical symptom is a message. Understanding these signals and addressing them through a holistic lens is at the heart of everything we teach. Learn more and join our community: Linktree Sasha Riess
People often imagine that dogs socialize the same way we do. We think dogs enjoy going to the park, meeting other dogs, or visiting a neighbor. However, dogs do not function through that concept at all. In nature, there is no idea of one animal visiting another simply for socializing. This is why it is important to understand how dogs truly experience contact with other dogs.
Why Dogs Do Not Understand the Concept of Socializing
Dogs do not possess a social model similar to that of humans, so we cannot say that dogs socialize like humans in the way we understand it. There is nothing in their biology that supports the idea of someone coming or going from a space purely for companionship.
This concept feels normal to us, but to dogs, it is unclear and unnecessary. What matters to them is their environment, stability, and the relationship with their owner—not expanding a circle of acquaintances.
The Cost of Continuous Sensory Overload
When we constantly take them to other dogs, to crowded parks filled with unfamiliar animals, or to a neighbor “to socialize,” we are actually exposing them to continuous sensory overload. In those situations, the dog must repeatedly open all its sensory fields, assess safety, and search for emotional security again and again.
Frequent encounters force the dog into repeated cycles of assessment:
Whether the other dog is safe.
Whether it needs to defend itself or take control.
Whether its owner is stable enough to provide protection.
Whether safety can be found in another animal.
This is not socializing. This is a continuous activation of physiology that the dog usually does not need. Instead of calmness, the dog remains in a mode of analysis and survival, which exhausts both the body and emotions.
A dog does not seek the company of other dogs — it seeks security beside its human.
What a Dog Truly Wants
A dog does not want a “park friend” or a “social network” like humans have. A dog wants:
Stability.
Safety.
An owner who is an emotional anchor.
When that exists, everything else becomes unnecessary. When we accept that dogs do not socialize like humans, it becomes much clearer what they genuinely need.
At Integrative and Holistic Grooming Education, we believe that every physical symptom is a message. Understanding these signals and addressing them through a holistic lens is at the heart of everything we teach to ensure the well-being of every dog in our care. Learn more and join our community:Linktree Sasha Riess
Peanut butter is often considered a healthy and convenient food, but the reality is very different. Although it appears nutritious, this product almost always contains something we cannot see with the naked eye: mold and toxins that develop during harvesting, processing, transportation, and storage. This is why many nutritionists and holistic practitioners increasingly warn: do not eat peanut butter unless you have made it yourself from completely safe, home-sourced peanuts.
Why You Should Not Eat Peanut Butter
Peanuts are one of the foods most susceptible to the development of mold. Even with the best quality control, there is no technological process that can completely prevent contamination during harvesting, drying, transportation, storage, or industrial processing.
Mold on peanuts often produces aflatoxins, substances that are among the most dangerous natural toxins. They can affect the liver, immunity, digestive system, and overall energy levels. In other words, even the so-called „best“ peanut butter cannot guarantee that it is truly safe.
What Actually Happens to Peanuts During Storage
Peanuts grow underground and are therefore exposed to a large number of fungi. During transport, bags or containers rarely maintain optimal humidity and temperature, allowing mold to develop very quickly.
This is why experts agree on one thing: Even when they appear clean, dried, or roasted, peanuts almost always contain mold that cannot be seen. For this reason, it is strongly recommended do not eat peanut butter unless you process your own peanuts from a trusted source.
Almond butter contains fiber and has a lower risk of contamination during storage.
A Better Option: Almond Butter
If you enjoy spreads, there is a much safer and healthier alternative: almond butter.
Almonds are significantly more resistant to mold development, easier to store, and less likely to be contaminated during processing. In addition, almond butter is:
Rich in fiber.
Supportive of gut health.
More stable in digestion.
Nutritionally cleaner and gentler on the body.
For these reasons, it is an excellent substitute for peanut butter and can be used in exactly the same way.
Conclusion: Prioritize Your Health
No matter how tasty, affordable, or practical it is, peanut butter carries risks that you cannot see or detect. If you want to avoid ingesting mold and toxins, the best decision is simple: Do not eat peanut butter unless you make it yourself from completely safe, home-grown peanuts. For everyone else, almond butter remains the best, healthier, and cleaner alternative.
At Integrative and Holistic Grooming Education, we believe that every physical symptom is a message. Understanding these signals and addressing them through a holistic lens is at the heart of everything we teach to ensure the well-being of every dog in our care. Learn more and join our community: Linktree Sasha Riess
