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Ca:ph ratios in HPW diet- What is this??

Posted By: Anonymous

Ca:ph ratios in HPW diet- What is this?? - 09/23/08 08:04 PM

I'm considering switching my children to the HPW diet from the priscilla diet, but I've noticed people talking about the "Ca:ph ratios". What is this all about?

This is the recipe that I've found and it mentions nothing of the sort when it comes to fruits and veggies:

HPW Diet Recipe

Thanks in advance!
Posted By: Trigger

Re: Ca:ph ratios in HPW diet- What is this?? - 09/23/08 08:21 PM

With HPW diet you have freedom to choose any safe fruits & vegis but you have to do the calculations yourself to level the Ca/P ratios and also the oxalates and other vitamins and minerals as well, like iron.
The mix itself is 1.29-1 I beleive so you adjust your fruits & vegis to bring it up to the 2-1 reccomended for gliders.

It'a great diet but it is a little more difficult.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Ca:ph ratios in HPW diet- What is this?? - 09/23/08 08:35 PM

Obviously a lot more difficult. Everything you said just went over my head. What is "Ca/P" and "oxalates"?
Posted By: Trigger

Re: Ca:ph ratios in HPW diet- What is this?? - 09/23/08 08:54 PM

I read all Lucky_Glider posts They are very informative and he has a 12 page cheat sheet on ratios that comes in handy.
Here are some of his posts that I like
HPW DIET NUTRITIONAL ANALYSIS
Ratio Ceat Sheet Questions Answered

His stuff makes it a little easier to understand.IMO
Posted By: Trigger

Re: Ca:ph ratios in HPW diet- What is this?? - 09/23/08 08:55 PM

I have a copy of the cheat sheet so if you want I can email it to you.
Posted By: KattyM

Re: Ca:ph ratios in HPW diet- What is this?? - 09/24/08 01:01 AM

Ca:P stands for the ratio between calcium to phosphorus. You're shooting for an overall 2:1 Ca:P ratio in the diet (two times as much calcium as phosphorus). Some foods, like berries, are harder to wash, and you run the risk of giardia. Some foods (like grapes, raisins, and currants) are high in iron, tannins, and oxalates. Some foods are high in vitamin C (like citrus). All of those types of food are problematic because they can inhibit calcium absorption. And citrus can also lead to loose stools and diarrhea, so should be fed in moderation. Some foods, like collard greens, have a high Ca:P ratio (14.5:1), but have oxalates, so that needs to be factored in. Foods high in iron can be problematic, leading to hemochromatosis. (Check out Diet doubts and Iron in baby foods and Vit. C and Iron content of fruits and veggies.)

I can't find the post, but someone suggested these were the best fruits and veggies:

• Veggies: peas, green beans, carrots, corn, collard greens
• Fruits: honeydew, cantaloupe, papaya

Peggy (srlb) is (in my mind) the expert on this diet. smile Many people feed their crew HPW with no problem and love it; it's just way too much for my pea brain to handle, so my crew get BML. tounge
Posted By: Srlb

Re: Ca:ph ratios in HPW diet- What is this?? - 09/24/08 02:15 AM

Quote:
Peggy (srlb) is (in my mind) the expert on this diet. smile Many people feed their crew HPW with no problem and love it; it's just way too much for my pea brain to handle, so my crew get BML. tounge


Thanks Katty for the kind words, but believe you, me, an expert Im not...but I do consider myself educated in this diet since I have used it for several years.

Honestly, I think I say this at least once every three months....but I think people make more of it than what it actually is...

I have fed the SAME things for years now...I have blood work and xrays done on my gliders, different ones each time, every six months to a year and each time it comes back with EXCELLENT reports.

The ONLY issue I ever had was recently I lost my very first glider to a Urinary Bladder infection that was undiagnosed. When doing the necropsy on her there was NOTHING to be found. ALL her internal organs looked perfectly healthy and normal. All her life she had known nothing other then the HPW diet.

I, for one have never focused on the Ca:P ratios and never worried about the oxolates because the foods I feed are not high in them.

Once again, what I feed and have feed EVERY SINGLE night without ANY issues is the following:

HPW
(Mixed veggies which consist of:)
Corn, Green Beans, Peas, Carrots
(Mixed Fruits which consist of:)
Cantelope & Honey Dew Melon

They barely EVER eat any of their fruit, even though I do offer it several times a week.

Im not saying to not be knowledgeable on the food intake of your gliders folks, but I am saying I think we make it harder on ourselves than we have to. If you are consistent with your health checks every 6 months and you are having the test run to keep a good eye on things, your gliders should be fine.

I dont know about you guys, but I can honestly say, my gliders eat much better than I do, but I dont sit and calculate numbers at night and would be lying if I said I did.
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