Do it with Broccoli!

[racinghamster]

I`ve recently been wondering about this and many of us already feed raw veggies to our hamsters to give them the best available vitamins/nutrition. A Channel Four programme recently highlighted the cancer fighting properties of broccoli and there are many scientific studies that suggest this vegetable is one of, if not the best for preventing cellular changes which cause cancer.

My Russian dwarf was a year old when I adopted him from Pets At Home, so I have no way of knowing if he was ever fed fresh food in his previous home, although I would doubt it. I feed him a small thumbnail piece of RAW broccoli every couple of days. I buy it frozen and thaw it, but fresh is fine. I just prefer to have it stored for ease of use and frozen veg has been proven to be better than fresh.

Chubs loves broccoli and eats it with zest. I know it can only be doing him good because he doesn`t get sweet treats or anything detrimental. Only his hamster mix and his pieces of raw veggies, so I know he`s eating what a hamster needs rather than craves!

Just wanted to post this to let others know who may not give their hams any broccoli, but also need to add that this needs to be done gradually if your hamster has never had fresh food as you may cause a tummy upset. So a very, very small 5mm piece to begin with and then wait a few days to check the poo. If all is well, continue.

I highlight broccoli over other veg because although kale and cabbage and cauliflower also have similar health benefits, broccoli is way ahead in terms of the boost it gives.

Thoughts? x

[Gemma_xo]

I watched that show! I sat there and said to my friend "Well, Zak's safe! He gets broccoli every few days being a dwarf he can't have fruit often"
I was looked at like I had two heads but finally someone out there understands!
I only really feed Zak broccoli and sometimes some cucumber when I don't think he's drinking enough water (he has his moments, I do keep a veeeeery close eye on the water levels, I guess I'm kinda paranoied?) Plus, he didn't eat the Kale I tried him on a while back, so that got consumed as my healthy bit in dinners for a couple days. (Nasty stuff though, not surprised Zak didn't want it!)

Not sure what other veg to feed him though (any ideas? please?), I imagine broccoli all the time can be really boring, I mean I know I love it but if that's all I got fed I would probably learn to hate it xD
x

[Shannonmcn]

Between me, my sister and Cc we go through 3-4 heads of brocolli a week, I think we're good excellent tip racinghamster, I didn't see that show but dark green leafy veg are the best things for you, even without the cancer-fighting properties!

Gemma, I generally don't buy much in specially for Cc, she eats what I eat so long as its on the safe food list (Safe and Unsafe Food and Plants - Hamster Central WIKI). Tonight she's getting some spinach and brown rice, same as me!

[racinghamster]

Thanks for your input guys. I would agree, broccoli might get boring for the hamster if fed daily, so perhaps three or four time a week if they are keen at first and then not so keen. If this happens, it`s sometimes better to only feed a few times rather than them turning their nose up! There are also broccoli sprouts, but I havn`t had time today to do much searching on those, but there have been studies done on mice that suggest these too can be beneficial. Maybe a bit like sprouted mung beans?

When we consider the treats hamsters are fed that may be fine in moderation, just like sugar consumption in humans isn`t good either, so maybe we should be looking more at these natural things as `supplements` rather than treats and as part of their well being and diet? If we think about it, raw foods as well as natural preparations that can aid our hamsters in life and as they age has to be a better goal than waiting for illness to happen. That`s not to say adding these things to their diet will always prevent illness, it surely must be a help.

Gemma, the WiKi link will tell you more than Shannon linked to, but other veg that contains high levels of these substances are brussel sprout, savoy and red cabbage and cauliflower. As always though, little tiny pieces and always check their safety. x

[Gemma_xo]

Originally Posted by Shannonmcn

Gemma, I generally don't buy much in specially for Cc, she eats what I eat so long as its on the safe food list (Safe and Unsafe Food and Plants - Hamster Central WIKI). Tonight she's getting some spinach and brown rice, same as me!

Originally Posted by racinghamster

Gemma, the WiKi link will tell you more than Shannon linked to, but other veg that contains high levels of these substances are brussel sprout, savoy and red cabbage and cauliflower. As always though, little tiny pieces and always check their safety. x

Thank yous. I'll have a look now & as I'm shopping on Friday I'll see what I can add to the list. Never know, my eating habits might change if it suits his dietary requirements =]
x

[Scarlett Empress]

Broccoli is a definite favourite with Smokey - and with me too! My Mum and sister usually do the food shopping and the things that Smokey likes are taken into account to a far greater degree than the things I like, so at least I get to eat it more now we have a hammy...

I didn't see the programme but I remember I had a newspaper article with 10 'super foods' and broccoli was one of them.

[Larrymom]

Weirdly enough I just fed Larry broccoli for the first time! I gave it him cooked, purely because I had it for tea also. I hope cooked is okay? I gave him some other bits of veg a while back which he hated but broccoli he seemed to love! He glanced at my hand, took it off me, sniffed it a little and ate majority of it! Finally a vegetable he likes.

[Fluffagrams]

Although my hamsters have always had veg as part of their diets, I didn't know that they could be fed broccoli until recently.

I tried May on a piece a few minutes ago and whilst she didn't ignore it, she didn't seem all that convinced by it. She took a few nibbles and then left it so I'll leave it there for a bit in case she changes her mind.

[Gemma_xo]

Zak didn't think much of his the first time either, now it's gone as soon as it's put down, it's something new, in time she will probably grow to like it, if not, at least you can say you tried!
x

[cypher]

I think I saw the same programme about someone having great success using broccoli to combat prostate cancer if I remember rightly, there are studies showing that broccoli does have benefits but most veg, fruits & nuts are packed full of antioxidants & other phytochemicals that can be beneficial to health so I wouldn't get too fixated on one particular food & feed too much of it.
Generally with veg & fruit the darker the colour the more beneficial they are, hams all have their own preferences too so I'd stick with a good variety of tasty fresh veg & a little fruit now & then.
Cooked is ok but raw is generally far better.