Can Bearded Dragons Eat Bok Choy?

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Bok Choy?



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Bearded Dragons

 

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Bok Choy?

Yes, bearded dragons can eat Bok choy. Nutritionally, it has high value and can be trusted to equip the body with that which it needs. The consumption of Bok choy also increases the tendency of weight loss. Bearded dragons stand a chance of absorbing into their system variety of vitamins and minerals after the consumption of Bok choy. There is a long list of nutrients derived from Bok choy fiber, potassium, phosphorus, vitamin A, C and K and much more which will be of great benefit to your dragon.

Bok Choy

BOK CHOY

Green leaf vegetable plants are ranked as very nutritious as they are well consumed in different parts of the world. Bok choy is a green leaf vegetable common to the Chinese and called in diverse ways brassica rapa Chinese, Chinese cabbage, white vegetable, pak choi and Chinese mustard cabbage. It belongs to the Brassicaceae or Cruciferae family which can likewise be regarded as mustards, Cruciferae or cabbage family. It has been cultivated in china since the 5th century and is enlisted as one of their foods. Taste wise, the flavor of bok choy has a peppery feel with an undecisive taste that meddles between spinach and water chest nut but a bit sweeter than the both. It has two color mix fused together. The green leaves, which has stronger flavor and the white bulb which has lesser flavor. It is a biennial plant mostly grown in northern Europe but in most cases is cultivated as annual. It grows well under cool weather with temperature ranging from 55 to 70 degrees. Also, mildly raised temperature works fine for bok choy in as much as the soil is consistently moist. Both the leaf and the stalk is consumable and nutritious. Bok choy is made up of 95% of water which is a big plus to bearded dragons during ingestion. A catalogue of nutrients to expect from bok choy are calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamin A, C, K, B1, B2, B3, fat, protein, carbohydrate and lots more. 

HEALTH BENEFITS OF BOK CHOY TO BEARDED DRAGONS.

WATER

    Water is made up of two chemical elements hydrogen and oxygen which is tasteless and odorless. It plays a very important role in the digestion process of food substances. Plants, animals and humans depends solely on it for survival. The Bok choy vegetable plant stores up 95% of water in it which serves as a source of constant supply of water to the body of your bearded dragon. Hydration problem is tamed in your bearded dragon.

    WEIGHT LOSS

    At a certain point in time the body starts to experience a mass enlargement in size which can be due to excess intake of fatty foods. At a point in time, this gradually becomes a problem if measures are not taken to curb it. Bearded dragons can fall victim of this kind of condition but with the presence of fiber in bok choy obesity can be cut down. Excess fat in the body can affect the heart and the kidney but fiber can regulate the repercaution in your bearded dragon.

    VITAMIN A

      Having vitamin A in the meals of your bearded dragon is very essential. It plays roles that are very vital to the body system of your pet dragon. It helps prevent night blindness and aging diseases, enhances healthy immune system, supports bone health, good growth and reproduction. Ensuring that your dragon’s meal has this nutritional content as a pet owner is something you should prioritize on consistently. Bok choy is very high in vitamin A which is why it is superb for your dragon.

      ENERGY SUPPLY

        Energy supply is needed in the body for effectiveness and activeness. There are certain foods that are responsible for providing the nutrients for energy supply to the body. This energy supply is maintained by a certain vitamin called vitamin b2 also known as riboflavin. It helps with the breaking down of protein, fats and carbohydrate. This essential vitamin is part of the nutrients obtainable in Bok choy.

        HEALTHY BONES

          The skeleton according to biology gives shape and rigidity to the body. The skeletal system is made up of bones which needs to be healthy to function effectively.  A particular nutrient is responsible for this which is calcium and can be derived in Bok choy. Calcium is responsible for maintaining strong bones and teeth and this is the most important nutrient needed by bearded dragons. It’s other functions are blood clotting, muscle contractions, heart beat regulation and nerve functions.

          Bok Choy

          SIDE EFFECT OF BOK CHOY TO BEARDED DRAGONS

          OVER FEEDING

            Too much of anything is not necessarily bad but can have some severe risk attached to it. Bok choy is a green vegetable in which by nature is very nutritious but feeding on it in excess has it’s side effect. Over feeding bearded dragons with Bok choy can have an adverse effect on their thyroid and can also be lethal to them due to the concentration of numerous nutrients in this vegetable. 

            GOITROGEN CONCERNTRATION

            Bok choy from consistent research is discovered to have high goitrogens concentration which disturbs the production of thyroid hormones. Thyroid gland is a small body organ found in front of the neck clinching around the windpipe area called trachea.  The pituitary gland can be triggered releasing thyroid stimulating hormone which can emerge into thyroid tissue growth causing goiter in bearded dragons.

            HYPERVITAMINOSIS A

            This is common among reptiles. Carnivores and herbivores are also not left out among the animals affected by this disease. Hypervitaminosis occurs as a result of  over consumption of vitamin A  or vitamin A toxicity. Bok choy, when mixed with other vegetables similar to it in one meals too often can result into this disease in your bearded dragon.

            HOW TO FEED BOK CHOY TO YOUR BEARDED DRAGON.

            • Rinse with clean water.
            • Feed dragon once or twice a month.
            • Serve it raw and not cooked to preserve it’s nutritional value.
            • Can be chopped into small pieces for easy consumption. 
            • Both the green leaf and the white bulb are edible and suitable for your dragon.
            • Direct feeding method approach is also allowed, that is feeding your dragon with your hand most especially if you want to know if your dragon is interested in this kind of meal.

            IN CONCLUSON

            Bok choy, is the best bet or one of the best bet when it comes to the foods you can recommend for your dragon when considering high nutritional values. Bearded dragons are fragile reptile pets that needs careful attention and good quality foods like bok choy to live healthy. Include this in their meal but remember not to over feed them with it. 



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