Eating a variety of whole grains is an important
part of a balanced natural pet food diet that offers numerous
health benefits. Whole
grains are a low-fat source of complex carbohydrates, dietary
fiber, plant protein, phytochemicals, antioxidants, vitamins,
and minerals. In fact, whole grains are among the most nutrient-rich
plant foods on the planet.
As a fiber source, whole grains are almost unrivaled. Rich
in both soluble and insoluble fiber, whole grains are crucial
for healthy intestinal function. Insoluble fiber has been linked
to protection against colon cancer, as well as constipation
and hemorrhoids. Soluble fiber can help to lower blood cholesterol
and help stabilize blood glucose levels. Whole grains are also
helpful with the common problems of constipation and anal gland
issues in dogs and cats -- which sometimes can be caused by
poor-quality nutrition that is void of dietary fiber.
Grains are an excellent source of many antioxidants, vitamins
and trace minerals, including vitamin E, selenium, and zinc.
In combination with phenolic acids, phytic acid, and tococtrienols,
whole grains possess a wide and unique combination of antioxidants
that work to keep free radicals in check. Antioxidants work
together to protect our cells from oxidative damage. Phytochemicals
are the components that give whole grains their color and flavor.
While research is relatively new, there are many exciting indicators
that phytochemicals may play a role in the prevention of chronic
disease such as cancer and heart disease. In fact lignans (a
phytoestrogen) has been shown to slow cancer in animals! In
America whole grains are the most widely consumed source of
phytoestrogens.Whole grains provide an entire package of vital
substances that work together to promote overall health.
There has been an astounding connection between whole grains
and the possible prevention of many types of chronic illnesses
including cancer, heart disease, diabetes and digestive disorders.Studies
show that regular consumption of whole grains causes a 10%
to 60% reduction in the risk of certain cancers, especially
of the stomach and colon -- and whole grains are associated
with a lower risk of heart disease. They also help regulate
blood sugar by slowing down the conversion of complex caborhydrates
into sugar. In Italy, a study between the years of 1983-1996
found a connection between the consumption of whole grains
and a reduced risk in several types of cancer. In Iowa, a study
of over 34,000 women from the ages of 55-69 showed that those
who consumed whole grain foods on a daily basis had a 30 percent
lower rate of heart disease then women who only consumed whole
grains once a week or less. In a separate 10-year study of
over 68,000 healthy women between the ages of 37-64, the group
of women that consumed the highest amount of whole grains also
reported the lowest rate of heart disease. Whole grain fiber
has also been linked to a reduced risk for type-2, or adult
onset diabetes. In a 6-year study of over 65,000 women between
the ages of 40 to 65, the women that consumed the lowest amount
of whole grain cereal fiber had a 2 1/2 times greater risk
of developing type-2 diabetes. Similar results were shown for
a group of over 42,000 men over the same 6-year period. And
these studies are only the beginning.
So why do people refer to grains in commercial pet foods as “filler”?
One thing to keep in mind is that there is a profound difference
between whole grains, like those found in our natural
cat food and natural dog food, and refined grains. It is in the processing
that crucial nutrients are
lost. There
are
over
twenty vitamins
and minerals that are removed during the refining process.
The protein, fiber, and phytochemicals are all lost. Take it
one step further with our pets. When companies start with grain
by-products that are void of any beneficial nutrients, and
then cook, process, and preserve them on top of that -- it’s
no wonder some pets have trouble digesting them and people
think of them as fillers. However, fresh, whole grains provide
wonderful nutrition that pets thrive on. And founders of the
holistic veterinary movement like Dr. Richard Pitcairn and
Juliette DeBairclay-Levy have always used whole grains as an
important part of their raw dog food diets. These are diets
that have been time-tested for decades -- therefore confirming
the
long-term
positive results. The bottom line is that whole grains are
a wonderful addition to a balanced, biologically-appropriate
diet.
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Sojourner Farms. All rights reserved.
