What Are the Main grain Free Cat Food Benefits?
Grain free cat food benefits are a topic that is being discussed more. More people are looking for healthier alternatives to the traditional kibble that we’re all used to. The ingredients are better as well, with fewer preservatives and additives. There’s even a bit of healthy you can put into your canned cat food by making it yourself! It just takes a little extra time, but it’s completely worth it. Here are some benefits to think about when choosing this type of dish.
One of the biggest grain free cat food benefits is obviously going to be that your cat is not going to develop any food allergies. Because most of this is plant based, some of the common allergic reactions include watering at one point or suddenly sneezing as well as hives. This is simply because these ingredients are not like the ones you’ll find in commercial foods. It’s like grain free dinner for your cat.
As with any type of natural diet for pets, this also keeps your pet from getting feline diabetes. The carbohydrates that come from grains aren’t converted the way that they should be and become stored as fat. By eating less, you’re going to keep your body balanced and your vet will notice a decreased chance of pancreatic cancer and other issues. Your circulation will benefit as well because grains aren’t as heavy and get stuck in your carpets and other absorbent surfaces. In addition, enzymes are released from grains that work with your bodies natural enzymes to break down fat.
You don’t have to give up good cooking techniques when you switch to a grain free diet either. Even if you’ve always cooked your cat food with chicken meal or other natural ingredients, you can adjust recipes to include grains and even use different spices. Many recipes will use a little garlic or ginger to add some zest to the dish without changing the taste of the food.
If you decide you want to go this route, be sure to read the labels carefully. Many manufacturers add carbohydrate content to their products without explaining that there is no animal sources involved. Many times, these animal sources have a high glycemic index (or rate of rising blood sugar) so you’ll have to read the label carefully. Many manufacturers have reduced the carbohydrate content in their dry food by as much as 40% but not all.
Some manufacturers will use whole grains as part of their diet. Other manufacturers will only use cheaper fillers such as rice or corn. Just make sure that any meats or vegetables used are fresh. If they are old, they will lack many of the helpful nutrients that are naturally found in the grains. This is one of the advantages to using natural whole grain brands because they use the entire grains, not just the “sides” as with cheaper brands.
Many canned and bagged recipes include some form of vegetable protein or animal sources such as chicken, fish or beef. For this type of recipe you need to be careful about the first ingredient. If it is vegetable protein, it can easily be processed to a carbohydrate.
There is one thing that I would recommend avoiding. Many meats and poultry are high in carbohydrates and obesity is a major problem in our country so it is better for your cat to avoid these foods. You can substitute low carbohydrate grains such as oats, rice or barley for these meats which provide a healthy alternative. Be careful with fish and beef. They too can be high in carbohydrates and will therefore promote weight gain.