Additional Benefits of Pet Food Ingredients: Superfoods

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It’s a papaya, it’s a chia seed, it’s a superfood!

Foods that have a particularly high nutritional value are often referred to as “superfoods”. These nutrient-dense foods are essential sources of antioxidants, omega fatty acids, fiber, vitamins, minerals and protein.

Superfoods in pet food are also functional ingredients. Functional ingredients provide additional benefits beyond basic nutrition when part of a complete and balanced diet. Antioxidants, omega fatty acids, and fiber provide some of these additional benefits.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants help keep animals healthy by protecting them from the damaging effects of free radicals. Free radicals are byproducts of normal metabolism, but if more free radicals are produced than there are antioxidants to control them, health problems, such as cancer and heart disease, can occur. The antioxidants in superfoods can work with antioxidants produced naturally by the body to control these free radicals.

Additional benefits of antioxidants include supporting the immune system and maintaining healthy skin. Superfoods that are sources of antioxidants include quinoa, blueberries, carrots, oranges, and spinach.

Omega fatty acids

Fatty acids are components of fats that are sources of energy, are precursors to hormones and chemical signals, and play a key role in cell membrane integrity. Certain omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential and must be provided in your pet’s food because they cannot be synthesized by the body or cannot be synthesized in sufficient quantities to meet nutritional requirements. They are necessary for young animals for the proper development of the brain and vision.

Additional benefits of certain omega-6 or omega-3 fatty acids include healthy skin, shiny coat, anti-inflammatory effects, and improvement in conditions like kidney disease and heart disease. Superfoods that contain omega fatty acids include chia seeds, coconut, flax seeds, salmon, and salmon oil.

Fiber

There are two types of fiber – soluble and insoluble – which help support healthy digestion in pets. Soluble fiber turns into a gel-like substance and slows the digestion of food, and insoluble fiber helps move food through the intestines.

The intestinal microbes (the microbiota) ferment certain dietary fibers to produce an energy source for the intestinal cells, regulate the pH of the colon and promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the colon. Fiber also promotes the production of regular, firm stools, helps with weight loss by improving feelings of fullness, and helps control hairballs in cats. Superfoods that are sources of fiber include quinoa, blueberries, oranges, and papaya.

Superfoods in pet food

In addition to providing high nutritional value, superfoods as pet food ingredients can provide additional benefits that help keep pets healthy and active. Below are some examples of superfood ingredients used in Diamond pet food formulas.

Examples of superfoods included in Diamond Pet Food formulas

If you’re wondering about an ingredient in any Diamond brand dog or cat food and why it’s there, be sure to check out our ingredient glossary, email us, or call our customer service team. customers at 1-800-442-0402.

RELATED POST: Busting Pet Myths: Some Pet Food Ingredients Are ‘Fillers’



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