Many pet owners including ourselves have jumped on the bandwagon of Grain Free (GF). Some owners have done this due to allergy and we are only speaking today for those that do not have an allergy to grain but placed their dog on GF with the thought that all grains were bad for dogs. Recently we have been doing more research regarding the inclusion of grains in our dogs diets. We all know that not all grains are equal. In our own diets we have all read that whole grains are much more beneficial. This too is the case for dogs. While meat should be the #1 ingredient on all dog foods there is room for whole grains as well. Whole grains have benefits such as reduced risk of obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, kidney disease, heart disease and some cancers. Whole grains help keep blood sugar steady and are a great source of insoluble fiber. To be specific again we are speaking of WHOLE GRAINS not refined grains as they are fillers. Oatmeal and brown rice are two very beneficial whole grains. According to onegreenplanet.org: The following two grains, oatmeal and rice, are good choices to include in your dog’s diet, especially if you are new to homemade dog food or incorporating healthy grains into their existing food. It is important to remember to not feed too much of a grain all at once to dogs. While grains are filling and easy to make, you do not want to make grains the majority of their meal, and you want to make sure that you fully and properly cook any grains you are going to feed to a dog. Add grains to an abundance of raw or slightly cooked fruits and vegetables. Oats/Oatmeal. Oats are a tasty choice for including in your dog’s diet, and when eaten plain, are a low calorie food at around 100 – 130 calories a cup cooked. They can reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure, can prevent artery clogging, and helps to boost a dog’s (and people’s) immune system. They have high levels of fiber, are low in fat, high in grain protein, and oatmeal is a naturally gluten-free food! Brown Rice. High in fiber and a great source of manganese, brown rice also offers a source for magnesium and selenium. Brown rice is rich in antioxidants, promotes weight loss, and helps to stabilize blood sugar levels. Since your dog may not take to brown rice right away, you may want to try introducing them to a small amount of long grain white rice mixed into their food first. Though lacking in the nutrition and taste department, the texture of white rice may be more appealing to start. Rice is generally inexpensive and can be found almost anywhere.~ onegreenplanet.org.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 19:10:11 +0000