Broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes. Cranberries, blueberries, apples. No, this isn't a recipe for a new type of salad, but the ingredients on the list of many high-end pet foods. If cats and dogs are carnivores, though, why would a pet food company put these ingredients in their formulas?
First of all, the ingredients in pet food are listed from most to least, meaning that the first three ingredients in pet food usually make up the bulk of the diet. Any high-end pet diet usually has a meat protein as the first ingredient, and often all three first ingredients consist of meat.
The fruits and and vegetables are usually much further down the list, meaning that they are not the main constituents of the food. Fruits and vegetables are added to foods that take a more holistic approach to pet nutrition. This means that these ingredients have functional benefits besides just satisfying the animal's hunger.
Fruits and Vegetables Work as Antioxidants
Antioxidants neutralize free-radicals, which are by-products of cellular metabolic processes. These by-products can effect the health of your pet. Free radicals are linked to cancer and other diseases in both animals and humans, as well as aging, and the time it takes to recover from injuries.
Vitamin C and E are antioxidants. Most natural pet foods are preserved with vitamin E (mixed tocopherols), and vitamin C can be found in many fruits and vegetables.
Specific food ingredients often provide antioxidants that help specific organs of your pet's body. Lutein, for instance, found in dark, leafy vegetables and marigold, protects the eyes from ultra-violet light.
The best way to protect against different free-radicals are to eat as many antioxidants as possible. This is why top of the line pet foods not only have the ingredients mentioned above, but a variety of other fruits and vegetables that contain even more antioxidants. Fruits like blueberries that contain proanthocyanins, vegetables like carrots that contain beta-carotene, and herbs like rosemary that have quinones in them create an antioxidant arsenal ready to fight any free-radical out to attack the body of your pet.
Fiber is Beneficial
Fruits and vegetables also contain fiber. Many dogs and cats are over weight and suffer from obesity, and one of the best ways to get them into shape is to increase the amount of fiber in their diet. Fiber makes the animal feel fuller longer, resulting in the animal eating less. Fiber from vegetables that score low on the glycemic index have been found to help treat and prevent diabetes in both people and pets, which again, is often a symptom of obesity and poor nutrition.
Fruits and Vegetables Have Anti-inflammatory Properties
Many pets suffer from inflammations such as hot spots, swollen joints, arthritis, coronary disease, and cognitive decline, just to name a few. Anti-inflammatories, as the name suggests, help prevent and relieve these common inflammations. One of the most common anti-inflammatory ingredients found in pet foods is the omega-3 fatty acid DHA (docosahexaenioc acid). Many fruits and vegetables work as anti-inflammatories as well, such as apples, tomatoes, acai berries, pomegranates, green tea, and turmeric.
Yes, dogs and cats are definitely carnivorous and need meat to be healthy and to thrive. Yet cats and dogs have always been known to graze on fruits and vegetables in the wild. The addition of fruits and vegetables into pet foods ensures that you and your dog or cat can enjoy as many years together as possible.
Sources
Summers, David, PH.D. "Salad for Pets: What are Fruits and Vegetables Doing in Your Pet's Food?" Companion Summer 2011 6-7. Print.
"Antioxidants and Free Radicals." www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/antiox.html. Accessed Sept. 18, 2011. Web.
Ian Shoust - With a degree in Communications and a certificate in Digital Video Editing, Ian Shoust has worked as a freelance videographer, editor, and ...
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