CLEAN EATING: IS IT GOOD FOR DOGS?
The move toward a clean eating lifestyle has been adopted by people all over the world. Clean eating doesn’t actually have anything to do with the cleanliness of the food, but rather it refers to the quality of ingredients we consume in our diet. The idea is basically “you are what you eat,” and consuming foods that are all natural, minimally processed, and high in protein and healthy fats, will lead to a healthier body and a longer life.
So what does clean eating mean for dogs?
Clean eating for dogs means taking the same principles of clean eating applied to humans and choosing a healthy dog diet that matches those principles. That means ditching the doggy junk food - like processed kibble and carb-filled treats - and replacing it with a clean dog food and healthy dog treats. Clean eating can help maintain a healthy weight for dogs and has other benefits including fresh breath, cleaner teeth, less shedding, a shiny coat and a longer lifespan.
How do I choose the right dog food with clean ingredients?
With so many pet food brands claiming their food and treats are the best, it can be difficult to wade through all the jargon to choose the best diet for your dog. Here are a few things to look for:
✔ Natural
Traditional kibble is highly processed and filled with junk ingredients like added colors and sprayed-on flavors. A report on pet food by The Cornucopia Institute says pet food that is highly processed often contains hidden or questionable ingredients and may include dangerous chemical additives. Dog food and treats that are all natural are free of additives, preservatives and other fillers, making them the healthiest and safest choice for your dog.
✔ Grain Free/Gluten Free
Grains are high in fiber which can decrease the amount of vitamins and minerals your pet is able to absorb. Grains are not a normally occurring food found in a dog’s diet and they can lead to health issues. Grains also contain gluten and both can cause allergies, obesity and digestion issues. A healthy grain free dog food will be free of fillers like wheat, corn and rice, to provide your dog with the diet they need to thrive, not just survive.
✔ Freeze-Dried
Traditional kibble goes through a refining and extrusion process that destroys much of the nutritional value of the ingredients. Freeze-dried dog food and treats undergo a process to lock in nutrients and maintain freshness. You may wonder, are freeze dried dog treats healthy? The answer is yes! The freeze-drying process replaces the need to refine and extrude the dog food which means your dog gets all the natural benefits without the loss of nutrients.
✔ Raw Whole-Foods
Whole foods are ingredients that are minimally processed like chicken, turkey, beef and fish. Whole foods also include fruits and vegetables like pumpkin, beets, blueberries, broccoli and carrots. In a raw diet like Nature’s Advantage, these whole-food ingredients are combined to create a healthy dog food that is uncooked but preserved by freeze-drying.
✔ Limited-Ingredient
The amount of ingredients is just as important as the quality of the ingredients in your dog’s diet. The ingredients label on a bag of commercial dog kibble is often quite long and filled with ingredients that leave your dog feeling full, but not nutritionally fulfilled. A limited ingredient diet will have a short list of ingredients that are specifically chosen to provide the maximum amount of benefits to your pet. The reduced amount of ingredients also lessens the risk for food allergies and intolerances.
✔ Real Meat
When looking at a pet food ingredients label, the first ingredient listed is the ingredient that is most prevalent in the food. Clean eating for dogs means choosing a dog food or treat that's first ingredient is real meat. Meat should be the primary component of every dog’s diet and is the closest to what they would naturally eat. Dogs have adapted to this diet and it provides them with the energy they need to live an active lifestyle.
Clean eating is just as important for dogs as for people. If you love your dog, you’ll want to choose dog food and treats with clean, raw, whole food ingredients that will provide all the building blocks to a healthy life. In return, your pet will love you even more and you’ll have a longer life together.
Check out Nature’s Advantage food and treats for clean eating options for your dog. Your dog will be proud you did and you’ll be proud to feed your dog a 100% USA made diet with so many great benefits. Each all natural, high-protein, limited ingredient dinner and treat is made with a single sourced animal protein. If your dog could read the label, they’d choose Nature’s Advantage.
