Just as their name suggests, ancient grains have been around for thousands of years, but awareness regarding the kind of benefits that these grains can have on certain pets is fairly new. In order to find out if these grains should be a part of your pet’s diet, continue reading as we discuss a few key aspects of the whole idea.
Ancient Grains: What are They?
Ancient grains like sorghum have remained unchanged, unaltered for thousands of years, while traditional grains such as rice have not. As a result, there are properties found in ancient grains which are absent in traditional grains. This is largely because rice, wheat, and others like them have lost a great portion of their original nutritional value to a great extent because of man-induced genetic modifications.
Vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals that are not found in sufficient quantities within any traditional grain are abundant in ancient grains. This is exactly what makes them a much more suitable and beneficial addition to pet food, as compared to the usual grains.
Why Sorghum is Such an Important Ingredient for Pet Foods
Just like any other grain, ancient or traditional, sorghum is an immediate source of fast energy for pets due to its high carb content, but as an ancient grains pet food sorghum has also been found to supply pets with:
- Protein
- Fiber
- Omega-3 fatty acids and phenolic acids
- Niacin
- Thiamine
- Anthocyanins
- B vitamins
- Essential Minerals like potassium, calcium, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, zinc and copper
On top of the tremendous nutritional value which the ancient cereal grass adds to pet food, it’s also one of those few grains which are completely gluten free, making sorghum ideal for even gluten intolerant pets.
Ancient Grain-Based Pet Food for Active Pets Can Make a Huge Difference
Whether we are discussing a working dog or a family pet that spends a large amount of time playing outdoors, ancient grain-based pet food can make a big difference in helping them stay active, energetic, and nutritionally fulfilled. The main advantage with grains is that they are an active source of carbohydrates, which can be turned into energy much faster than protein and fat.
There is no denying that protein and fat are more essential for cats (especially) and dogs than carbs are, but when it comes to energy, carbohydrates are simply the fastest source. Since ancient grains have proteins and essential fats in them as well as plenty of carbs, they can very well be considered as a must have ingredient in pet food for active pets.
To answer the main question, we would have to conclude that ancient grains may or may not be a must-have ingredient in your pet food, depending on factors such as the particular pet’s species, breed, and existing medical conditions, the ancient grain in question and how much of it is used in the mix. In any case, it might be a good idea to discuss with your veterinarian regarding whether a particular ancient seed will suit your pet before buying.
