The evidence implicating Ultra Processed Foods (UPF's) as a major factor in the meteoric rise of a wide range of diet-related diseases in humans, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cancer, is now overwhelming. (See recent articles in the Lancet and British Medical Journal, for example).
The negative impact on health of feeding kibble and canned dog food, low in meat content, and high in carbohydrates, sugars and additives, has been evident for many years now. Is substituting animal sources of nourishment with ultra processed ingredients, under the guise of better health outcomes the next step?
Here's a brief list of ingredients commonly used in commercial pet food, which often cause health issues:
1. Starch and sugar rich vegetables and fruits:
- corn
- wheat
- rice
- potatoes
- peas
- lentils
- barley
- oats
- molasses
Carbohydrates fuel yeast infections in the gut, on the skin, down the ears and elsewhere. For this reason they are best avoided - especially for pets with health problems in these areas.
High levels of starch in the diet also put a strain on the pancreas, which can predispose to pancreatitis.
2.