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Food For
Thought™ Technical Bulletin No. 11R
Innovative Research in Dog and Cat Nutrition™ |
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Background
All of our dog and cat foods are formulated precisely to fit the special nutritional
requirements of the dog or cat in specific life stages or lifestyles. Iams research has shown that some products are
best formulated using a combination of carbohydrate sources. Such a combination offers optimal carbohydrate digestibility
and helps maintain energy levels.
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Carbohydrate Ingredients
Our dog and cat foods contain a variety of carbohydrate ingredients.
Barley: Iams uses ground whole grain barley that is cooked at high temperatures and finely ground in
our dry dog formulas as part of our patented carbohydrate blend.
Corn: Iams uses only high-quality corn meal � corn kernels that have been finely ground to break up the
outside covering of each kernel, then cooked at high temperatures to increase digestibility. Iams also uses corn grits - hard,
coarse portions of ground corn that contain little or no fiber or protein. Corn grits are used in processing to add a fuller
shape to pet-food kibbles and are part of the patented carbohydrate blend in our cat foods.
Grain sorghum: Grain sorghum, also called milo, is cracked, finely ground, and cooked before it is added
to our dry dog and cat foods. It is another carbohydrate source in our patented carbohydrate blend.
Rice Flour: Our foods use small kernels of white rice that have been separated from the larger kernels
of milled rice, ground and cooked at high temperatures to optimize digestibility.
Wheat: Wheat flour is another high-quality carbohydrate source that is used in our biscuits and some dry
food formulas. In our biscuits, the wheat serves as an excellent, palatable carbohydrate source and also adds a firm texture
to the biscuit during the baking process.
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Optimal Digestibility
Highly digestible diets are an important factor in the nutritional well-being of an animal.
They deliver more essential nutrients more efficiently, so there is less waste.
Innovative and patented research by Iams scientists found that when the complex carbohydrate sources grain sorghum and barley
are used together in a diet for dogs, the digestibility is enhanced at another level. Iams research also has shown that grain
sorghum and corn give similar results in cats. What's unique about these grains is that they break down slowly and evenly,
thereby providing a stable source of energy.
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Maintained Energy Levels
The slow, even breakdown of the carbohydrate sources grain sorghum, corn, and barley results
in moderate, stable blood glucose levels after a meal. By minimizing swings in blood glucose, diets containing such blends
supply sustained energy. Iams holds a patent on using grain sorghum and barley in a blend for dogs, and on a carbohydrate
blend of corn and grain sorghum for cats.
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Application
- Selected dry dog food formulas contain a patented carbohydrate blend of grain sorghum and barley.
- Selected dry cat food formulas contain a patented carbohydrate blend of grain sorghum and corn.
- These carbohydrate blends optimize the rate of carbohydrate digestion and assimilation and help maintain
stable blood glucose and energy levels.
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