Low glycemic (GI) diets have become a hot topic in human medicine, not only for their ability to help manage diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes, but also for their potential to help prevent these diseases from developing in the first place. For people predisposed to these conditions through genetics or lifestyle choices, one of the most effective ways to slow—or even stop—the progress of heart disease and diabetes is to embrace a low GI diet.
But what about low GI pet food? Can it make a difference to the health of your four-legged family member?
You bet! Our pets are suffering from the same diseases that plague North Americans, brought on by unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles. So why shouldn’t they benefit from the same type of diet that aids us in our quest for better health and longevity?
What is Low GI Pet Food?
Developed at the University of Toronto by Dr. David Jenkins, professor of nutritional sciences and medicine at St. Michael’s Hospital, the GI diet measures foods based on how they affect sugar levels in the blood. As a reference, glucose (or pure sugar), which raises blood sugar faster than any other food, is given a value of 100. All other foods are measured relative to this value.
Foods that rank high on the glycemic index break down quickly, causing a spike in blood sugar levels. When this happens, the pancreas releases insulin to help regulate blood sugar, and constant demand on this organ may contribute to diabetes. High insulin levels can also promote heart disease by raising cholesterol and triglyceride levels—key factors in cardiac health.
The glycemic index of a food is determined by how fast it digests, so the results may surprise you. For example, low glycemic fruits include apples, apricots, bananas, grapefruits, grapes, kiwis, oranges, peaches, pears, and strawberries. On the other hand, watermelon is the only high GI fruit, and high GI vegetables include potatoes and parsnips. White rice and white bread are considered high GI, while basmati, brown, and wild rice are rated medium. The key difference lies in the amount of fiber naturally present in the food.
Low GI pet food contains ingredients that are either naturally low on the glycemic index or balanced in such a way that they digest slowly. This means that high glycemic foods like potatoes are paired with low GI meats, vegetables like broccoli and chard, and high-fiber foods like buckwheat and quinoa.
What Else Affects Low GI Pet Food?
Heavily processed foods tend to rank higher on the glycemic index because the additional cooking process changes the starch from a low-index amylose molecule to a high-GI amylopectin starch molecule. The less processed the food, the lower the GI level, making it a better choice for your pet’s long-term health.
Long cooking times can also affect GI levels by softening the food granules, making them easier to digest. An example of this is al dente pasta versus overcooked pasta—al dente pasta has a lower GI level.
Protein and fat slow the rate of stomach emptying and digestion, so always feed your pet a balanced diet that includes the appropriate nutrient levels for their activity level.
Dietary fiber is the final factor that can make or break a low GI meal. Even though an apple tastes sweet, its fiber and pectin actually slow digestion, which results in a low GI rating.
Feeding
Many commercial pet foods are heavily processed, focusing more on filling pets up than providing adequate nutrition. It’s important to learn how to read ingredient labels, paying attention to where high GI foods appear on the list.
For example, if corn or corn meal is listed in the top five ingredients, steer clear. Watch out for high GI foods that are broken down and listed in several places (e.g., corn, corn meal, corn flour). Technically, it’s all still corn, and it can spike your pet’s blood sugar levels just as much as if it were whole kernels of corn—only now the parts are smaller, making digestion even faster!
Read ingredient labels carefully and look for low glycemic, high-fiber foods for your pet. With the right diet, they’ll live a long, healthy life and never miss the sugar-spiking foods!
