Are “grain-free” diets always low in carbohydrates or “carbohydrate-free”?
Many owners assume incorrectly that “grain-free” means “carbohydrate-free”. A grain-free diet is simply one that does not contain any cereal grains (either whole or refined grains). Grain-free diets may actually be quite high in carbohydrates as carbohydrates are not only found in grains. They are also found in a number of other vegetables and foodstuffs. Carbohydrates are classified as either simple or complex. The simple carbohydrates (also called simple sugars) supply the body with a quick jolt of glucose for energy. The more complex fiber-rich carbohydrates are not broken down to glucose for energy, but instead play an important role in gastrointestinal health by supporting digestion and absorption and helping the body eliminate toxins and waste products. Halo’s feline canned food is a grain-free formula, however, contains fiber-rich complex carbohydrates in the form of vegetables. Halo always avoids simple carbohydrates which spike blood sugar and only uses vegetables and whole gr
