Balanced diets: an investment in health
The new Advance Veterinary Care Nutrition range has been developed due to the importance of maintaining balanced diets for pets. It aims to improve on the benefits offered by standard diets. The range of diets focuses on three pillars:
- Better food absorption
- Ideal proteins
- Organic mineral supplements
Improved absorption
Balanced diets seek to improve absorption by increasing bioavailability. The aim is to optimise how the body uses food, thus minimising the generation of waste.
Proteins are administered in a hydrolysed form, that is, divided into peptides, which makes it easier for the amino acids to be absorbed through the intestinal wall (Sleisenger and Kim, 1979). To this end, the proteins undergo enzymatic hydrolysis during the production process, which splits them into their basic structural components.
The result is a 50% increase in protein solubility compared to standard preparation methods.
Ideal proteins
A protein is considered ideal if it includes all the essential amino acids in its composition.
It is very important that balanced diets not only contain all the essential amino acids, but also contain them in the correct proportions. The proportion of amino acids must match that of the proteins to be synthesised. If this ratio is incorrect, in other words imbalanced, the body will not use all the amino acids, leading to unnecessary waste and decreased efficiency.
The Advance Veterinary Care range is prepared with fresh meat because it undergoes less denaturation during the manufacturing processes.
Organic mineral supplements
Organic or chelated minerals are produced by combining minerals with one or more amino acids. This improves their absorption, as it limits factors such as sulphates or phytic acid which reduce absorption. This is why they are used in the production of balanced diets.
Organic minerals result in higher plasma mineral levels than those administered in an inorganic form because they cross the intestinal wall via alternative transporters.
Zinc (Zn) is involved in the energy metabolism of carbohydrates and the biosynthesis of proteins and nucleic acids, as it is a component of several enzymes involved in these metabolic pathways. Contributes to epithelial integrity and healing. Zinc is also essential for correct immune function.
Manganese (Mn) is necessary for collagen formation, bone development and protein digestion. It is also an antioxidant that reduces the concentration of free radicals.
Besides these three vital points, another advantage of the Advance Veterinary Care diet is its optimum use of cereals. It is based around four different cereals:
- Rice, improves digestibility
- Maize, increases energy intake
- Wheat, for delayed energy release
- Barley, provides dietary fibre.
