Pseudocereals in dog food

At DOG'S LOVE, we deliberately opt for grain-free dog food. You can read more about why here. To make sure your four-legged omnivores get the optimum nutritional composition in their bowl, some DOG’S LOVE products contain so-called pseudocereals. Below, we'll explain why these plants are an excellent alternative to the often hard-to-digest cereals.

What exactly are pseudocereals?

Pseudocereals are grains from plants that do not belong to the grass family. Grasses, i.e. true cereals, include wheat, rye, maize, rice and millet. The best-known pseudocereals include the two plants from the amaranth family, quinoa and amaranth, as well as the knotweed plant, buckwheat. 

Why are these plants called pseudocereals?

The ancient Greek word "pseudos" stood for a deception or a lie. Today, we use the prefix "pseudo-" when referring to something that is imitated or replicated. Pseudocereals pretend to be real cereals, so to speak. Their grains are almost identical to conventional cereals in terms of processing and nutrient content. However, they are free from gluten, which is known to cause major problems if you have a food allergy or intolerance.

What are the benefits of pseudocereals?

Pseudocereals can provide important building blocks for a balanced diet through the composition of their macronutrients - i.e. proteins, fibre and fats. In addition, they are rich in calcium, magnesium and iron. As dogs are omnivores, their bodies rely on nutrients from a variety of sources. Gluten-free pseudocereals offer a healthy and more easily digestible option in contrast to real cereals. 

The stars of the show: Amaranth - Quinoa - Buckwheat

At DOG'S LOVE, our food only contains products from organically certified production. This also applies to our pseudocereals.

• Amaranth: Amaranth is not only an important source of protein, but it also contains three times as much calcium as normal cereals. Essential amino acids, iron and peptides support the body's own ability to regenerate. In addition, vitamins C, A and E and many minerals strengthen muscles, bones and the immune system.
• Quinoa: Similarly to amaranth, quinoa provides almost twice as much lysine as wheat. This essential amino acid is responsible for a healthy metabolism. Quinoa is also rich in iron, magnesium and calcium for a healthy skeleton and supple muscles.
• Buckwheat: Buckwheat resembles real wheat only in name. Like the other pseudocereals, it does not contain gluten or wheat lectins, which are also a common source of allergies and intolerances. It also has a complete amino acid profile. This means buckwheat contains all the amino acids essential for dogs.