How does it work?
Carbohydrates are macro nutrients, such as lipids or proteins.
First of all, let's understand that the body needs carbohydrates to function and more particularly glucose, and it can find this glucose as a directly usable source in a starch intake through food, and this in several goals. First, produce energy through glycolysis, which is a metabolic process that produces energy through the breakdown of glucose. Second, when they are metabolized into carbon dioxide and water to provide energy, they are a source of heat for the body.Third, as they progress through metabolic pathways, some products can be used as building blocks for other nutrients like certain amino acids, lactose, vitamin C
The digestion of simple carbohydrates and starch occurs throughout the digestive system and involves a mechanical, enzymatic and microbial process. Mechanical “spoilage” occurs primarily in the stomach with gastric juices (hydrochloric acid, proteolytic enzymes). However, the stomach mainly plays a role in the digestion of proteins. Carbohydrates and starch are digested and absorbed by the small intestine after being broken down by the pancreas and its alpha-amylase enzyme.
Given this vital need for glucose, the body always maintains a sufficient supply in the main tissues. Thus, if the food intake is not satisfactory, the amino acids will be used for the synthesis of glucose, this is gluconeogenesis.However, this deserves to be asked whether it is not preferable to let the amino acids fully play their role by allowing a reasoned intake of carbohydrates.
In what form?
It is through starchy foods that it will be possible to provide carbohydrates satisfactorily in a household ration or a raw ration. In addition, starches are for some an interesting source of fiber or certain minerals such as magnesium, which is often lacking in BARF rations.
Bringing starches up to 10 or 20% of the ration depending on the case will often provide a quickly usable source of energy.
Among the starchy foods with a significant nutritional value that can be included in a household ration or a raw ration, we find rice, oatmeal or quinoa, but still with a in lower carbohydrate and with a high fiber intake: sweet potato, which also provides beta carotene in satisfactory quantities.However, care should be taken not to distribute it to animals having or being predisposed to oxalate stones.
Starches suffer from a bad image due to the parallel made with the carbohydrate content of industrial foods, but should not be systematically rejected, their use can allow certain animals to have better digestive comfort or contribute to the balance of a ration.