Are sweet potatoes healthy for dogs?
Sweet Potatoes are nutrient-dense, antioxidant powerhouses – one of nature’s unsurpassed sources of beta-carotene.
Nutritionists at the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) ranked the sweet potato #1 in nutrition of all vegetables. With a score of 184, the sweet potato outscored the next highest vegetable, potato, by more than 100 points and ahead of other superfoods including Kale and Spinach.
A rich source of fibre and antioxidants which may help protect your dog’s body from free radical damage and promote a healthy gut and brain.
Beta-carotene, which is converted to vitamin A helps to support good vision and your dog’s immune system.
They also contain a good array of vitamins and minerals including iron, calcium, selenium, they’re a good source of B vitamins and vitamin C.
A complex carbohydrate, sweet potatoes are low GI, digest slowly, causing a gradual rise in blood sugar so your dog feels satisfied longer after eating.
Sweet Potatoes contribute to the environment too. Multi-cropping them with legumes results in significant reduction in damaging fertiliser use and they also have a smaller carbon and water footprint than most other plants and animal ingredients.
Science Informed Reasons to Include Sweet Potato in Your Dog’s Diet:
- Highly Nutritious – sweet potatoes are starchy root vegetables that are rich in fibre, vitamins, and minerals. They’re also high in antioxidants that protect your dog’s body from free radical damage and chronic disease. (3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- Promote Gut Health by Acting as a Prebiotic – sweet potatoes contain both soluble and insoluble fibres and antioxidants that promote the growth of good gut bacteria including certain Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus species and contribute to a healthy gut. (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- May Have Cancer-Fighting Properties – animal and test-tube research suggests that the anthocyanins and other antioxidants found in sweet potatoes may protect against certain cancers. However, canine and human studies are needed. (3, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
- Support Healthy Vision – sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene and anthocyanins, antioxidants that may help prevent vision loss and improve eye health. (2, 25, 26, 27, 28)
- May Enhance Brain Function – animal studies have shown that sweet potatoes may improve brain health by reducing inflammation and preventing mental decline. (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, (34, 35)
- May Support Your Dogs Immune System – sweet potatoes are an excellent source of beta-carotene, which can be converted to vitamin A and help support their immune system and gut health. (36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
- Reduction of Nitrogen Fertiliser Use – multi-cropping legumes with sweet potatoes resulted in a 35% reduction in the use of environmentally damaging nitrogen fertilisers by comparison with cropping with cereals or leaving fallow. (41)
- Low Carbon and Water Footprint – sweet potatoes require less water to produce than many other foods and generate lower greenhouse gas emissions making them an environmentally sustainable ingredient.
