Legumes such as peas and fava beans are common ingredients in many dog foods. However, their use occasionally raises questions: Why are they added to dog food? Do they provide nutritional benefits? And could they be harmful to a dog's health?
In this article, veterinarian Henna Söderholm, who leads product development at Alvar, explains the reasoning behind ingredient choices in dry food recipes and why legumes are included in many of our formulations.
The Anatomy of Dry Dog Food: What Is It Made Of?
The ingredients in Alvar’s dry food recipes are carefully selected to make the food both nutritious and palatable. Ingredient choices are also influenced by their technical properties, which affect kibble formation and the final texture of the product.
The main components of all dry food recipes are ingredients that provide protein, fat, and carbohydrates.
Protein Sources in Dog Food
- The primary protein sources are traditionally ingredients such as chicken, fish, or lamb, but protein can also come from plant-based ingredients.
Fat Sources in Dog Food
- Fat and essential fatty acids are supplied by ingredients such as fish oil, chicken fat, and vegetable oils.
Carbohydrates and Fiber in Dog Food
- Carbohydrates are provided by ingredients such as potatoes and peas, while beneficial fibers such as beet pulp and psyllium are also added to support digestive health.
In practice, every ingredient contributes multiple nutrients in addition to protein, fat, and carbohydrates, including essential vitamins and minerals. The relative nutrient content also depends on how the ingredients are processed.
Alongside the main ingredients, recipes contain smaller amounts of other ingredients that provide specific health benefits, as well as added vitamins and minerals to meet dogs’ nutritional requirements.
Read more: Alvar’s Dry Food: Ingredients Explained
Why Are Legumes Used in Grain-Free Dog Food?
Many pet owners prefer grain-free dog food. However, manufacturing dry kibble requires a source of starchy carbohydrates to achieve the desired texture and structure. Common alternatives to grains in dry food include potatoes and legumes such as peas and beans.
Nutritionally, these ingredients serve as energy sources while also providing dietary fiber that supports healthy digestion.
Read more: When does a dog benefit from a grain-free diet?
What Are the Benefits of Legumes in Dog Food?
Legumes are an excellent source of beneficial nutrients. Alvar recipes use peas and fava beans in various forms. Whole-ground peas or fava beans contain starch, fiber, and a relatively high amount of protein for a plant ingredient.
Legumes are also naturally rich in vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins, potassium, magnesium, and zinc.
Purified pea or fava bean starch primarily functions as a highly digestible energy source, while pea protein serves as a high-quality protein supplement. Ingredients in dry food recipes are always selected based on the specific nutrients and functional properties they contribute.
The Controversial Reputation of Legumes: Are They Safe for Dogs?
In recent years, legumes have gained a somewhat controversial reputation due to discussions about their possible connection to a specific heart disease observed in dogs.
A direct cause-and-effect relationship has not been established. However, some studies have suggested that extensively replacing animal protein with legumes, without appropriate amino acid supplementation, could lead to deficiencies in certain amino acids that are important for heart function. Additionally, excessively high levels of legumes in a diet may reduce the absorption of some nutrients that support heart health.
The key takeaway from the research is that, to be healthy and safe, legume-containing recipes—like all complete and balanced pet foods—must be formulated to provide all essential nutrients in adequate amounts and in forms that are readily absorbed.
Do Legumes Cause Gas?
Another common concern is that legumes may cause excessive gas. The fibers found in legumes are largely fermentable fibers, which generally benefit the gut microbiome but may cause digestive discomfort in more sensitive individuals.
However, the amount of these fibers decreases significantly during processing methods such as heating and grinding. For example, pea starch and pea protein contain relatively little fiber.
How Are These Challenges Addressed in Alvar Foods?
In Alvar recipes, legumes are always used in carefully considered amounts alongside other carbohydrate sources, such as potatoes or oats. Combining different ingredients helps ensure that no single ingredient contributes excessively high levels of any nutrient or compound.
Processed legume ingredients, such as purified starches and proteins, contain significantly less fiber than whole legumes. As a result, their impact on nutrient absorption and intestinal fermentation is considerably lower.
With the exception of the Root recipe, the protein in Alvar dry foods is primarily animal-based. In addition, our grain-free recipes are supplemented with taurine and L-carnitine—amino acid-related nutrients that support healthy heart function.
