A grain and a seed are related but different from a botanical standpoint. Seed and grain are not synonymous.  Some seeds are grains, and all grains are seeds, but not all seeds are grains. Seeds and grains have much different levels of nutrition and digestibility. A germinated or sprouted seed is even less similar, having gone through a complete physical and chemical transformation during and after germination – like a caterpillar emerging from the cocoon as a butterfly – everything changes. For example, ordinary barley used in many pet foods is only 5% digestible and has very little absorbable nutrition. Sprouted barley seed is 95% digestible, with enormous amounts of bio-available nutrition, including antioxidants, probiotics and enzymes.

A grain is the small edible fruit of the plant, usually hard on the outside, harvested from grassy crops. Grains grow in clusters at the tops of mature plants, such as wheat, oats,  and rice. Depending on the type, grains have a low to moderate amount of nutrition and digestibility for many animals. This has understandably caused many pet-owners to seek products with zero grains.

A seed is defined as an embryonic plant covered in a ‘seed coat’. It is formed from the ripened ovule of plants after fertilization. The seed contains all the nutrients required to build a new plant!  These nutrients are dormant until the seed is germinated, or sprouted, at which point it wakes up and becomes extremely digestible and a great supplier of nutrition for those creatures who eat it, including our pets. ONLY germination causes the unlocking of digestion inhibitors in the seed, making it super bio-available.

This means that the right blend of sprouted seeds and legumes such as those found in carna4 products are entirely suitable for people (and pets) looking to avoid grains yet needing access to plant-based enzymes, vitamins and minerals.