How do you calculate carbohydrates in a feed
How to Calculate the Carbs in Your Cat's Food
Controversy surrounds the inclusion of carbohydrates in cat food. Cats are carnivores after all, and as such, their natural diet is quite low in carbohydrates. They get some from the intestinal tracts of the animals they eat, but thats about it.
There are certainly times when low/no carbohydrate foods are best obesity and diabetes mellitus are two health conditions that immediately spring to mind. But when it comes to feeding healthy cats, the debate wears on. From a strictly practical point of view, I have to say that Ive known some cats who have eaten nothing but high carbohydrate, dry food and have thrived into advanced old age, and others who obviously did better on low carbohydrate, canned foods. As is true with most things in life, I doubt the answer to the carb question will turn out to be one-size-fits-all.
No matter where your opinion falls on the carb no carb continuum, theres one thing that we can all agree on. It is often hard to determine just how many carbohydrates a cat food contains. Labeling regulations do not mandate that a carbohydrate percentage be listed, but you can figure it out yourself if youre up to a bit of math.
Pet food labels must list the minimum crude protein percentage, minimum crude fat percentage, maximum crude fiber percentage, and maximum moisture percentage. They will also sometimes include a maximum value for ash. If this is not present, I use an estimate of 3% for canned foods and 6% for dry. Once you add up protein, fat, fiber, moisture, and ash, the only thing left is carbohydrate.
I just grabbed a can of my cats food and this is what the guaranteed analysis says:
Crude Protein (min): 12%
Crude Fat (min): 2.0%
Crude Fiber (max): 1.5%
Moisture (max): 80%
Ash (max): 3%
Therefore, this foods carb content is 100 (12 + 2 + 1.5 + 80 + 3) = 1.5%
Now, these answers arent going to be exact because we are dealing with minimums and maximums and sometimes an estimate for ash, but itll get you into the ballpark. (When I did this with another can of food that I know has no carbs, my result was -2.)
In comparison, my cats dry food guaranteed analysis looks like this:
Crude Protein (min): 38%
Crude Fat (min): 8.5%
Crude Fiber (max): 4.3%
Moisture (max): 12%
Ash (max): 6%
To calculate the carb content: 100 (38 + 8.5 + 4.3 + 12 + 6) = 31.2%
Now both of these products report their guaranteed analyses on an as fed basis, meaning that comparing dry and canned foods is almost impossible due to their wildly different moisture contents. To correct for this we need to convert our result into a dry matter basis. Heres how:
Find the percent moisture and subtract that number from 100. This is the percent dry matter for the food. Next divide the nutrient percentage on the label that you are interested in by the percent dry matter for the food and multiply by 100. The resulting number is the nutrient percentage on a dry matter basis.
For example, the dry food label lists its moisture content at 12% and we calculated percent carbohydrate to be 31.2%. To figure out the foods carb level on a dry matter basis, the calculations in this case would be 100-12=88 and then 31.2/88 x 100 = 35.4%. The canned foods calculations look like 100-80 = 20, 1.5/20 x 100 = 7.5.
So at least now you know how to figure out how many carbs are in your cats food, even if the definitive answer to how many should be there remains elusive.
Dr. Jennifer Coates
Image: Thinkstock
Carbohydrate Calculator
Carbohydrate Calculator
The Carb Calculator estimates the percentage of carbohydrates a person should consume each day.
- Exercise: 15-30 minutes of elevated heart rate activity.
- Intense exercise: 45-120 minutes of elevated heart rate activity.
- Very intense exercise: 2+ hours of elevated heart rate activity.
What are Carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates (carbs) are one of three primary macronutrients that provide energy, along with fats and proteins. Carbohydrates are broken down in the body or converted into glucose, and serve as the body's main source of energy. They can also be stored as energy in the form of glycogen, or converted to fat (which can also be used as a source of energy).
Types of Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are often classified as either simple (monosaccharides and disaccharides) or complex (polysaccharides or oligosaccharides), originally to create a distinction between sugars and other carbohydrates. However, there are many foods that contain multiple types of carbohydrates, such as fruits and vegetables, which can make the classification of certain foods ambiguous. Although carbohydrates are not essential nutrients (nutrients required for normal physiological function that the body cannot synthesize), they are an efficient source of energy that can potentially reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and type 2 diabetes if consumed in controlled amounts.
The three main types of carbohydrates are sugar, starch, and fiber:
- Sugars are the simplest form of carbohydrates and can be found naturally in fruits, dairy, and vegetables; they can also be found in processed form in candy, cookies, cakes, and many beverages.
- Starches are complex carbohydrates that can be found naturally in many types of beans, vegetables, and grains.
- Fibers are complex carbohydrates that can be found in fruits, whole grains, vegetables, and many types of beans. Fibers are essential for digestion.
Generally, complex carbohydrates have greater nutritional benefits than simple carbohydrates, which are sometimes referred to as "empty carbs." Added sugars, a common form of simple carbohydrates, have little nutritional value and are not necessary for survival. While the body does require some carbohydrates (which are broken down into sugar), it is not necessary to consume sugary foods to meet this need. Complex carbohydrates such as fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and others, also provide carbohydrates the body can use for energy to function, along with many other nutrients it can use. Complex carbs are also digested more slowly, allowing a person to feel full for longer periods of time, which can help when trying to control weight. On the other hand, foods comprised of mainly simple carbohydrates such as soda, cookies, juice, and other baked goods, often have large amounts of sugars and fats, which may potentially lead to weight gain and diabetes since they tend to be easier to consume in excess.
How Many Carbs Should I Eat?
While this estimate varies depending on a number of factors, the Institute of Medicine recommends that a minimum of 130 grams of carbohydrates be consumed daily for adults. Other sources recommend that carbohydrates should comprise 40-75% of daily caloric intake. Although carbohydrates are not essential nutrients, and there are many fad diets that highly restrict or even eliminate carb intake, there are benefits to consuming a controlled amount of "good" carbs (which will be described below). When carbs are consumed in excess of what can be stored as glycogen, they are converted to fats, which act as stored energy. In a case where insufficient carbs and fats are available to be used for energy, the body will start breaking down protein instead, which can be problematic. Proteins perform many essential functions in the body, including serving as the building blocks for tissues and organs, driving many chemical reactions throughout the body, facilitating communication throughout the body, transporting molecules, and many more. Refer to the Protein Calculator for more information.
It is worth noting that not all carbohydrates are made equal. Certain sources of carbohydrates are better than others. For example, whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and beans are better sources of carbohydrates than white bread, white rice, and those in processed foods. Within the context of carbohydrates in a diet, the main difference between simple and complex carbohydrates, sometimes referred to as "refined" and "whole," or even "bad" and "good" carbohydrates respectively, is that refined carbohydrates have been stripped of natural fiber. This is common in juices, pastries, bread, pasta, and many other common foods. Fiber is necessary for digestion, and it promotes healthy bowel movements and can, in some cases, decrease the risk of certain chronic diseases, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Whether or not carbohydrates are good or bad is often the subject of diet debates. This is because there is truth to both sides of the argument in that not all carbohydrates are the same and some are better than others, and carbohydrates can affect different people in different ways. Below are some of the key characteristics of good and bad carbs:
Good carbs:
- contain a low or moderate number of calories
- are high in nutrients
- do not contain refined sugars or grains
- are high in natural fibers
- are low in sodium and saturated fats
- are low in, or do not contain, cholesterol and trans fats
Bad carbs essentially are the opposite of good carbs and:
- are high in calories
- are low in many nutrients
- are full of refined sugars (ex. corn syrup, white sugar, honey, fruit juices)
- are low in fiber
- are high in sodium and may contain high levels of saturated fat
- may be high in cholesterol and trans fats
- are high in refined grains (ex. white flour)
How many carbohydrates a person consumes really depends on many personal factors. There are situations in which a low-carb diet can be beneficial, even life-changing, for one person, but having a lower-carb diet will not necessarily have health benefits for someone in a different situation. Many healthy foods that are filled with nutrients, such as vegetables, legumes, whole fruits, nuts, seeds, and whole grains contain carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are not inherently bad so long as sugary drinks, fruit juices, and processed foods like cookies and candy, are avoided, or consumed in moderation. Eat enough carbs to suit your lifestyle and maybe seek out a dietitian if considering any drastic changes to your diet.
Carbohydrate Calculator: How Many Grams of Carbs Should You Eat?
Carbohydrates are the energy source your body relies on most throughout the day. They fuel your workouts and provide energy for movement and brain function. The calculator on this page provides recommendations for a moderate-carbohydrate diet, with slightly lower carb levels for fat loss and higher levels for muscle gains.
If you're new to tracking your macros, use the calculator's recommendations to get a good starting baseline. If you're transitioning from a so-called "standard American diet" with soda and crunchy snacks, this might already be lower than you're used to! Then, if you decide you want to try a lower-carb or ketogenic approach, you can experiment with reducing your carb levels.
This daily carbohydrate target can help you lose weight in the form of body fat while minimizing muscle loss. Here are the next steps on your weight -loss journey:
1. Pick a weight-loss workout plan.
A well-designed program is an essential part of turning hard numbers into hard-body results! Here are the most popular ones from BodyFit:
2. Calculate your macros.
Carbohydrates are just one of the three macronutrients. To get targets for the other two, as well as a daily calorie target, use the Bodybuilding.com Macronutrient Calculator.
3. Learn about the best fat-loss supplements.
Supplements can help you accelerate your results once you have your carbohydrate intake and training in place. Krissy Kendall, Ph.D., shares her recommendations in the article, "5 Ways to Up Your Fat-Loss Supplement Game."
4. Join a fitness community.
For over 10 years, members of BodySpace have been helping each other build their best bodies. Join the world's strongest fitness community!
This daily carbohydrate target can help you focus on body recomposition, or gradually burning fat and building muscle, while focusing on your health. Here are the next steps on your journey to customize your nutrition:
1. Pick a workout plan.
A well-designed program is an essential part of staying motivated and seeing results. Here are some of our most popular programs from BodyFit:
2. Calculate your macros.
Carbohydrates are just one of the three macronutrients. To get targets for the other two, as well as a daily calorie target, use the Bodybuilding.com Macronutrient Calculator.
3. Learn about the best health-focused supplements.
Supplements can help you accelerate your results and support your training once you have your carbohydrate target and training in place. Chris Lockwood, Ph.D., shares what to take and why in the article, "Start Here: The Most Important Supplements for Every Body."
4. Join a fitness community.
For over 10 years, members of BodySpace have been helping each other build their best bodies. Join the world's strongest fitness community!
This daily carbohydrate target can help you build lean muscle mass while minimizing body-fat gains. Here are the next steps on your journey to see the scale go up:
1. Pick a muscle-building workout plan.
A well-designed program is an essential part of turning hard numbers like calories into hard-body results! Here are the most popular ones from BodyFit:
2. Calculate your macros.
Carbohydrates are just one of the three macronutrients. To get targets for the other two, as well as a daily calorie target, use the Bodybuilding.com Macronutrient Calculator.
3. Learn about the best supplements for gaining muscle.
Supplements can help you accelerate your muscle-building results once you have your carbohydrate intake and training dialed in. Krissy Kendall, Ph.D., shares her recommendations in the article, "8 Proven Supplements for Muscle Growth and Strength."
4. Join a fitness community.
For over 10 years, members of BodySpace have been helping each other build their best bodies. Join the world's strongest fitness community!
MAINTAIN CURRENT WEIGHT
First time tracking macros? Or not sure which goal is right for you? Then start with "maintenance." In theory, this is an amount of carbs in line with the number of calories that you burn to maintain your current weight. Many nutritionists say before you start cutting or adding calories or tweaking your macros, you should spend some time at maintenance level and get more comfortable with tracking your foods and portion sizes.
LOSE WEIGHT
If you know that you're ready to lose a few pounds and you have some experience counting calories or tracking macros, select "lose weight." This will give you a carbohydrate target in line with 200-700 calories below maintenance, depending on your activity level, and a 40/40/20 macronutrient breakdown of carbs, protein, and fats. This is a popular "sweet spot," both calorically and in terms of macronutrients, for healthy, sustainable weight loss.
GAIN WEIGHT
Gaining weightespecially as musclesounds easy enough. Train hard, eat big, right? But once the fork hits the plate, plenty of people find they need to eat far more than they realized to see the scale move up. Selecting "gain weight" will give you an amount of carbs in line with 500 calories above maintenance, on a 40/30/30 macro split. If this doesn't make the scale go up after a couple of weeks, you may need to add a few hundred more calories.
ACTIVITY LEVEL
This choice should reflect the amount of activity in your life based on how you exercise and how physically active your life and/or job is. Nutritional researchers agree that calorie estimates should take more into account than just the amount you exercise. Here's how to figure out what's right for you:
- Sedentary: You work at a desk job and you don't do much housework, walking, or exercising.
- Lightly active: You don't exercise much, but you go for walks 1-3 times per week and are on your feet doing housework during some of the day.
- Moderately active: You exercise 3-5 times a week and stay moving throughout the day with non-exercise activities.
- Very active: You exercise intensely or play vigorous sports on most days.
- Extra active: You exercise intensely or play vigorous sports nearly every day, including occasional "two a days." You also work a physical job or are on your feet most of the time.
How Do I Determine the Carbs in My Food?
You can do this using food labels, as well as by weighing out your food on a food scale and using one of the many online nutritional databases.
Weighing food may seem like a lot of counting and not much fun, but it gets easier over time. Fitness coach Vince Del Monte says in the article, "From Here to Macros: 4 Steps to Better Nutrition" that you quickly learn to "eyeball" quantities of both calories and macronutrients after just a few weeks of practice.
Bodybuilding.com has also created visual guides to help you learn these skills:
Are Carbs Bad for Me?
No! Carbohydrates get a bad rap because when eaten in excess, they may add adipose tissue, aka fat. You'll notice that the calculator recommends lower carb levels for fat loss and higher for muscle gains. But if incorporated into a diet in the right levels and at the right times, carbs can provide all of the benefits with none of the cost.
According to registered dietician Paul Salter, the best times to eat carbs are before, during, and after workouts, so they can supply you with energy and replenish the glycogen you expend during long training sessions.
Another great time to carb up? Dinnertime. Many people think you shouldn't eat carbs at night if you want to stay lean, but this is a myth. Not only will carbs after dark not hurt you, but eating most of your carbohydrates in the evening can actually help you lose fat and optimize your hormones.
What Are the Best Types of Carbs for Losing Weight and Building Muscle?
For the most part, it's best to opt for complex carbs from whole foods to fuel your day. These foods break down more slowly and provide sustained energy instead of spikes and crashes. Great sources of complex carbs include sweet potatoes, brown rice, fruit, and starchy veggies like peas and carrots, which all have plenty of fiber to slow down their digestion. These foods also have more of their micronutrients intact compared to processed foods.
But there's a time and a place for simple carbs, too. Even so-called "bad carbs" like certain types of candy, aren't always bad. When you eat them during training or right after exercise, they can help restore your muscle glycogen more quickly and start your recovery sooner. In other words, the sugar goes straight to your muscles to help you heal up from your last workout and prime you for your next one.
Protein and carbs are the perfect post-workout combo to support hard training and help you nail your goals. - View All
GET SYSTEMATIC ABOUT YOUR RESULTS
Once you have your daily carb intake, it's time to take the same kind of strategic approach to the rest of your training and nutrition. These popular calculators can help you dial in your plan!
