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The body is able to produce some of the nutrients it needs, but other essential nutrients must be consumed in order for it to function properly. In order to grow or maintain weight, the body requires a complicated mix of amino acids, minerals, and vitamins, as well as sufficient calories. Different organs, cells, tissue, and numerous other internal body parts require specific nutrients to perform their biological tasks properly. Many nutrients work together in one way or another and are needed in different amounts.
Unfortunately, no one single ingredient contains every nutrient needed by the body. At the core of nutritional research is understanding what nutrients the body requires, what quantities are needed, and what ingredients can be mixed to create an ideal combination. An additional layer of complexity is introduced by the fact that it is necessary to understand the proper cooking techniques of each ingredient to ensure that nutritional content is preserved. Essential nutrients that are destroyed during the cooking process reduce even the highest quality ingredients to nothing but empty calories.
Energy
The body needs energy in order to operate, and calculating energy needs is the first step in formulating a proper, well balanced diet. Energy needs are determined by age, weight, life stage, and activity level of the dog. These factors are a part of a specific formula (with several variables) that has been studied and tested for dogs.
Energy is measured in calories, and calories are what the body uses for energy. The number of calories in a given recipe is determined by the ratio of protein, fat, and carbohydrates present in the food. If a body does not get enough energy in the correct forms, the body will suffer and be weaker than it could be. If a body is fed too many calories, the possibility of complications related to being overweight increase, as well as stress on the kidneys to process waste.
Commercial dog food can only provide a rough approximation of what the “average” dog’s energy needs are, based on very, very generic definitions of age, weight, life stage, and activity level. Because it is mass produced in tremendous quantities, commercial dog food does not (and cannot) take into account requirements of specific breeds or other individual needs.
Amino Acids
The basic building blocks of all proteins are molecules known as Amino Acids. An adequate supply of protein is needed in the diet to provide 10 essential amino acids that the body cannot make. A proper diet includes a certain requirement for each of these amino acids in order for the body to utilize them efficiently.
Choosing the correct protein source to provide the essential amino acids is an important step in determining which ingredient will benefit your dog the most. Cooking technique as well as quantity are crucial elements that play a part in the equation as well.
Ingredient knowledge and preparation play a major role in understanding what to use, how much to use, why they are being used, and how to maintain nutritional value.
Minerals
Minerals have a variety of functions that support the body. Different stages of life dictate the amounts needed to work efficiently. An important fact about minerals is that they do not work independently. A specific combination of essential nutrients is needed for them to perform correctly.
Your dog may display some common symptoms if their diet is deficient or an excess of these minerals.
Vitamins
Vitamins that are water-soluble must be supplied by the diet. This basically means that some vitamins cannot be stored by the body and must be replenished. Fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin A and D, can be stored, and therefore run a small risk of providing the body too much, which results in the potential for toxicity.
Vitamins and minerals that occur naturally in nature are no doubt the best source. Synthetic nutrients that are "man made" cannot reproduce what nature intended. Commercial pet food is loaded with synthetic nutrients in extremely large batches to compensate for the losses made during the manufacturing process. Yummy! Not...