Top 5 Nutrients Dogs Absorb Better in Freeze-Dried Food

Kristina Voltin
Apr 2
6 min read

High-quality proteins: Supports muscle development and energy.
Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids: Promotes healthy skin, coat, joints, brain, and heart.
Vitamins (A, B, C, D, E): Improves vision, immunity, digestion, and overall vitality.
Essential minerals: Calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, magnesium, and selenium for bones, blood, and immune health.
Probiotics and enzymes: Aids digestion and nutrient absorption.

Freeze-dried food retains these nutrients by avoiding high heat, ensuring your dog gets a balanced, nutrient-packed meal. It's convenient, shelf-stable, and suitable for all ages. Switch to freeze-dried food for better health and digestion in your dog.

Better Than Kibbles & Raw Diets: The Benefits of Freeze ...

How Freeze-Drying Keeps Nutrients Intact

Freeze-drying is a method of preserving food by removing moisture while keeping its structure intact. Unlike methods that use high heat, freeze-drying minimizes nutrient loss by avoiding extreme temperatures. This makes it an effective way to retain the nutritional value of food.

Here’s how the process works:

Flash Freezing: Ingredients are quickly frozen at extremely low temperatures. This rapid freezing forms small ice crystals that help preserve the food’s structure, nutrients, and flavor.
Primary Drying: The frozen food is placed in a low-pressure chamber. Here, the ice transitions directly from solid to vapor (a process called sublimation), which helps protect vitamins, proteins, and other nutrients from breaking down.
Secondary Drying: Any remaining moisture is removed to achieve a very low water content. This step helps prevent bacterial growth and ensures the food stays preserved for a long time.

1. Protein Quality and Absorption

Protein plays a crucial role in a dog's diet. Freeze-drying helps preserve proteins in their natural state, maintaining their structure and nutritional value.

This process brings key advantages:

Muscle Development: High-quality proteins provide the amino acids needed to build and maintain lean muscle.
Energy and Health: Preserving natural proteins supports balanced nutrition, helping dogs stay energetic and healthy.

Freeze-dried food ensures dogs of all ages - from playful puppies to aging seniors - get the most out of these premium proteins. Loyal Saints' freeze-dried meals focus on delivering proteins that support muscle strength and overall well-being.

This protein-packed approach lays the groundwork for a diet that makes the most of every nutrient.

2. Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids

Freeze-drying helps preserve omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are essential for your dog’s overall health. These fatty acids remain in their natural state, benefiting areas like skin, joints, brain, and heart.

Benefits of Preserved Fatty Acids:

Skin and Coat: Helps keep skin healthy and coats shiny.
Joint Health: Supports joint mobility and helps reduce inflammation.
Cognitive Function: Aids in brain development and mental clarity.
Heart Health: Promotes better cardiovascular function.

Freeze-drying not only prevents oxidation but also keeps these nutrients more absorbable for your dog.

Better Stability and Absorption

Compared to traditional methods, freeze-drying retains the fatty acids' structure, making them easier for your dog to absorb. To keep these nutrients intact, store the food in a cool, dry place.

Balanced omega-3 and omega-6 ratios are vital for your dog's health. Freeze-dried foods maintain these ratios as they naturally occur in the ingredients, ensuring your dog gets the nutrition they need for overall wellness.

3. Vitamin Retention and Uptake

Freeze-drying helps keep vitamins intact, making them easier for the body to absorb and promoting better health. This method safeguards proteins, fatty acids, and key vitamins, such as:

Vitamin A: Supports vision, immune function, and skin health.
B-Complex Vitamins: Helps with energy production and nervous system function.
Vitamin C: Aids in collagen production.
Vitamin E: Provides antioxidant support.
Vitamin D: Assists with calcium absorption and bone strength.

This preservation process works to maintain the quality of nutrients, ensuring your dog gets the most out of their food. By keeping these vitamins intact, freeze-dried foods contribute to better coat health, digestion, and overall vitality.

Many pet owners have reported shinier coats and improved digestion in their dogs, showcasing the benefits of proper vitamin retention. To ensure these nutrients stay effective, store freeze-dried food in a cool, dry place, keep it sealed tightly, and avoid exposure to sunlight or moisture. Use it within the suggested time frame for best results.

Freeze-dried food offers a concentrated source of nutrition, helping to support your dog's health and wellness in every meal.

4. Mineral Absorption Rates

Freeze-drying keeps minerals intact and in a form that’s easy for the body to absorb, helping maintain important bodily functions and overall health.

Here are some key minerals found in freeze-dried dog food:

Calcium and Phosphorus: Naturally balanced to help build strong bones and teeth.
Iron: Supports blood cell production and oxygen transport, sourced from high-quality proteins for better absorption.
Zinc: Promotes immune health and skin wellness, preserved in a form that's easy to absorb.
Magnesium: Aids muscle function and energy production.
Selenium: Acts as an antioxidant to support the immune system.

These minerals work together to keep your dog's bones, joints, muscles, nerves, and immune system in top shape. At Loyal Saints, our freeze-dried raw dog food is designed to retain these nutrients, giving your dog the balanced nutrition they need for an active, healthy life.

5. Living Nutrients: Probiotics and Enzymes

Freeze-drying isn't just about preserving nutrients - it also protects essential digestive aids like probiotics and enzymes. These components, often sensitive to traditional processing methods, remain intact through freeze-drying, ensuring their benefits are available when the food is rehydrated.

Enzymes play a key role in breaking down food into nutrients the body can absorb. Freeze-drying safeguards important enzymes such as:

Amylase: Helps break down carbohydrates
Protease: Assists in digesting proteins
Lipase: Supports fat digestion
Cellulase: Aids in breaking down fiber

Probiotics, which are crucial for gut health, are also preserved in freeze-dried food. These cultures help:

Maintain balanced gut flora
Improve nutrient absorption
Alleviate digestive discomfort

Loyal Saints freeze-dried dog food has earned praise from customers for improving digestion, reducing stomach issues, and delivering high-quality nutrition with smaller portions.

More Reasons to Choose Freeze-Dried Food

Freeze-dried food isn’t just about preserving nutrients - it's also a practical choice for everyday pet care. The process creates compact, shelf-stable food that keeps its nutritional value at room temperature without needing refrigeration.

With less moisture and no unnecessary fillers, you get smaller portions that pack a punch nutritionally. Customers have noticed the convenience:

"The small bags of freeze-dried food are so much more convenient to store, too." – Wanda W.

For dogs with picky eating habits or specific dietary needs, the natural flavors and textures remain intact, making meals more appealing. Plus, the clean ingredient list is gentle on sensitive stomachs:

"I'd rather spend $200 a month on my picky eater and have them happy for years than a couple thousand on vet bills. This food rocks!" – Tony Eiguesse"Worth the little extra than the fridge foods we've been buying." – Adam T.

Using high-quality, human-grade, and all-natural ingredients supports digestion, encourages appetite, and boosts overall health. These practical perks go hand in hand with the nutritional benefits already mentioned.

For the best results, look for options with high protein content and nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables. Loyal Saints delivers premium freeze-dried raw dog food made in the USA, with human-grade, all-natural ingredients to promote balanced nutrition and lifelong health for dogs of all ages.

Conclusion

Freeze-dried dog food preserves important nutrients - like proteins and enzymes - through a low-heat process that maintains their quality. This method keeps proteins, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients intact to support your dog's health and energy levels.

"Finally a nutrition-packed food for Toby without all the added gunk! He loves it and it shows in his coat." – Wanda W.

This type of nutrition can lead to noticeable improvements in your dog's daily life. High-quality freeze-dried food helps maintain strong muscles, aids digestion, and boosts energy. As one pet owner put it:

"Rather spend on high quality food than on health care." – Thomas

With better nutrition, your dog can stay active and healthy. Loyal Saints' freeze-dried food meets AAFCO standards and ensures nutrient retention to keep your pet thriving.