The Dangers of Soy in Rabbit Food

Most rabbit food has soy products in the list of ingredients because it is cheap and considered a good source of protein (soybean meal). Ironically soy is also loaded with trypsin inhibitors that bind to the enzyme trypsin and deactivates it. This enzyme is required to digest the protein that your rabbit eats. If the protein can't be digested then it can't be absorbed. This can lead to digestive problems when the undigested soy reaches the end of the digestive tract where bacteria begin to ferment it. This changes the pH and promotes the growth of bad bacteria that then cause diarrhea or bloating. It is best to avoid rabbit food made with soybean meal and other soy products.

Soybeans are also loaded with phytate. This molecule binds to minerals and makes them unavailable to your rabbit. Minerals that are affected by phytate include copper, zinc, iron, phosphorous, magnesium and others. The phytate in soybeans can cause poor health and stunted growth in rabbits because it prevents these important minerals from being absorbed. Many of these minerals are required for proper metabolism and without enough of them you'll see a difference in the health of your rabbit's fur coat as well as their overall energy levels. They will become less playful and more lethargic and even overweight.

Soy can cause cancer because it has high enough levels of phytoestrogens that act as potent antithyroid agents. An unhealthy thyroid can lead to problems with metabolism and weight gain. It can also lead to autoimmune diseases and the increased risk for developing food allergies. For optimal health it is best to avoid feeding rabbits anything that is made with soy. Within a couple of weeks switching to soy free rabbit food you should notice that they become more playful and healthy. In fact soy also causes problems with the metabolism of vitamin B12 because it has an "imitation" that doesn't work. This means that rabbit food that has soy also has to be fortified with extra vitamin B12 to partially fix the problem. This also impacts the energy levels and overall health of your rabbit.

There are many more reasons why soy is bad for you and your bunnies. A better source of protein for rabbits is alfalfa because it has higher levels of many essential amino acids and vitamins without any of the ant-nutritional factors found in soy. Balancing it with the proper amounts of other nutrients will promote long-term health for your rabbits.

David Sherwood has grown up raising rabbits for fun. His advanced academic and real world experience have given him extensive knowledge that will help you understand and solve many of the problems that face those who raise and care for rabbits. To learn more about his qualifications and to get 'common sense' answers to rabbit questions, go to https://naturalrabbitfood.com/

To learn more about the importance of using a balanced natural soy-free rabbit food and to see it's unique and proven formulation go to: https://www.naturalrabbitfood.com/soy-free-rabbit-food/

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