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Your horse's mineral status and the metabolic state associated with it can be a very significant indicator of inflammatory stress. Mineral imbalances can contribute to stress response and recovery, blood sugar control, insulin sensitivity and immune defense patterns. Understanding mineral excesses, deficiencies, the presence of toxic minerals and the inter-relationships between them can guide you toward achieving a state of optimal health for your horse and decrease the risk of developing health problems.
Jack Grogan, CN, Senior Nutritionist for Uckele Health & Nutrition, has analyzed the metabolic trends and patterns in horses for 20 years, and explains that mineral imbalances can significantly increase risks of distress that can manifest into an actual disease state, "When people think of inflammation, the -itis's come to mind. Arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, and gastritis are a few of the most common inflammatory manifestations. However, inflammatory patterns are not limited to these alone. In the last 20 years, we have analyzed several thousand equines. In many respects, the most important piece of information gathered is the type and degree of inflammatory stress the horse's body is attempting to manage that is caused, in part, by mineral imbalances."
Symptoms of inflammatory stress can appear in many ways, since each horse is genetically unique. Similar inflammatory stresses can show as a completely different set of symptoms in individual horses. Most inflammatory symptoms will usually occur in the area of genetic weakness. Grogan explains, "For example, a horse with hives is manifesting an inflammatory pattern associated with the skin, breathing distress is an inflammatory pattern manifesting in the respiratory system, a joint problem is showing an inflammatory stress pattern that is affecting the joint, and so on."
Grogan continues on the subject of one of the greatest concerns horse owners have; the allergic reaction, an ideal example of the "individualized symptoms" concept of inflammatory stress, "Hives and respiratory issues are at the top of the list for symptoms that inflammatory stress can generate. We now know that allergic reactions can affect almost any tissue in the body and that this is a direct result of an inflammatory stress that has not been controlled within the horses' body."
"Keep in mind that inflammation in and of itself is not all negative," Grogan cautions, "The horses' body uses specific forms of inflammation to destroy viruses, bacteria, and parasites." In addition, certain kinds of inflammation are essential for normal immune function and wound healing.
The presence of toxic minerals automatically increases inflammation and uniquely affects aspects of the body and the metabolism. Aluminum and arsenic are the two most common environmental toxins that have been found in the equines we've analyzed," says Grogan, "Aluminum exposure can occur from airborne aluminum, certain feed processing techniques, and the effect of acid rain on soil that increases aluminum's uptake into pasture." This toxic mineral affects calcium metabolism, bone mineral reserves, and will further imbalance the metabolism in the direction of the dominant imbalances. Grogan explains, "For example, if the basic metabolism is imbalanced on the slow side, aluminum toxicity will slow the metabolism to a greater degree; if the metabolism is imbalanced on the fast side, aluminum will increase the degree of imbalance by increasing the metabolism. The result of this is an automatic increase in inflammatory stress."
The toxic mineral arsenic can also generate major inflammatory stresses. Arsenic can also occur in airborne exposures, usually from pesticide and herbicide residues even if the source of those chemicals is several hundred miles away. Well-water contamination is a very common source of arsenic exposure. In some states, up to 70% of the wells are estimated to be contaminated with arsenic. Arsenic affects the gastrointestinal tract, immune function, hormonal balance, and can mimic or cause gastritis and ulcer symptoms.
The levels of nutrient minerals can also indicate increases in inflammatory stress. Nutrient minerals that are either too high or too low can directly reflect inflammatory trends. Minerals such as selenium, a well-known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, allow the horse's body to effectively control inflammatory stress. "Selenium is often excessively high or low during periods of increasing inflammatory stress," Grogan notes, "It's also interesting that selenium is also involved in allowing the horse's body to detoxify excess arsenic."
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HMA), when properly interpreted by a nutritional consultant, can offer valuable information regarding nutritional and metabolic balances, mineral excesses or deficiencies, and the presence of toxic minerals. "It takes the guesswork out of trying to figure out which imbalances are present, and provides a wealth of information about your individual horse's inflammatory stresses." In addition, HMA can provide insight into which nutritional interventions are the most important to re-establish balance in your horse's metabolism, reduce toxic minerals, ultimately stabilize inflammation, and reduce or eliminate the damaging effects of excessive inflammatory stress."
Jack Grogan, CN, Senior Nutritionist and VP of Research and Development for Uckele Health & Nutrition, has studied extensively in the fields of biology, biochemistry and nutrition, is an expert in tissue mineral balancing, and has experienced great success in balancing equine mineral chemistry to strengthen the basic metabolism and improve efficiency in horses. Jack is a consultant to numerous physicians, veterinarians, chiropractors, trainers, naturopaths and nutritionists. He is a graduate of the University of Toledo with a degree in Public Health.
Uckele Health & Nutrition is a Michigan-based, family owned business that has built a reputation over four decades formulating and manufacturing nutritional products, also providing private labeling and custom manufacturing for many other companies and organizations worldwide. www.Uckele.com
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