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ARE LIQUID SUPPLEMENTS EVERYTHING YOU EXPECT??
IS THERE SOMETHING IN THE “WATER”
Are Liquid Supplements Everything You Expect?
With the consistent growth and expansion of the equine supplement industry, products are now available in almost every physical form known to man. Powders, liquids, gels, pastes, tablets, etc. Each of these has legitimate pros and cons that present much confusion for the consumer.
In this article we’ll cover the pros & cons of Liquid Supplements.
Liquid supplements. Customers often seek out liquid supplements based on their belief that liquid supplements absorb faster and are therefore better than other forms. They might, but, again, this difference is not great enough to amount to a noticeable or significant nutritional difference, so that’s not really a great reason to go liquid. And as we’ve said, when it comes to essential nutrients, slower absorption may be better. Liquids do offer a lot of flexibility with dosing and are very easy for most people to take.
Draw backs? They are always more expensive on a dollars-per-nutrient basis and their shelf life is shorter than with other formats. They are heavier to transport. They often require refrigeration. Depending on the how it’s made, liquid supplements often have problems with ingredients settling to the bottom between uses. Even when the bottle is shaken before each use, dispersion of ingredients is imprecise and less consistent than with powdered products.
Another problem with liquid vitamin supplements is that the stability of many vitamins and minerals is questionable when they are dissolved in water. When vitamin levels aren’t stable, the effects of the supplement aren’t reliable. The biggest disadvantage is that many antioxidant vitamins, especially vitamin C, begin to lose their antioxidant potency as soon as they are exposed to air. Fat-soluble vitamins – vitamins A, D, E, K which dissolve in fatty substances – cannot be properly dissolved in liquid vitamin supplements, which are water based. This is one of reasons you have to shake them well before use.
The value of some liquid supplements begins to degrade upon opening the bottle, sooner if they aren’t properly manufactured, and very quickly if you don’t close the container tightly after every use, and in many cases, refrigerate. Always check usage guidelines and shelf life advice, making sure the supplement will work in your environment.
It’s fair to expect that the additives you don’t want in solid supplements not be used in your liquid supplements. Check the label for artificial additives, casein, gluten, soy, and sugar. ‘Natural’ additives are just fillers as well, taking up space and reducing KEY ingredients that you are looking and paying for.
Another valid question is; do your liquid supplements contain chemical preservatives to help stabilize the formula? Unfortunately, this is probably the biggest draw back for liquid formats. Any time moisture is present many key ingredients ‘go to work’ and/or also begin to degrade. The preservatives are necessary to maintain the integrity of the formula.
Propylene Glycol is a chemical used to stabilize liquid health supplements. You may have also seen it listed on soaps, shampoos, body lotions, deodorants, baby wipes, cosmetics, pet foods and yes, It’s also used in antifreeze. This ingredient is used as a humescent in these products, keeping them moist. Too much propylene glycol can cause skin irritation, eye irritation, seizures and fatal arrhythmias of the heart. Search ‘Propylene Glycol’ to find numerous references to both the pros & cons.
Why would propylene glycol be an issue if it’s a substance approved by the FDA & WHO? Can’t the supplement manufacturers simply measure a harmless amount? Yes they can and DO, quite often. This chemical is commonly used in many household items.
Sodium Benzoate is a widespread food preservative that is found in a number of food products. It is basically a type of salt that is, mostly, chemically prepared to preserve a variety of food products.
Because the conversion of sodium benzoate to benzene occurs in the presence of vitamin C, this unhealthy preservative may be particularly unsafe when used in fruit products and fruit juices where high vitamin C fruits are present. It’s also thought that heat plays a role in the conversion to benzene, so heating products containing this preservative could increase the risk of negative health effects.
Unfortunately, many of the preservatives used in common food products have raised health concerns although sodium benzoate appears to be under the most scrutiny right now. To reduce risk of exposure, read nutrition labels closely and avoid products that contain sodium benzoate, which can also be listed on the label as E211. Be particularly careful to avoid buying products high in vitamin C that have this unhealthy preservative and never put any product containing sodium benzoate under heat.
Xanthan Gum is a polysaccharide used as a food additive, commonly used as a food thickening agent (in salad dressings, for example) and a stabilizer (in cosmetic products, for example, to prevent ingredients from separating). One of the most remarkable properties of xanthan gum is its ability to produce a large increase in the viscosity of a liquid by adding a very small quantity of gum, on the order of one percent.
The most common side effects of xanthan gum are gas and bloating abdominal pain may be occur from gas buildup in the intestines. A clinical study on the effects of xanthan gum on dogs was completed by the World Health Organization. In this study, dogs were fed large amounts of pure xanthan gum and experienced weight loss and chronic diarrhea.
Water is common “filler” for liquid supplements. There is no arguing the importance of water but do we really need to pay in some cases $50+ for a gallon of something that is filled with more that 50% water.
One final point about absorption; faster isn’t necessarily better. Many people spend the extra money for liquid supplements based on a belief that they will absorb faster than capsules or tablets. They might, but the time difference between complete absorption of liquids versus other forms, 20-30 minutes, does not amount to a noticeable advantage or a nutritional advantage with most supplements. In fact, where higher potencies are concerned, slower absorption may be preferable to fast, sudden absorption. This is because there are limits to how fast and how much of a given nutrient can be absorbed per unit of time. When you overwhelm these absorption pathways, you do waste nutrients. Slower is better when it comes to essential nutrients.
Artificial Colors & Flavors speak for themselves, we don’t need them, why would we want them in our supplements? Liquid products must have an appealing presence and good flavor to the consumer. Without colors and/or flavors they would look very drab and taste very bland, bitter or unpalatable all together. Many times they are packaged in clear containers so, again, artificial color does the trick in creating the appeal the consumer is looking for. And, in most cases the consumer is unaware, they have no idea these ingredients are included in their ‘health’ supplement.
Colostrum Helping Horses in Need
While attending the 2011 NCHA Western Nationals in Ogden Utah, Cutting horse trainer Eric Wisehart had the scare of his life when his horses were infected with the EHV-1.
After the competition arriving back to his Summer training facility in Colorado, Eric had three horses with above normal temps, and one horse that tested positive for the neuro strain of EHV-1.
While all horses were receiving round the clock care by Eric and local veterinarians the positive horse was off their feed and showing severe neurological signs. Eric began feeding the horses Smooth Colostrum along with their recommended medications. The 3 horses that had high temps did not suffer neurological symptoms and the horse that was showing neurological symptoms began to get her appetite and strength back after seven difficult days of uncertainty.
Eric feels the colostrum helped the mare survive and recover faster. He is also certain that immune systems of the other horses in his barn were supported by the colostrum enabling them to stay strong preventing further infection. Eric Wisehart states “I try to have Smooth Colostrum in my barn at all times to help prevent health incidences and boost immune systems in times of need”
Special Needs of Mares
Owning a mare can be one of the most rewarding and frustrating experiences at the same time. Few of us that own mares are not aware of how their disposition and hormone balance are closely linked. It is also reasonably well known that horses with digestive problems can also suffer changes in temperament. So, is there a link between these two conditions? Can hormone changes affect your mare’s digestive tract?
When a mare comes into season she releases various hormones (oestrogens) into the bloodstream to regulate egg development and release, and to prepare the uterus for pregnancy. During this period the mare’s behavior can change. She may become irritable or sluggish and easily tired; her appetite may become erratic and she can become extremely sensitive to touch. She may also exhibit cramping, and restricted movement during work. Many of these behavioral changes are also clearly seen when digestive balance is upset.
Changes in the acid balance of the gut can be caused by many factors, including hormone changes and imbalances. There are direct links between blood supply (which carries the hormones released by a mare in season) and digestion, with one of the key digestive juices, bile, carrying waste materials from the blood, plus the products of cholesterol metabolism.
Healthy digestion requires a fine balance of the bacterial population in the intestine, which is crucial to the successful breakdown and absorption of food constituents. If this balance is upset, through changes in pH or diet, the bacterial population suffers resulting in indigestion. Symptoms of this poor digestion range from diarrhea or looseness in severe instances to milder stress related behavior, such as discomfort, inconsistency and irritability. All these symptoms can be reversed by rebalancing the microbial population with a high quality probiotic / digestive enzyme blend and healing herbs to balance the hormones.
Smooth Run Equine’s Smooth Mare contains that high quality probiotic and digestive enzyme blend, along with a synergistic blend of herbs and other critical ingredients specifically addressing hormone imbalances. We also add pure bovine colostrum that directly support the immune system. The formula helps maintain hormone balance and the digestive bacteria population naturally, re-establishing the correct acidity and digestive health. Tests in many varied conditions show how establishing the optimum bacterial balance in the gut can have a significant impact on supporting proper gastrointestinal function.
Perhaps then, ‘Moody Mare’ syndrome can in fact be linked to indigestion. Next time your mare is in season consider whether the hormone release is ultimately upsetting the digestive balance and creating associated behavioral problems. Simply added to the daily feed program for maintenance or administered before and/or during the heat cycle Smooth Mare will ensure the beneficial bacteria population in the gut is at optimum levels, helping to minimize the effects of any changes in blood chemistry from hormone changes.
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Probiotics for Horses: Ideal for Horse Digestion
Almost every article you read about probiotics will tell you that the word itself literally means “for life”. Probiotics are the live beneficial bacterial organisms that contribute to the health and balance of the intestinal tract and because of this, have become an increasingly popular ingredient in horse supplements. The use of probiotics dates back thousands of years. In fact, many people today rely on yogurt with active cultures as their source of probiotics. But what does that mean for the horse owner?
Horses are by definition a repository of good and bad bacteria. Managing the delicate harmony between the two is the key to maintaining good digestive health. The equine athlete, pony, miniature, trail horse or breeding stock all have nutritional requirements that evolved from centuries of grazing in lush pastures. With domestication, most horses now face a diet of processed food, stored hays and grasses provided on intermittent feed schedules. There are few grazing opportunities, especially in winter months. Performance horses are often kept in small stalls year round and rarely turned out. Add to this the use of worming products, rounds of antibiotics or other medications, regular vaccinations and the stress of training you can begin to see that the probability of naturally cultivating an ample source of friendly intestinal flora found in probiotics is unlikely.
The fragile composure of bacteria in the gut is also easily disturbed by changes in weather, stall confinement, altering the diet, and stress. The rigors of competition can cause drastic shifts in the micro flora brought about by the strain of transportation, intense workouts, dehydration and nervousness.
Feeding probiotics help support health by utilizing good bacteria to edge out the effects of the bad bacteria. This balancing act is necessary to maintain maximum digestive efficiency. Providing a consistent level of friendly bacteria in the digestive tract has been proven to help support gastrointestinal health, support the immune system and effectively allow maximum absorption of all other ingredients and nutrients.
When considering the beneficial health effects of probiotics, it’s also important to contemplate the journey through the digestive system that the product must survive in order to be advantageous. The process of digestion begins by grinding the food and mixing it with saliva. It then passes through the esophagus, into the acidic environment of the stomach and finally its destination within the gut. Smooth Run Equine’s probiotics are microencapsulated which allows them to survive oral ingestion, the journey through the stomach and finally reach the intestinal tract where it’s potential can be realized.
Daily use of Smooth Run Equine’s proprietary blend of microencapsulated probiotics, digestive enzymes and colostrum promotes efficient feed utilization and aids digestion while supporting general health, temperament and performance. Our philosophy is simple: What really matters when supplementing your horse is how well he utilizes the ingredients and nutrients you provide.
Smooth Run Equine - Premium Equine Supplements 