Antioxidants
Antioxidants for horses control oxidative stress which results in an imbalance between pro-oxidants and antioxidant mechanisms. Imbalance results in excessive oxidative metabolism which upsets the delicate balance which promotes horse health.
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Oxidative stress can be due to many environmental factors such as exposure to pollutants, poor diet, toxins, etc. and leads to the formation of free radicals.
Normally free radical formation is controlled naturally by various beneficial compounds known as antioxidants. These antioxidants must be sufficient to support health and functional balance. In a state where antioxidants are in abundant supply then they will stabilise and deactivate free radicals.
Forageplus supplies a range of horse antioxidant supplements, there are several nutrients in horse food that contain antioxidants. Vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta carotene are among the most commonly studied dietary antioxidants which protect and support a healthy antioxidant state in the body.
Other key horse antioxidant nutrients are copper, zinc, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids. These are indispensable building blocks for the body’s own antioxidant defences such as glutathione, EPA, DHA and superoxide dismutase enzymes.
Where horses are exposed to environmental challenges and are dependent upon the grass, hay or haylage which may be low or unbalanced in certain key nutrients then matching to the profile of this forage is key. By supplementing only what is low and correcting ratios then equine antioxidant nutrients can be added to the daily diet to support skin, lungs, the immune system and other crucial cellular functions.
Research has suggested that an inadequate dietary intake of trace minerals may also lead to low antioxidant activity. So which is the best horse antioxidant?
Many plant-derived substances are known as “phytonutrients,” or “phytochemicals”. These also possess antioxidant properties. Phenolic compounds such as flavonoids are chemicals. These can be supplemented to boost resilience and support the best horse health.