Herb of the month: Alfalfa
Did you know that alfalfa was a member of the pea family? It is, truly. This is a wonderful herb and I have decided to make it our herb of the month for July. Not only is this herb used often for feeding, but its also got quite a few health benefits as well. One of the big benefits of alfalfa is its ability to prevent excess cholesterol from absorbing into the body, which as we know is great for cardiovascular health. In people, there have even been some claims that it helps prevent and/or reverse diabetes by increasing arterial blood flow and lowering cholesterol, however it is not supported by scientific claims.
Alfalfa is particularly important in animal feed as it is very rich in fiber, contains numerous types of proteins, fats and essential vitamins and minerals. Everything the body needs can be found in this delicious herb, although at smaller quantities. Even so, this herb is one of the best all around herbs for general nutrition next to Dandelion.
However, due to its high protein and fat content, alfalfa needs to be regulated when it comes to animal feed. Easy keepers are especially at risk when it comes to this herb and it can certainly pack the weight on if not fed properly. In addition to these fats and proteins, alfalfa also contains some of the highest sugar content of any hay type forage and can set up a horse for insulin resistance if only provided a diet of rich alfalfa.
Overall, this is a marvelous plant and extremely healthy. Moderation is the key factor, as it is with any herb, hay, forage, or feed. Adding a handful of alfalfa to your horses diet is a good thing and can help to prevent nutrient deficiencies.
Till next month, enjoy our herb of the month…. Its got a lot to offer.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Sodium balance and the need for loose organic salt
Re-post because I think this is vitally important, especially this time of year
All living things need sodium to survive. It is essential for the body’s extra-cellular fluids and it helps to carry nutrients into the cells. Not only that but sodium helps to regulate other body functions, including blood pressure and fluid volumes.
Sodium is required for proper digestion. Stomach acid is dependent on having the chloride ion present, which is what Sodium is. Salt though, must be in its natural form to be of benefit. Salt that has been bleached (table salt) or made into blocks or has inorganic trace minerals added, it is no longer as good of a benefit. Given the composition of salt, you cannot make it into a block without a binder, and this binder is not something your horse needs in its body.
Not only that, but horses actually have a very hard time getting enough sodium from salt blocks. They were actually made for cattle and their rougher tongues. Due to the smoother nature of the horses tongue, a horse has to lick for a very long time to get enough salt from the lick, usually resulting in the horses tiring from it and giving up or trying to bite it which stressed the TMJ. This does not give the horse the adequate salt intake it needs to regulate its body systems.
Chronic indigestion, intestinal irritation, constipation, ulcers and other stomach disorders as well as joint troubles such as arthritis, rheumatism and osteoporosis are often signs that the bioorganic sodium is deficient in the body. Reserve supplies of sodium are stored in joints, ligaments, and lymph fluid, but chiefly in the walls of the stomach and small bowel. If it weren’t for sodium the stomach walls would be destroyed by acid. If the horse does not get adequate amounts of sodium, there is a chance to overdraw from these stomach reserves, causing the body to shed sodium from the joints and ligaments causing other heath issues.
Salt has many other functions than just regulating the water content in the body.
1. Salt is most effective in stabilizing irregular heartbeats and, Contrary to the misconception that it causes high blood pressure, it is actually essential for the regulation of blood pressure - in conjunction with water. Naturally the proportions are critical.
2. Salt is vital to the extraction of excess acidity from the cells in the body, particularly the brain cells.
3. Salt is vital for balancing the sugar levels in the blood; a needed element in diabetics.
4. Salt is vital for the generation of hydroelectric energy in cells in the body. It is used for local power generation at the sites of energy need by the cells.
5. Salt is vital to the nerve cells' communication and information processing all the time that the brain cells work, from the moment of conception to death.
6. Salt is vital for absorption of food particles through the intestinal tract.
7. Salt is vital for the clearance of the lungs of mucus plugs and sticky phlegm, particularly in asthma and cystic fibrosis.
8. Salt is vital for clearing up catarrh and congestion of the sinuses.
9. Salt is a strong natural antihistamine.
10. Salt is essential for the prevention of muscle cramps.
11. Salt is vital to prevent excess saliva production to the point that it flows out of the mouth during sleep. Needing to constantly mop up excess saliva indicates salt shortage.
12. Salt is absolutely vital to making the structure of bones firm. Osteoporosis, in a major way, is a result of salt and water shortage in the body.
13. Salt is vital for sleep regulation. It is a natural hypnotic.
14. Salt is a vitally needed element in the treatment of diabetics.
15. Salt on the tongue will stop persistent dry coughs.
16. Salt is vital for the prevention of gout and gouty arthritis.
17. Salt is vital for maintaining sexuality and libido.
18. Salt is vital for preventing varicose veins and spider veins on the legs and thighs.
19. Salt is vital to the communication and information processing nerve cells the entire time that the brain cells work - from the moment of conception to death.
20. Sea salt contains about 80 mineral elements that the body needs. Some of these elements are needed in trace amounts. Unrefined sea salt is a better choice of salt than other types of salt on the market. Ordinary table salt that is bought in the super markets has been stripped of its companion elements and contains additive elements such as aluminum silicate to keep it powdery and porous. Aluminum is a very toxic element in our nervous system. It is implicated as one of the primary causes of Alzheimer's disease.
21. Twenty-seven percent of the body's salt is in the bones. Osteoporosis results when the body needs more salt and takes it from the body. Bones are twenty-two percent water. Is it not obvious what happens to the bones when we're deficient in salt or water or both.
- The information on salt intake is taken from Dr. Batmanghelidj's book, "Water: Rx for a Healthier Pain-Free Life
A good, loose, organic natural mineral salt is essential for healthy bodily functions. By adding a small amount daily to your horse’s feed, you are assuring that your horse has the necessary tools to regulate his body systems and remain in a healthy balance.
By feeding it year round, even in the winter, helps to keep your horses drinking therefore reducing the chances of dehydration.
Simply NHN’s 100% natural mineral salts is the perfect complement to your horses’ health. It is full of good heath and nutrition, 100% organic and kosher certified. Not only that, but its affordable as well. So get some today and eliminate the need for salt blocks, which doesn’t benefit your horse much at all. One ½ pound tub will give you a 90 day supply. To order, please click here.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
NEW: Summer Blend
Just in time for Summer: Our NEW Summer Blend
Simply NHN has created yet another wonderful blend for your horse. Not only does it smell heavenly, it's visually appealing and delicious and healthy. The herbs we’ve selected for this blend are special in that, they grow best in the summer time and give a great alternative to other types of treats and its also very nutritious.
The first herb we’ve used is of the mint family, and its not only yummy and very minty in scent, it’s also great for any kind of stomach ailments. It helps to stimulate digestive juices and helps to reduce the incident of colic and gas symptoms. Some ancient herbalist claimed that it was a multiuse herb and could cure everything from stomach maggots to aches and pains. It has vitamin A, C, folate, as well as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium.
The next herb we’ve chosen is an herb we all probably know well for its beauty, but besides that, it also gives great health benefits as well. A variety of ailments were treated with this herb, from muscular spasms, persistent fevers, ulcers, and colitis to name a few. This herb also imparts its wonderful coloring to this blend and makes it visually appealing. The color reminds us of the bright sunshine of summer
This third herb is one of my favorites, because it can do so much. It’s tasty by itself as a tea, and heals internally. It is a great detoxifying agent, and helps “clean” the blood and expel toxins out of the body. It helps to promote sweating in a compromised body and flush the toxins through the urinary tract and therefore out of the body, which allows arthritis and inflammatory conditions to improve. It also helps to heal any pain in the digestive system. This little herb is a great tasting way to keep your horses body healthy.
This last herb is new in our arsenal, but not because its dangerous in anyway. We’ve reserved this herb just for this occasion when we can pair it with a group of herbs that will allow it to have the most benefit. The herb is effective in curing indigestion owing to excessive production of acids in the stomach, heartburn, gastritis, peptic ulcers and hiatus hernia. In addition, it helps in relieving intestinal wind and distension and according to experts; it should be given priority over other medications while treating inflammatory conditions in the stomach or in the bowels. It has mild anti-inflammatory properties, which help in conditions such as muscle and joint pain, and arthritis. “In 1652, naturalist Nicholas Culpepper had written in his much-valued medical text that “it helps in the speedy recovery from cholic (bile acid) disorders and removes the instability and constant change in the stomach’.”
This blend will give your horse the variety its looking for and give you the peace of mind that what you are feeding is not only delicious but healthy, which is what our goal should be when it comes to our horses. Naturally growing herbs and plants from the wild is what the horse was designed to eat, and they would hunt for various flavors and plants in their foraging if they had the ability too, so why not give them the variety they are craving?
Our blends all come in ½ lb and 1 lb options. You may also order custom amounts for a price discount. Try it today and see how much healthier YOUR horse can be. This blend and others can be purchased HERE.
Simply NHN has created yet another wonderful blend for your horse. Not only does it smell heavenly, it's visually appealing and delicious and healthy. The herbs we’ve selected for this blend are special in that, they grow best in the summer time and give a great alternative to other types of treats and its also very nutritious.
The first herb we’ve used is of the mint family, and its not only yummy and very minty in scent, it’s also great for any kind of stomach ailments. It helps to stimulate digestive juices and helps to reduce the incident of colic and gas symptoms. Some ancient herbalist claimed that it was a multiuse herb and could cure everything from stomach maggots to aches and pains. It has vitamin A, C, folate, as well as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium.
The next herb we’ve chosen is an herb we all probably know well for its beauty, but besides that, it also gives great health benefits as well. A variety of ailments were treated with this herb, from muscular spasms, persistent fevers, ulcers, and colitis to name a few. This herb also imparts its wonderful coloring to this blend and makes it visually appealing. The color reminds us of the bright sunshine of summer
This third herb is one of my favorites, because it can do so much. It’s tasty by itself as a tea, and heals internally. It is a great detoxifying agent, and helps “clean” the blood and expel toxins out of the body. It helps to promote sweating in a compromised body and flush the toxins through the urinary tract and therefore out of the body, which allows arthritis and inflammatory conditions to improve. It also helps to heal any pain in the digestive system. This little herb is a great tasting way to keep your horses body healthy.
This last herb is new in our arsenal, but not because its dangerous in anyway. We’ve reserved this herb just for this occasion when we can pair it with a group of herbs that will allow it to have the most benefit. The herb is effective in curing indigestion owing to excessive production of acids in the stomach, heartburn, gastritis, peptic ulcers and hiatus hernia. In addition, it helps in relieving intestinal wind and distension and according to experts; it should be given priority over other medications while treating inflammatory conditions in the stomach or in the bowels. It has mild anti-inflammatory properties, which help in conditions such as muscle and joint pain, and arthritis. “In 1652, naturalist Nicholas Culpepper had written in his much-valued medical text that “it helps in the speedy recovery from cholic (bile acid) disorders and removes the instability and constant change in the stomach’.”
This blend will give your horse the variety its looking for and give you the peace of mind that what you are feeding is not only delicious but healthy, which is what our goal should be when it comes to our horses. Naturally growing herbs and plants from the wild is what the horse was designed to eat, and they would hunt for various flavors and plants in their foraging if they had the ability too, so why not give them the variety they are craving?
Our blends all come in ½ lb and 1 lb options. You may also order custom amounts for a price discount. Try it today and see how much healthier YOUR horse can be. This blend and others can be purchased HERE.
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