Immunity and Blood Information

The immune system describes those systems throughout the body that protect us from attack whether that be from a virus, bacteria or any other foreign entity entering the body.

One of the most influential groups of nutrients to provide nutritional support for the immune system are antioxidants. These naturally mop up potentially harmful excess 'free radical' toxins and flush them out of the system. The body naturally produces free radicals through normal every day activity. They also enter the system via feedstuffs, water supplies, drugs and medicines, and from the environment through air borne pollutants. Day to day the body itself is able to control normal free radical levels, but when the system becomes stressed, a potentially damaging build up occurs. This is when the support from supplemented antioxidants can become so valuable.

While useful for general health, antioxidants come into their own when fed in a concentrated targeted formula to support a specific area of health, for example, seasonal skin conditions. NAF have had great results utilising antioxidants to support the body by helping to address the condition from the root of the free radical build up. Take a look at D-Itch and Mud Gard.

Certain herbs are also widely used to support the immune system, in particular Echinacea - one of the best known and most widely researched herbs in the world. Echinacea has the ability to support phagocytosis, that is, the action of the immune system in breaking down toxins and waste material. It also maintains stem cell production, actively contributing to the building of constituent cells of the immune system. Research now shows that echinacea also acts outside the immune system and supports healthy blood profiles. The different species of echinacea each offer a unique chemical make up. It is, therefore, important that offer full support to the immune system an echinacea based product must contain a combination of different species, such as is found in NAF Echinacea Liquid.

Probably the best known and most widely used natural supplement for both horses and all other animals, including man, is garlic. Garlic's alternative name of Poor Man's Treacle is derived from the ancient English word theriac meaning 'heal-all'. Garlic's natural properties have been shown to include antiseptic, antimicrobial, antiviral and antibiotic. Garlic's key chemical component allicin, an important source of natural sulphur, is thought to be responsible for most of these properties. While the presence of volatile oils, selenium and the vitamins A and C all combine to make garlic a powerful antioxidant.

B for Blood...

The water soluble B vitamin complexes are usually adequately provided by the diet. However, physiological demands, such as physical work, can alter both the requirement and the uptake. In addition certain horses may experience poor absorption leaving them deficient, as seen in blood profiles. The B vitamins are important for haemoglobin formation, required in performance horses for it's role in the transportation of oxygen to muscles. Exertion reduces both synthesis and utilization of B vitamins and hence supplementation is recommended.

Specific minerals are also linked to performance and therefore must be available to the sports horse. For example, Iron, can be depleted through sweat losses. Copper is indicated for maximum iron absorption and Cobalt for ul1milation of Vitamin 812.' Further to it's role in the immune system research now shows that echinacea can also support healthy blood profiles by increasing size and concentration of red blood cells, and concentration of haemoglobin and pack cell volume (O'Neill et al. 2002, Eq Vet In 34(3)).

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