Recently, i was invited to an evening lecture on Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS). This is the condition that ppredisposes some ponies to laminitis, and is thought to be the result of downright obesity in our well cared for stock. In their respective species, humans and horses may have the size of their abdominal girths as common predictors of metabolic syndrome. Increased morbidity and premature mortality are associated with the condition, and certain people (probably some types of equine, too) seem to have a genetically inherited predisposition to metablolic syndrome, possibly as many as 10% of us. These folkd ona chronically high proportion of dietary proteins get into avicious circle of resistance to their own body's insulin (Type 2 diabetes), an increase in abdominal and liver fat deposits and develop high blood pressure. They can end up on pills for every feature.
Good hay may have 9-10% protein in its composition, but haylage may contain over 40%. In my opinion humans feed themselves and their horses too much protein. Indeed, our diets should be more balanced with carbohydrates and unsaturated fats. I wonder if Tony Bevington could give us more insight into the culinary use fo starchy foods in the Far East? We smallholders may need to look at our own diets, and could this be a topic for a winter discussion, perhaps?
Dr John
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