- Does my horse need SOURCE?
- What are the results of Optimal Care?
- How soon do I see results?
- What should SOURCE be called?
- How Do I use SOURCE?
- May I Feed Free Choice?
- May I Feed SOURCE to Other Animals?
- May I Feed SOURCE to my Foal?
- GMO's in SOURCE?
- Concerned about Radiation?
- What Analyses are done on SOURCE?
- Why Whole Flax Seed in FOCUS SR?
- What are the Corn Distillers in FOCUS?
- May I Feed SOURCE to my Insulin Resistant Horse?
- News on seaweeds in SOURCE & Micro-max regarding Type 2 Diabetes and IR Horses
- Does SOURCE contain Arsenic?
- How much Biotin is in SOURCE products?
- Does SOURCE contain Calcium & Phosphorous?
- Do SOURCE & Micro-Max contain Iodine & how much?
- Do our products contain Iron?
- Does Micro-Max contain Vitamin K?
- How much Potassium (K) is in your FOCUS products?
- How much Potassium (K) is in your SOURCE products?
- Does SOURCE contain Selenium?
- Do SOURCE products contain Sulfur?
- Does my horse need SOURCE? "Does my horse need SOURCE?"... the answer is YES.
You want every horse in your care to be all that he can be... that's why you're reading about SOURCE. You may have specific problems... or maybe your horses just look good when they could look superb.
Whatever the reason, if you think there is something missing from your horse's diet - you're probably right.
Micronutrient deficiencies in agricultural soils have been reported throughout the country. The intensive farming practices used to produce today's feeds are just one of the factors which contribute to this ever-increasing deficiency problem. Since deficiencies in the soils are inevitably reflected in the feed crops grown on these soils, most, if not all, horses have diets that may be lacking in a variety of micronutrients.
By definition, micronutrients include not only vitamins and minerals, but also as yet unidentified substances present in minute amounts, but essential for normal growth and development.
Micronutrients are essential for your horse to fully utilize his feeds and, consequently, to achieve his full physical potential. So, even if you provide the highest quality hays and grains and follow an effective parasite program - even if you use other supplements - many of your expensive good intentions may not be fully utilized and therefore end up on the manure pile.
Since 1975, an ever increasing number of horsemen have found that the micronutrients provided by SOURCE have made a difference between a "problem" and "no problem", between just "good" and "superb".
So if you ask, "Does my horse need SOURCE?"... the answer is YES.
- What are the results of Optimal Care? A horse who is in good health
(no underlying disease),
... who is given a good caretaking program
(e.g. effective parasite control)
... and a complete nutritional program
(with no limiting micronutrient deficiencies),
shows that...
WEIGHT and DISTRIBUTION: Good weight is maintained even under the stresses of competition, shipping and breeding. You have no "hard keepers" or "hay bellies".
COAT: Hair texture is soft and glistens with intense color and sheen. Winter coats shine to the skin and shed out quickly. Skin elasticity and texture are good.
DISPOSITION: Attitudes are cooperative and positive, -- ready and able to work with you. Appetites are good. You will observe a minimum of stable vices.
HOOF CONDITION: Hoof growth is rapid with resilient texture.
FEED UTILIZATION: A horse with underlying health, caretaking, or nutritional problems may not be able to fully extract the nourishment provided in his feeding program. When these underlying problems are corrected, and he can utilize his feeds, he actually needs less than before. So one of the most significant benefits of optimal care is reduced year end feed bill!
BREEDING: Conception rates are high, foals reach maturity, and good condition is maintained year round by stallions and broodmares despite breeding stress.
PERFORMANCE: Given the right training, whether for competition, show, or pleasure, you will have a horse that can reach his full potential.
Let SOURCE help your horse be all that he can be!
Photos this page courtesy of SOURCE.
This mare is shown with her 8th foal in a row- just pasture, good hay, and SOURCE and look at that bloom!
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- How soon do I see results? Be patient! The problems developed over a period of time, so visible benefits of improved nutrition are rarely an overnight miracle, and individuals using SOURCE respond differently. Generally, your first indication may be a reduction in undigested matter in the manure. This is usually observed within a few days or weeks.
In contrast, in takes nearly a year to grow out an entirely new hoof. Most farriers, however, will begin to observe the changes in texture at the second or third trimming.
Overall feed intake should be reduced based on the response of the individual animal.
- What should SOURCE be called? SOURCE should not be called just a "hoof product", a "weight product", a "coat product", and "energy product", or a "breeding product"...
SOURCE is a micronutrient supplement.
SOURCE provides broad spectrum micronutrients which are involved in virtually all the physiological processes. In other words, they represent all important "links in the chain" of overall nutrition. This is why SOURCE users have reported such a wide range of benefits of improved nutritional status.
- How Do I use SOURCE? SOURCE comes in a convenient dry meal form. Simply mix the recommended amount into one of the daily feedings. (Complete feeding directions accompany the product.)
SOURCE is ECONOMICAL TO USE. Your horse, your dog - even you - can benefit from SOURCE for only pennies a day!
- May I Feed Free Choice? We do NOT believe that it is safe to feed kelp or other seaweeds "free choice".
- There are horses who love the taste and will easily exceed safe levels of iodine.
- There are horses (very few!) who don't like the taste and will not consume a helpful daily amount.
- Seaweeds are normally dehydrated and hydroscopic. If left out, they will absorb moisture and over time develop mold. Some of these molds could be unsafe.
Excess dietary iodine levels from kelp have been shown to cause death and deformity.
It is essential that the overall iodine intake for equines be monitored and regulated, especially for pregnant mares. "The analysis below shows the amazing amount of trace minerals present in seaweed, all in organic form and in balance –thus ensuring that no toxicity can occur." (emphasis mine).
Different species of seaweeds vary dramatically in their analytical profile.
The author presents an analysis of one seaweed (Fucaceae Ascophyllum Nodosum) in Table 2 on pg. 65. (This information originally developed by the Norwegian Institute of Seaweed Research and published in 1968 by W. A. Stephenson in his book "Seaweed in Agriculture & Horticulture")
The iodine content of this species is given as: 0.0624%.
The iodine content of another species (see below) is: 0.25% a four fold difference!
Chemical composition of the Australian bull kelp, Durvillea potatorum
JC Madgwick and BJ Ralph Abstract: Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 23(1) 11 - 16
The chemical composition of the Australian bull kelp, Durvillea potatorum, was determined. As a percentage of the whole stipe dry weight, components were: Crude fibre, 57.40 %; alginic acid, 35.15 % ; "cellulosic" polysaccharide, 22.61 % ; laminarin, 1.79 %; mannitol, 3.20%; nitrogen, 1.21 %; ash, 28.09 %; insoluble ash, 8.81 %; Ca2+, 1.47%; Mg2+, 0.44%; Na+, 1.45%; K+, 3.36%; PO42-, 5.15%; Cl-, 5.87%; SO4-, 3.49 %; I-, 0.25%; and chlorophyll, 0.01 %.
Note: a mere one ounce per day of this kelp at this level could be toxic for some broodmares and their foals.
"Now I advocate that all horses should have it ad lib, to take as much or as little as they need – they know a lot better than we do what they need."
The amount of seaweed that a horse will consume "ad lib" is highly dependent on individual taste preferences.
We have known of instances where a horse, who happens to love seaweed, will consume as much as 20 lbs. at one time, if allowed. (Not good!)
"Containers on the side of the stable should be built to contain seaweed in one half, …"
Dehydrated seaweed meals are hygroscopic, and will readily absorb ambient moisture (humidity) to a level such that mold growth is sustained. Not all molds are beneficial!
We are very concerned that a horse owner following the advice to feed kelp (or any other seaweed) may hurt their horse. Please don't!
- May I Feed SOURCE to Other Animals? Yes, you may feed SOURCE Original powder to other animals! SOURCE®, the unique blend of concentrated broad-spectrum micronutrients, was originally developed and formulated specifically for equine use.
- birds & poultry: 1% of total ration
- dogs: 1/4 tsp. per 25 lbs. body weight
- cats: 1/8 - 1/4 teaspoons*
- cows: 1-3 tablespoons
- sheep and goats: 1-2 teaspoons
- pigs: 1/2 oz per 600lbs
Since its introduction in 1975, it has been used on virtually every kind of animal ("from Anteaters to Zebras"), with excellent results. Obviously, horses are not the only animals to suffer the consequences of micronutrient deficiencies. Users consistently report the same kinds of benefits from SOURCE with other animals, including dogs, cats, cows (dairy and beef), goats, sheep, llamas, cats and birds.
The usual amounts fed daily are:
- May I Feed SOURCE to my Foal? Ideally you should feed SOURCE from the time of conception! The foal will benefit from SOURCE through the mare, and once it has foaled through lactation.
For young foals as they begin to feed, supplementing the mare's milk, start by adding a pinch of SOURCE and gradually increase it as the increase feed intake.
Once the foal is completely weaned we recommend feeding weanlings and yearlings the same amount they will get when mature (based on their estimated mature body weight) due to the nutritional demands of growth.
- Does SOURCE contain any GMO Ingredients? (Genetically Modified Organisms)
There are no (and never will be) GMO ingredients in Original SOURCE or our human product Micro-Max.
Our FOCUS and SOURCE Plus products however, do contain additional ingredients to provide specialized support for your animal's unique needs. We wish we could assure you that all our ingredients were non GMO, but we cannot.
The latest surveys indicate that 94% of the soybeans and 88% of the field corn grown in this country are now GMO, and over 90% of the products in our grocery stores that use these ingredients contain GMO ingredients. Unfortunately it is the sign of the times we live in.
How common are GMOs?
In the U.S., GMOs are in as much as 80% of conventional processed food (If you include all products in our grocery stores, it's greater than 90%). Follow this link for the current list of GMO risk crops.
We appreciate your concerns and thank you for using SOURCE products!
Currently (04/03/2013) there are 37 states now working on mandatory GMO labeling initiatives for 2013-2014, according to information from the NON GMO Project.This battle will probably continue for years and ultimately, measure(s) will hopefully pass, given that many other countries around the world, notably in the EU and Asia, already regulate the labeling of GMOs in varying degrees.
SOURCE wholeheartedly supports these initiatives and encourages our customers to support this issue in their local states.
- Concerned about Radiation? The sad and disturbing aftermath of the tragedies in Chernobyl and then Japan have left many of us concerned about the consequences of continued, low level radioactive fallout.
The news has been filled with stories of shortages of the chemical compound Potassium iodide. Governments distribute this chemical to populations exposed to significant radioactive exposure. The theory is that if you flood the body with non-radioactive iodine immediately after the exposure, the thyroid will not uptake the radioactive iodine which can lead to thyroid cancer.
Note: this only protects the thyroid. Potassium iodide is a potent chemical with serious potential side effects.
What's the good news?
The seaweeds used in all of our SOURCE products are harvested from ocean waters in the North Atlantic. They provide a rich, natural source of iodine at safe levels.
...and more good news?
These seaweed micronutrients are far more valuable than just for the organic iodine content!
Research originally conducted by a team of scientists at McGill University, led by Dr. Y. Tanaka, established that unique seaweed compounds bind with certain toxic materials in the intestines so they are excreted harmlessly! These include the heavy metals barium, cadmium, lead, mercury and arsenic, as well as radioactive strontium-90 and radioactive cesium!
- What kind of analyses do you do to ensure the safety of your seaweed micronutrient ingredients? Every component undergoes extensive independent laboratory testing to ensure the dependable quality of SOURCE that our customers have come to rely on since 1975. These tests include:
Pesticide, Herbicide Residue and Heavy Metal Analyses: Used to ensure that our various harvest locations as well as the final ingredients remain uncontaminated.
Microbiological Analysis: Used to ensure the quality control of our processing techniques. All components are tested for yeasts, molds, salmonella, and staphylococcus aureus. We meet the most rigorous standards applied to human food by a significant margin.
SOURCE has complete quality control from harvesting to packaging. MICRO MAX and SOURCE are exactly the same ingredients as SOURCE is human grade. Our MICRO MAX ingredient is encapsulated at an FDA certified facility.
Thank you for your concerns, and for using SOURCE products!
- Why do we use whole flax seed vs. ground flax seed in FOCUS SR? When we first developed FOCUS SR, we tried to use ground flax. We quickly determined that it was not stable enough to withstand the rigors of distribution all across the US. At first, it seemed that the only alternative was to use one of the heavily processed flax meals or one with preservatives.
Clearly, Mother Nature does a superb job of protecting the nutritional goodness within the seed hull, but as soon as it is cracked open in the air, it begins to degrade. We had also read that "whole flax" was indigestible. This may be true for people, but it turns out not to be so for horses!
We ran an informal digestibility trial at the Kentucky Equine Research facility. At first, most of the seeds came though whole. However, to our surprise and delight, we found that within a few days, the microflora in the hindgut adjusted, and in less than a week virtually all the seeds were digested.
We made the easy decision then to provide the flax whole, best protected by the seed hull until it's eaten. You can see for yourself. After a week, you'll have a very hard time finding an undigested seed!
We think that FOCUS SR is perfect for your old friend! ...and so we've been told over and over again by the people who have horses who benefit from it so much. It just may be our favorite product!
- What are the Corn Distillers used in our FOCUS products? Corn Distillers Dried Solubles [Solulac®]: used in FOCUS HF, SR, WT:
This ingredient is a product of the brewing industry and is obtained after the distillation and removal of ethyl alcohol from yeast-fermented corn. The solubles are cleaned and dried before inclusion in foods. Corn distillers dried solubles are an excellent source of naturally occurring vitamins of the B-complex and other unidentified growth factors and also appear to facilitate cellulose digestion.
They contain a better balance of amino acids than other distillers products; and are the most desirable of the distillers by-products.
In the conventional production of alcohol from grain for fuel, byproducts are produced with excellent feeding value. Appropriate use of these byproducts aids the efficient production of animals. In the fermentation of corn to produce alcohol, the starch in the corn is converted to alcohol and carbon dioxide. The nutrients in the corn other than starch are concentrated about three times because corn is about two-thirds starch. Even though starch is high in energy, the one-third of the corn remaining in the byproduct after fermentation contains as much energy per pound as did the corn from which it was produced. Two-thirds of the total weight of the corn is lost but the concentration of energy in corn and distillers byproducts is similar. This energy is mainly in the form of protein, fiber and fat.
Two byproducts are produced: distiller’s grains and thin spillage. Characteristics of the nutrients in the two byproducts are quite different and often confuse the discussion of distiller’s byproducts. After fermentation of the corn by yeast to produce alcohol and then distillation to recover the alcohol, the remaining material is called whole spillage. In most cases, whole spillage, which is usually 90 percent water, is screened or centrifuged to produce distillers grains and thin stillage. The distillers grains contain primarily unfermented corn residues (protein, fiber, fat). The thin stillage contains yeast cells, soluble nutrients and very small corn particles. Thin stillage is often called distillers solubles. However, this is a misnomer, because much of the material is not really soluble, but is instead a suspension of fine particles.
Compared to screening, centrifuging tends to put more of the fine particles in the distillers grains fraction and less in the thin stillage. Fineness of grind of the corn feedstock also affects these relative proportions. On the average, one-third of the byproduct is thin stillage and two-thirds distillers grains, but this ratio can vary depending upon processing equipment and conditions. Typical analyses of distillers grains and thin stillage are shown in table below.
In most large distilleries, the distillers grains are dried (DDG) and the thin stillage is concentrated to a molasses-like consistency. The thin stillage may be marketed as such, or may be dried on the DDG to produce distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS).
Nutrient Composition (by Percentages):
Protein 27-29.8
Fiber 4.0-4.2
Fat 9
Calcium 0.30
Phosphorus 1.40
Lysine, % of protein 4.2 (0.77 of total)
GPC's SOLULAC®: Once starch has been separated from corn in the wet milling/distilling process, the remaining fiber and protein is used in livestock and pet feed. GPC's SOLULAC®, derived from the fibrous material, enhances rations in dairy, beef, swine, and poultry feed. The protein, composed of 60% corn gluten meal, is an easily digestible component of many pet foods.
- May I Feed SOURCE to my Insulin Resistant Horse? We do recommend our products for your insulin resistant horse. SOURCE products do not contain any molasses or the other rapidly metabolized carbohydrates that you are concerned about. We have received wonderful reports from horsemen that are challenged with horses who are dealing with various equine metabolic disorders.
Insulin resistance in horses has either been steadily increasing or increasingly observed (or both). We have observed an absence of the development of IR in the horses of our customers who have given them the SOURCE micronutrients for many years. We do not believe this is a coincidence, and recent research is suggesting the mechanism.
Here are two scientific journal articles:
J Food Sci. 2010 Apr;75(3):H97-102.
In vitro potential of Ascophyllum nodosum phenolic antioxidant-mediated alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase inhibition.
Apostolidis E, Lee CM
Dept. of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Food Science & Nutrition Research Center, Univ. of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA.
Abstract
Ascophyllum nodosum is a brown seaweed that grows abundantly in the Northeast coastal region. In this study, the potential of A. nodosum for type 2 diabetes management through antioxidant-mediated alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase inhibition was investigated. After the initial screening of 4 locally harvested seaweeds, A. nodosum was chosen for its highest phenolic content and was subjected to water extraction. Among extraction ratios of 50 g to 100 to 1000 mL at room temperature, 50 g/400 mL yielded the highest phenolic content of 4.5 mg/g wet weight. For evaluation of extraction temperature ranging from 20 to 80 degrees C, 50 g/400 mL was chosen as a minimum amount of extractant. Among temperatures studied, extraction at 80 degrees C resulted in the highest total phenolic contents (4.2 mg/g wet weight). All extracts had similar levels of antioxidant activity in the range of 60% to 70% in terms of 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity. The 80 degrees C extract had the highest alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase inhibitory activity with IC(50) of 0.24 and 1.34 microg phenolics, respectively, compared to the IC(50) of acarbose, reference inhibitor, being 0.37 and 0.68 microg. The results show that fresh A. nodosum has strong alpha-glucosidase and mild alpha-amylase inhibitory activities that correlated with phenolic contents. This study suggests a nutraceutical potential of A. nodosum based on phytochemical antioxidant and antihyperglycemia activities.
PMID: 20492300 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2011 Nov 16.
A randomized crossover placebo-controlled trial investigating the effect of brown seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus) on postchallenge plasma glucose and insulin levels in men and women.
Paradis ME, Couture P, Lamarche B.
Institute of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, Laval University, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.
Abstract
This study examined the impact of brown seaweed on post-load plasma glucose and insulin concentrations in men and women. Twenty-three participants (11 men, 12 women) aged 19-59 years were recruited in this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study. The test product consisted of a commercially available blend of brown seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus) with known inhibitory action on α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities (InSea(2)). Two 250 mg seaweed capsules and 2 placebo capsules were consumed on each occasion 30 min prior to the consumption of 50 g of carbohydrates from bread. Plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were measured over a period of 3 h postcarbohydrate ingestion at predetermined time points. Both treatments were separated by a 1-week washout period. Data were analysed using mixed models for repeated measures. Compared with placebo, consumption of seaweed was associated with a 12.1% reduction in the insulin incremental area under the curve (p = 0.04, adjusted for baseline) and a 7.9% increase in the Cederholm index of insulin sensitivity (p < 0.05). The single ingestion of 500 mg of brown seaweed had no significant effect on the glucose response (p = 0.24, adjusted for baseline). Glucose and insulin responses were similar between men and women. Consumption of the seaweed capsules was not associated with any adverse event. These data suggest that brown seaweed may alter the insulin homeostasis in response to carbohydrate ingestion. PMID: 22087795 [PubMed]
- News on seaweeds in SOURCE & Micro-max regarding Type 2 Diabetes and IR Horses In recent years, the incidence of type 2 diabetes (in people) and insulin resistance in horses has either been steadily increasing or increasingly observed (or both).
We have observed an absence of the development of IR in the horses of our customers who have given them the SOURCE micronutrients for many years. We do not believe this is a coincidence, and recent research is suggesting the mechanism.
- Does SOURCE contain Arsenic? Yes, SOURCE contains very low levels of natural organic arsenic, not the toxic inorganic form.
The total level of arsenic in SOURCE is less than one half of one part per million (0.5 mg/kg). A one half ounce serving of SOURCE would contain 0.006 mg. of arsenic (six one thousandths of one milligram). The NRC "Mineral Tolerance of Domestic Animals" reports that horses were fed 1,200 to 1,800 mg. arsenic per day with "no apparent ill effects". In fact, many years ago, arsenic was given to horses as a tonic.
Of greatest concern are the inorganic forms of arsenic which are quite toxic (vs. the naturally occurring organic forms commonly found in seaweeds).
Susan Domizi, Founder and President of SOURCE, INC. has personally been taking our seaweed blend for over 30 years. Out of curiosity, she had a blood workup done recently that included, among other things, arsenic level. The doctor told her that considering her age, it was exceptionally low.
We do extensive quality control testing of all of our ingredients and harvest areas, -and we have done so for over 30 years, -far beyond any regulatory requirements. In addition to heavy metal and arsenic testing, we also do broad spectrum herbicide and pesticide screens (assuring no detectable presence of over 160 compounds tested for), as well as microbiological safety testing. We are very proud of the SOURCE ingredients and feed it to ourselves, our children and our grandchildren.
Now you understand why we are so concerned about the future health of our oceans, and why we are proactive environmentalists!
- How much Biotin is in SOURCE products? Although original SOURCE® (and SOURCE NUGGETS) do not contain any added biotin, and the naturally occurring level is quite small (less than 1 mg. per serving), SOURCE is renowned for supporting the development of a strong resilient hoof. We believe this is due to providing the underlying micronutrients so essential for optimum nutrition.
A 1.5 ounce daily serving of our product FOCUS HF (HOOF) provides 10 milligrams of biotin.
Some research (funded by vitamin manufacturers) has suggested that large quantities of this single vitamin may be beneficial to hoof quality.
We feel that it should not be necessary to mega-dose an individual vitamin to foster a normal response.
10 milligrams a day of biotin is many times the estimated daily requirement for biotin (which can be synthesized by the horse with normal hindgut function).
FOCUS HF provides generous quantities of other important nutritional factors to support hoof quality, as well as including a daily serving of the SOURCE micronutrients that will improve the horses ability to utilize all these nutritional factors (including biotin).
Below is an excerpt from a news group posting by Dr. Frank Gravlee, founder of Life Data Labs, the producer of Farrier's Formula...
"Although there is a cellular requirement for biotin, it is generally thought within the veterinary community that horses with a normal digestive tract flora produce biotin in amounts far in excess of the horses' needs. No controlled studies in horses have been published that establish any dietary requirement for biotin. Nor are we aware of any documented case of biotin deficiency in horses with a normal digestive tract.
Based on all definitive studies of biotin requirements in mammals with a simple digestive tract, if there is a dietary need for biotin at all in horses which have a functioning ceacum, it would be just under 2 mg per day...
No definitive studies have shown that biotin supplementation alone can improve hoof quality. In studies that claim to have shown hoof improvements through biotin supplementation, significant results were only seen after 19 to 36 months of supplementation. Since this is plenty of time for the horses to have grown new hooves 2 or 3 times, it is probable that other factors were the cause of any improvements that occurred.
In our opinion, there is no evidence that feeding biotin in excess of 5 mg per day has any benefit at all for the average adult horse. However, there is a great deal of data that suggests that feeding a huge excess of any single nutrient can create significant nutritional imbalances with adverse health consequences."
- Does SOURCE contain Calcium & Phosphorous? There is a tiny bit of naturally occurring Ca (calcium) and P (phosphorus) in SOURCE (and I do mean tiny!).
The daily maintenance requirement for a mature horse is 20 grams Ca (20,000 mg.) and 14 grams P (14,000 mg). A daily serving of SOURCE (one half ounce) would only provide 213 mg of calcium and even less phosphorus (23 mg.).
The calcium/phosphorus ration and daily intake should be balanced with the major components of your feeding program (forage, hay, grains etc.)
We do not add any Calcium (Ca) or Phosphorus (P) to SOURCE, so it will NOT change the Ca:P ration of whatever you are feeding. This is good, because SOURCE is used both by horsemen feeding straight alfalfa, and those basing their forage on grass hay.
- Do SOURCE & Micro-Max contain Iodine? Yes, SOURCE contains iodine in micro amounts which are naturally occurring in the seaweed.
The macroalgae (seaweeds) contained in the SOURCE products are our own proprietary blend which we harvest. This blend was developed over 35 years ago, specifically for horses. We have never had a report of iodine toxicity associated with the use of any of our products. There are thousand of varieties of seaweed (like plants). Some (including certain kelps) contain high levels of iodine which can contribute to a toxicity problem, especially with equines. SOURCE, with its controlled, safe level of iodine, was developed to provide more benefits than the kelps may provide, and more safely.
The amount of iodine in a daily serving of original SOURCE (1/2 oz. for 1000 lb. horse) is 9 mg/day.
For more information about equine iodine and SOURCE click here.
Our product for humans, MICRO MAX, has exactly the same ingredients as our original product SOURCE for horses.
Each capsule of micro-max (SOURCE for humans) contains less than 1/3 of one milligram of iodine. (Capsule weight 450 mg: iodine at 0.066%). To be precise... 0.297 mg. iodine per capsule.
At SOURCE we are proud to claim the most carefully, gently processed seaweeds in the world This was confirmed in a study by Dr. Zakir Ramazanov who measured the anti-oxidant level remaining in our seaweed after we had processed it, compared to others.
- Do our products contain Iron? Yes, all of our products contain a very small amount of Iron which is naturally occurring in our seaweeds.
We have chosen NOT to ADD any Iron to any of our products out of respect for those who are trying to avoid excess dietary Iron.
The average naturally occurring iron (Fe) content in SOURCE and Micro-Max is 300 ppm (parts per million) [0.03%] which would provide 4 mg. per 1/2 oz. serving of SOURCE or less than two tenths of a mg (0.18 mg) in one capsule of Micro-Max.
For horses, this is a small fraction of the "target" amount of 400 mg. for the daily nutritional requirement cited in the NRC.
Since this amount is so insignificant, we have not declared it on the label analysis.
- Does Micro-Max contain Vitamin K? Yes, Micro-Max does contain Vitamin K (potassium). It is in micro amounts and naturally occurring in the seaweeds.
Micro-Max is safe to take if you are on a Vitamin K restricted diet. We know of several people that are taking the drug Coumadin that also take Micro-Max.
- How much Potassium (K) is in your FOCUS products?
In answer to the question about the Potassium (K) levels in our FOCUS products:
The maximum is less than 1.8%.
A daily serving of 1/2 ounce would supply 0.25 grams or less of potassium.
The daily requirement of a mature horse in moderate work (1,100 lbs. body weight) daily is approximately 37 grams.
As you can see, the contribution of potassium from our products is insignificant.
Whether you are dealing with a condition (such as HYPP) where you need to AVOID potassium, or need to supplement because of a deficiency, the level of potassium provided by our product will not affect it.Even serious clinical evident HYPP horses have used our products with great success. You also need to evaluate K levels in:
-your hay (can often be surprisingly high in a well fertilized field),
-red salt blocks,
-joint supplements,
-electrolytes,
-molasses (4% K!)
-soybean meal (2.25%), etc.
- How much Potassium (K) is in your SOURCE products?
-
In answer to the question about the potassium (K) levels in our SOURCE products:
The maximum is less than 1.8%.A daily serving of 1/2 ounce would supply 0.25 grams or less of potassium.
The daily requirement of a mature horse in moderate work (1,100 lbs. body weight) daily is approximately 37 grams.
As you can see, the contribution of potassium from our products is insignificant.
Whether you are dealing with a condition (such as HYPP) where you need to AVOID potassium, or need to supplement because of a deficiency, the level of potassium provided by our product will not affect it.Even serious clinical evident HYPP horses have used our products with great success. You also need to evaluate K levels in:
-your hay (can often be surprisingly high in a well fertilized field),
-red salt blocks,
-joint supplements,
-electrolytes,
-molasses (4% K!)
-soybean meal (2.25%), etc.
- Does SOURCE contain Selenium? Yes, SOURCE contains naturally occurring organic selenium, although it is in quite low levels.
It should not be relied upon to provide therapeutic levels in a severely deficient area. Most, if not all, reputable feed manufacturers today already add selenium to the basic feed in selenium deficient areas. If you have questions about an individual situation, your veterinarian can perform a blood test, such as for glutathione peroxidase. Individual horses in the same barn demonstrate different abilities to utilize dietary selenium, and so one individual may indicate deficiency and the rest are in normal levels. Selenium status is of particular concern for high performance horses and pregnant broodmares.
The daily dosage of selenium in a 1/2 oz. serving of original SOURCE is: 0.025 mg. (1.76 ppm), this is less than the recommended therapeutic daily dosage level to treat a deficiency.
SOURCE is safe to feed even in areas of seleniferous soils.
SOURCE does enable the horse to more effectively utilize selenium as well as other components of the diet which is why over the years so many horsemen have reported to us that horses that were apparently "deficient" in selenium respond favorably to SOURCE.
- Do SOURCE products contain Sulfur? SOURCE contains organically bound sulfur. It is naturally occurring in the seaweeds.
(Every FOCUS product contains a daily serving of SOURCE)
We certainly DO NOT add any chemical sulfur ingredients, sulfites etc.
Organic sulfur is absolutely essential. It is contained in every protein, and is part of many enzyme molecules and vitamins.
