🌾 How Glyphosate May Contribute to Insulin Dysregulation in Horses — and What You Can Do About It

Insulin dysregulation (ID) is one of the most pressing health concerns facing modern horses, often linked to conditions like Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) and laminitis. While sugar and starch levels in feed are often blamed (and rightfully so), an overlooked contributor may be hiding in plain sight:

👉 Glyphosate — the world’s most widely used herbicide.

Emerging research suggests that glyphosate exposure could play a silent role in disrupting metabolic health, especially insulin regulation in horses. In this article, we’ll explore how glyphosate may affect equine insulin sensitivity, and how Element Original’s Biodynamic feed program offers a regenerative, chemical-free solution that supports metabolic balance.

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🚫 What Is Glyphosate — and Why Should Horse Owners Care?

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup® and many similar herbicides. It's heavily used on grain crops, hay, and pasture grasses — even those marketed as "horse safe."

Glyphosate exposure in horses can come from:

• Commercial hay and feed grown with chemical herbicides

• Contaminated soil or water runoff

• Treated pastures or bedding straw

Although considered "safe" by regulators in small doses, glyphosate is increasingly linked to subtle but chronic health issues — especially in grazing animals with ongoing, low-level exposure.

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🧬 How Glyphosate May Affect Insulin Regulation in Horses

Emerging studies and veterinary observations suggest several key mechanisms by which glyphosate may contribute to insulin dysregulation:

1. Disrupts Gut Microbiome

Glyphosate acts as a broad-spectrum antibiotic, harming beneficial gut flora — including microbes involved in blood sugar regulation and immune signaling. An unhealthy gut can impair insulin sensitivity and increase systemic inflammation.

2. Chelates Essential Minerals

Glyphosate binds to minerals like magnesium, zinc, and manganese — all of which are critical for insulin signaling. Deficiencies in these minerals can weaken insulin response and contribute to glucose imbalance.

3. Impedes Liver Detox Pathways

The liver is a major player in glucose metabolism. Glyphosate exposure may impair the liver’s detoxification function, reducing its ability to clear out metabolic waste and hormones that interfere with insulin homeostasis.

4. Triggers Low-Grade Inflammation

Chronic glyphosate exposure can lead to oxidative stress and inflammation, which are both tightly linked to insulin resistance in humans and animals alike.

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🐴 What Is Insulin Dysregulation in Horses?

Insulin dysregulation refers to abnormally high insulin levels in response to sugar intake. This can lead to:

• Cresty neck, fat pads, and obesity

• Laminitis or chronic hoof soreness

• Low energy or muscle loss

• Hormonal imbalance and poor metabolic flexibility

It’s a complex syndrome — and environmental toxins like glyphosate may be making it even harder to manage.

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🌱 A Regenerative Solution: Element Original’s Biodynamic Feed

If glyphosate is a hidden trigger in metabolic dysfunction, then the logical solution is to feed horses clean, chemical-free nutrition — and that’s exactly what Element Original’s Biodynamic feed program offers.

🌾 What Makes It Different?

Element Original’s Biodynamic feed is:

• ✅ Grown without glyphosate or synthetic chemicals

• ✅ Certified Organic and Regenerative

• ✅ Sourced from their own closed-loop farming systems

• ✅ Formulated for metabolic health, not just calorie count

It’s not just what’s in the feed — it’s what’s not in it:
No herbicides. No pesticides. No artificial preservatives. Just nutrient-dense, mineral-rich whole plants that support healthy metabolic function from the soil up.

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🌟 Why Biodynamic Farming Matters for Metabolic Horses

Biodynamic agriculture goes beyond “organic.” It emphasizes:

• Soil health to improve the mineral profile of forage

• Microbial diversity to support gut health and immunity

• Regenerative practices that restore ecosystems and plant vitality

This translates directly to horses through:

• Improved insulin response

• Reduced inflammatory load

• Better nutrient absorption and gut integrity

• Fewer chemical burdens on the liver and endocrine system

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🛠️ Supporting Insulin Health Naturally: A Holistic Approach

Element Original’s Biodynamic feed system is a cornerstone in a broader metabolic management plan, which may also include:

• Low-NSC hay

• Regular exercise

• Hoof care and laminitis monitoring

• Omega-3 supplementation

• Stress management and turnout

Pairing this clean feed with high-quality supplements like full-spectrum hemp (CBD) for inflammation and targeted mineral support can further enhance insulin sensitivity.

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✅ Final Thoughts

While genetics, sugar intake, and lack of movement are often blamed for insulin issues in horses, glyphosate exposure is a silent but serious contributor that many owners overlook.

By removing glyphosate and other chemical residues from your horse’s daily diet, you may take a major step toward:

• Reducing laminitis risk

• Supporting healthy insulin and hormone balance

• Improving energy, body condition, and longevity

Element Original’s Biodynamic feed offers a clean, regenerative solution grounded in real soil health and equine metabolic wellness.

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🌾 Ready to Feed Clean and Support Metabolic Balance?

👉 Learn more about Element Original’s Biodynamic Feed Program at
elementoriginal.com

Certified regenerative. Glyphosate-free. Built for horses, from the ground up.

 

 

 

*Insulin resistance in horses

*best feed for senior horses

*horse losing weight

*common in older horses

*common in performance horses