Not all Camelina Oils are equal
There is a noticeable increase in seed oil companies entering the equine and pet food market, which reflects a growing trend in the industry. Among these, camelina oil is gaining significant popularity due to its unique advantages, serving not only as an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids but also providing essential Vitamin E. However, it is crucial to exercise caution, as not all camelina oils are created equal in terms of quality and nutritional value.
Camelina oil is commonly incorporated into the diets of horses as a source of healthy fat, with the Omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid present in camelina oil being the same form of omega-3 fatty acid that is naturally found in the horse’s traditional plant-based diet. It is well established that the creation of healthy skin and a lustrous coat result from the inclusion of nutritious foods. The beneficial fatty acid found in camelina oil plays a vital role in nourishing the skin and hair, resulting in healthy skin and a sparkling, shiny coat. Anti-Inflammatory properties are another benefit of Camelina oil. According to Wild Gold, “Research has shown that after 90 days, horses fed supplemental DHA had lower levels of markers associated with joint inflammation. In other studies, supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids showed an increase in stride length at the trot as compared to horses receiving corn oil.” Time and again, the benefits of incorporating camelina oil into the diet of horses are numerous and compelling.
For those horses that unfortunately lack access to free grazing due to various challenges such as laminitis, metabolic disorders, or specific living conditions, it is important to note that they are often historically low in Vitamin E, which is an essential nutrient for optimal body function. Vitamin E plays an important role as it acts as an antioxidant which helps to protect cells from damage and supports immune function. In addition, Vitamin E has been found to promote skin health, improve heart health, and reduce oxidative stress in the body. If your horse is one of those locked off fresh grazing, supplementation of Vitamin E becomes a crucial necessity and should definitely be discussed with your veterinarian to ensure the best approach for your horse's health. Additionally, a blood test might be essential to accurately determine how deficient the horse is in Vitamin E, which will aid in devising an effective plan to restore their levels. In some cases, others may benefit significantly from simpler measures, such as just incorporating a product like camelina oil into their diet.
With the amount of brands and products available out there, I feel it is important to note a few determining factors when choosing an oil for your equine partner. Primarily, the single, only ingredient in the oil you purchase should be camelina oil. Not Flax, Soy, Corn, Rice bran, etc. or any other additional unwanted ingredients. Many oil products cut the camelina oil with these other oils to keep their costs and prices to the consumer down. Alas, these products are subpar and could create other issues. Alternatively, flax seed oil is wonderful but has a slightly different nutritional make up. According to Dr. Juliet Getty: "Camelina oil offers an excellent alternative to flaxseed oil. It comes from the edible Camelina sativa seed, often referred to as “false flax.” It is high in ALA with a 2.4:1 ratio of omega 3s to omega 6s, and its shelf life is far superior to flaxseed oil. It is resistant to oxidative rancidity, making it highly stable. This is because of its remarkably high vitamin E content: 100 ml (slightly less than ½ cup) of camelina oil contains 150 IU of natural vitamin E, whereas flaxseed oil only contains 26 IU."
Secondly, it is essential to ensure that your camelina oil is cold-pressed. Many oil products on the market are produced through solvent extraction methods, which can potentially leave behind harmful residuals. I cannot even begin to fathom the implications and risks associated with such residues. In contrast, cold-press processing maintains the integrity of the nutritional values present in the plant, allowing them to be fully retained in the oil. On the other hand, heat or chemical processing can significantly strip away these vital nutritional attributes, ultimately reducing their efficacy. This reduction may require you to feed more of the product than necessary in order to achieve the same desired results.
Thirdly, let’s discuss the importance of single sourcing. We all want to know exactly where our food is coming from, which specific field produced our vegetables, which dedicated rancher provided our meats, what grains were cultivated and harvested from which locations, and what chemicals were used in the process, if any. The same level of transparency and accountability should certainly hold true for the horse feed and supplements that we choose to provide for our equine companions. Horses are particularly sensitive to toxins, as they live out in them and cannot “go inside” to get away from them. They can be negatively affected by many things; for example: neighbors spraying their fields or yards, by adverse reactions to vaccines or other medications, and by various pollutants present in the air, in their hay, or even what is in the ground. It’s a pretty deep and complex rabbit hole that seems almost impossible to fully navigate or completely mitigate. However, what we can do is make the best possible choices for our horses whenever we have the opportunity to do so.
These are the reasons I chose the camelina oil products from Wild Gold. Their webpage is a wealth of knowledge with many interesting products. Their commitment to Quality is above and beyond standards used in human food production. Take the time to browse through it to learn more.
WILD GOLD: Single Sourced, Cold-Pressed, Locally Grown on their own farm where they can control start to finish of the product, non-GMO…to name a few perks :-)