November 22, 2008
California Company Expands Its Line of Medicinal Mushroom-Based Nutritional Supplements for Horses
Mushroom Matrix, a California company with a medicinal mushroom-based nutritional supplement that has caught the attention of leading riders and trainers across the U.S., announced the launch of a several new nutritional supplements that target specific equine health needs. With its expanded line of products, the Matrix aims to provide horses with all the health benefits that have long been available to humans.
"Medicinal mushrooms have been used for centuries by people to promote good health. What we've sought to do through our Matrix nutritional supplements is make the health benefits of medicinal mushrooms easily available to people, not only for themselves, but also for their horses and pets," said Matrix Vice President Keith Manfred. "We've had nutritional supplements for humans, horses and pets and they've been very popular. What we've done now is expand our equine line by developing several new equine nutritional supplements that specifically target health needs. Ultimately, our goal is simple - we want to help people and animals live longer, healthier lives."
Since its debut nearly three years ago, the Mushroom Matrix, produced by Golden Gourmet Mushrooms in San Marcos, California, has become the supplement of choice among many leading riders and trainers, including Olympians Steffen Peters, Gina Miles, Will Simpson and Michelle Gibson as well as Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Carl Nafzger. A number of these equestrians started feeding the Matrix to their horses after taking human versions of the supplement for themselves.
"I started on it first and I can definitely say that I have been sick far less often and my stress level has come way down," Shannon Peters said.
"It works great," said Susanne Hassler, wife of U.S. Equestrian Federation Young Horse Coach Scott Hassler. "We don't get as many colds and we don't feel as run down. There have been times when Scott will be a bit drained and he'll say, 'Oh, I need my mushrooms today.' When we take it, we feel more right on."
In addition to its two standard equine products - Calm Performance Matrix and Matrix P3 (Prevent, Protect, Perform) - the Matrix has added Equident, Joint Matrix, Hoof Matrix, Blood Matrix, GI Matrix and Muscle Matrix. The development of these new products is the result of much research into how various combinations of medicinal mushrooms work to promote good health. For example, the three medicinal mushroom varieties in Blood Matrix work to improve oxygen transport in the body and remove carbon dioxide in the blood, which can help to improve energy and endurance. In GI Matrix, five medicinal mushrooms work together to promote gastro-intestinal health, which may help reduce the risk of ulcers and colic - common problems with horses involved in competition. Equident targets the teeth and gums and has already shown tremendous potential in helping horses with gum disease.
Essentially, Matrix nutritional supplements work by bolstering the immune system and reducing oxidative stress, said Dr. Marvin Hausman, developer of the Matrix. "When the immune system is working properly, we're healthy. But when it isn't, we get sick. Our immune systems, and that of our horses, are under constant stress and attack from outside forces that cause oxidative stress - pollutants, noise, emotional and physical stress. And when a person or a horse is out of balance with oxidative stress, there is a chronic inflammatory reaction in various tissues and organs, such as those in the digestive, immune and muscular systems."
The Matrix helps to counter this oxidative stress because the medicinal mushrooms within Matrix supplements contain high levels of proteins, enzymes, nutrients and a potent antioxidant called L-Ergothioneine - a far more powerful antioxidant than such things as beta-carotene and vitamins C and E. Although called a nutritional supplement, in reality, the Matrix is a complete, whole food consisting of organic mushrooms that have been dried and ground into powder. And that, said Dr. Hausman is another reason why the Matrix provides tremendous health benefits to horses and humans.
"Nutrition isn't just giving yourself things like vitamin E. It's giving yourself food, and mushrooms are a food. You can't just take antioxidants like vitamins C and E and expect a direct result. Humans and horses are complex, and so they need a complex food to match. Mushrooms are a complex food that perfectly matches the system requirements of many mammals, humans and horses included," he said.
"Certainly, we want our Team Matrix members to help promote our Matrix nutritional supplements. But, we also want to make it fun to be a member of our team," he said. "We want people to enjoy being on the team and that means providing them with opportunities like this evening, where they can come together, relax and have some fun together."
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