93: The Insulin–Inflammation Cycle: How It Becomes Toxic and How to Break It

Much of what we read online about horse health is misleading. So, for those of you following a more natural and holistic path by focusing on the diet, lifestyle, and environment of your horses before turning to drugs or surgery, having the correct understanding is essential. I hope that each episode helps you view conditions like insulin resistance, equine metabolic syndrome, and laminitis with clearer eyes and more confidence.Today, we are exploring insulin, what happens when it stays high for too long, why it becomes toxic in the body, and how this links to metabolic dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and the early stages of laminitis.Insulin Can Become ToxicWhen insulin remains elevated for too long, it starts to act like a toxin. It constricts blood vessels, increases inflammation, damages cells, and impairs nutrient delivery, especially to their highly sensitive hooves.Inflammation and Insulin Feed Each OtherHigh insulin drives inflammation. Inflammation drives insulin levels even higher, damaging tissues, reducing circulation, and increasing the likelihood of laminitis. Breaking this cycle requires addressing both inflammation and insulin simultaneously.The Role of Nutrition and DetoxSupporting your horse with proper nutrition and removing toxins is essential. Antioxidants, clean feed, and reducing chemical exposures will help the body repair damaged cells, restore balance, and bring insulin levels back into a healthy range.Hoof Health Depends on CirculationHoof care and internal health must go hand in hand. Restricted blood flow in the hooves worsens laminitis and founder. Proper trimming, padding, booting, and movement are all critical, along with dietary and metabolic support. The Whole Body MattersIf symptoms are visible in the feet, the rest of the body will be affected as well. Supporting liver function, reducing stressors, and regenerating cells throughout the body improves overall health and helps prevent further complications.Do you know what exactly is in your horse's supplements, and what they're actually doing for their health? Keeping your horse's diet and supplement program clean is one of the most beneficial things you can do for them. There is nothing that turns a horse's health around faster than cleaning up their diet and supporting their health from the inside out. The good news is I'm going live on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 10 am Mountain Standard Time, and I invite you to join me for my first-ever two-hour workshop called Detox Done Right: How To Reduce Your Horse's Toxic Load and Upgrade Their Health.For just $127 Canadian, you will get my hands on my label-reading playbook and my clean feed roadmap- and we will finish with a 30-minute Q&A to help turn your supplement confusion into clarity.If you care about your horse's health and want real, practical steps that lead to results, then this workshop is just for you! Save your seat by clicking on the link in the show notes, or head over to my website. No need to worry if you register and miss it because I will have a recording waiting for you, whenever you are ready- but I do hope to see you all there, live!Links and resources:Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.Free Webinar Masterclass: Four Steps to Solving Equine Metabolic Syndrome NaturallyRegister for my self-paced course, Resolving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally.