What exactly makes feed "heating"?

[drookitsheep]

Please can someone clear this up for me because I'm going round and round in circles.... at the risk of sounding a bit daft...

What exactly is it that makes a food-stuff heating? Is it a high level of soluble carbohydrates? It's not anything to do with protein (or is it?!). Soluble carbohydrates = quick release energy (heating) and insoluble carbohydrates = slow release energy.

If high fibre is supposed to be less heating, then why does oats have more fibre in it than barley, and yet it's more heating? Is it just because it has a higher level of soluble carbohydrates than barley, and ignore the fact it has more fibre? I'm confused :(

[clipclop]

It is carbohydrate from starch that is "heating". Oats have a reptuation for this but really they have a lower amount of starch than say Barley and Maize. Maize has the highest and a lot of mixes contain maize but everyone seems to overlook this and yet they wouldn't buy a feed it it contained oats. if they didn't want a "heating" feed but would go and by a feed with maize in it.

It is lack of nutritional education in general why people belive that oats are one of the most heating foods around when in fact they are not.

[drookitsheep]

Thanks clip clop - I was using oats as an example alongside barley, because it puzzles me how oats is so much higher in fibre than barley, and yet is considered more heating (than barley) - but oats must have more starch than barley then, right? I know there are more heating feeds than oats, eg maize as you say, but it is the starch/sugar (soluble carbohydrate) bits in any feeds that make them more or less heating isn't it? Sorry - I'm just trying to get it clear in my head!

Why is it that when I think I understand something, I suddenly feel like I don't get it at all, and I realise how little I actually know in the first place?! :D

[clipclop]

Barley is in theroy more heating thatn oats. i am not quite sure on the "soluble" aspect of things but oate are definatly the lowest of the grain family when it comes to the heating effect.

[SpyGirl]

"Heating" feeds are high in sugar, starch and simple carbohydrates. (Or, soluble carbs). Complex carbs, like the ones in whole grains for us, are slow-release sources of energy, while sugar and other simple carbs are quick-release, therefore giving the horse more energy all at once. Look for a feed with relatively low sugar-to-protein ratio if you want to keep weight on/build muscle but not increase energy. High amounts of fat also can contribute to 'heat'.

[drookitsheep]

Thanks guys! :D