Colostrum - Nature's Super Food

What is Colostrum?

Colostrum is a milky fluid that comes from the breasts of humans, cows, and other mammals the first few days after giving birth, before true milk appears. It contains proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and proteins (antibodies) that fight disease-causing agents such as bacteria and viruses. Antibody levels in colostrum can be 100 times higher than levels in regular cow’s milk.
Universally hailed as the new ‘wonder’ supplement, colostrum in its original form has been around for as long as it has existed; in fact colostrum is the initial food source of all mammals.Colostrum is the first secretion produced from the mammary gland, which precedes milk.  During the first 24-48 hours following birth, colostrum provides life supporting immune and growth factors  (immunoglobulins IgG and IGF).  These help form the building blocks for healthy development.  Colostrum is so important to animals that they would die without it.  The benefits of colostrum in the natural state are well documented, however availability in supplement form is a more recent development.  This development is due to a revolutionary low temperature process, which enables the product to be powdered and encapsulated, without losing beneficial properties.

Colostrum supplementation benefits the immune system, oral health, gastrointestinal health, and metabolism. Bovine colostrum contains numerous antimicrobial elements, including immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, and lactoperoxidase.
 

Clinical applications:
 

• Digestive: helps establish and maintain a normal oral and gut flora by inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria and promoting bifidobacteria growth. Enhances health of intestinal wall, inhibits bacterial translocation across the gut wall, useful in intestinal permeability and irritable bowel syndrome. Effective in cryptosporidium-induced diarrhoea, to prevent & treat gastroenteritis. Helps protect the stomach from the effects of NSAIDs. (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
• Immune system: contains antibodies and enhances the endogenous production of antibodies (the purpose of Colostrum in humans is to provide newborns with antibodies that confer immunity), Colostrum is a valuable treatment for many bacterial & viral infections. Recurrent sinusitis.
• Metabolic: improves recovery after exercise, can improve athletic performance and lean muscle mass when used with an exercise program (due to growth factors including IGF-1 in Colostrum).

Our Organic Colostrum Powder contains:

Here is an excellent page with many references about Colostrum and immunity, particularly in respect with rheumatoid arthritis and osteo arthritis.

Why Do You Need Colostrum?

High levels of IgG (immunoglobulin) provide unparalleled immune boosting properties to ward off disease.  A high level of IGF (insulin-like growth hormone) accelerates tissue building and repair in adults.  It is highly beneficial in combating the effects of ageing joints, leaky digestive systems and assisting athletes build lean muscle. I have always noticed that when I have seen children in my clinic who were only breastfed for a week or two to go onto develop all manner of immune problems. In fact, when I see a child with severe eczema, it is not uncommon to hear that the child was only breastfed occasionally and placed on a formula shortly after birth.

The Universal Healer

Colostrum has been shown to assist in the healing of a variety of ailments such as allergies, candida, sinus problems, auto-immune disorders, high cholesterol, colds and flu, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, leaky gut syndrome, stomach ulcers, chronic fatigue (M.E.), diabetes, arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis – to name a few.

Uses of Colostrum

People originally got interested in bovine colostrum because of the high antibody levels. They thought that the antibodies might prevent intestinal infections in people, but they seem to be wrong.

• Some athletes use bovine colostrum to burn fat, build lean muscle, increase stamina and vitality, and improve athletic performance. Bovine colostrum is not on the banned drug list of the International Olympic Committee. 
• Bovine colostrum is also used for boosting the immune system, healing injuries, repairing nervous system damage, improving mood and sense of well being, slowing and reversing aging, and as an agent for killing bacteria and fungus.
• Bovine colostrum is used in the rectum to treat inflammation of the colon (ulcerative colitis).

 

Dosage: the dosage depends on the age and severity of complaint. Start with a teaspoon twice daily in a beverage of your choice.

What Experts Say

In recent years, medical journals around the world have published numerous articles on the benefits of colostrum:  Dr Olle Hernell from the University of Ulmea in Sweden states, “Glycoproteins in bovine colostrum inhibit the attachment of the Helicobacter pylori bacteria that cause stomach ulcers.  Colostrum also contains significant amounts of interleukin 10 – a strong inflammation inhibitory agent found significant in reducing inflammation in arthritic joints and injury areas”.

Dr L Khazenson, a microbial and epidermal expert states, “Studies with human volunteers found that the preservation of the biological activity of IgG (immunoglobulin) in the digestive secretions of adults receiving bovine colostrum orally, indicates passive internal intestinal immunization for the prevention and treatment of acute intestinal diseases.”

Dr Dwyer , New England Journal of Medicine – Immunobiology states “Immunoglobulin in colostrum has been used to successfully treat: Thrombocytopenia, Anaemia, Neutropenia, Myasthenia Gravis, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, “Multiple Sclerosis, Systemic Lupus, Erythematosus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bullous, Pemphigoid, Kawasaki’s Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Crohns Disease among others.”