Colostrum

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Colostrum

Colostrum

		Colostrum is a naturally nutritious food source and has been around for centuries. It is the enriching first milk received by nursing young to naturally assist their immune development and growth. Colostrum is sourced from bovine cows that have not been given antibiotics or synthetic hormones. It comes from clean, green New Zealand, and all of the cows have been pasture fed. The collection process is strictly regulated to ensure healthy cows and calves, sustainability and a quality product.
		"It’s no wonder Colostrum has been referred to as 'Life’s first food', considering it is loaded with nutritional benefits ready to nurture teenagers, newborns, adults, children, and elderly alike."

When looking into the benefits of colostrum supplementation for children and adults, it is important to first have an understanding of how all mammals naturally create and use this nutritional substance to nurture and protect their newborns. Colostrum is the first milk secreted (within 24-48 hours) after birth and is rich in protective factors.⁽¹⁾ During the first two or three days after a mammal delivers a baby, the breasts produce colostrum, a premilk substance with antibodies and white blood cells.

Colostrum is beneficial to the immune system of newborn animals or humans as it contains a number of immune stimulating properties, such as naturally occurring immunoglobulin (IgG), along with high levels of proteins and growth factors.⁽²⁾ Colostrum provides powerful agents that help to fight against bacterial infection. Among the immune supporting factors, are factors which favour the growth of the “friendly” bacteria in the infant’s digestive tract, so that harmful bacteria cannot outnumber the beneficial bacteria. Also present is a growth factor that stimulates the development and maintenance of the infant’s digestive tract and its protective factors.

So what are the benefits of human’s taking something that nature designed for newborns? Well, taken as a supplement, colostrum can help boost the immune system, help the body to burn fat and build lean muscle. It may also accelerate the healing of injuries, increase vitality and stamina, and have an anti-ageing effect. The proteins in bovine colostrum, (including immunoglobulins), can help to support the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria, intestinal repair and healthy gut immunity in adults and children.⁽³⁾

Immunoglobulins are protein molecules that function as antibodies and play a major role in intestinal immune defence.Immunoglobulins bind to nasty bacteria and viruses, and inhibit them from adhering to the gut wall. This is achieved by destroying, neutralising, and preventing the absorption of harmful bacteria, viruses and their toxins. They also act as markers, targeting bacteria to be destroyed by cells created for this purpose.⁽⁴⁾

Colostrum offers prebiotic and immune supportive properties by inhibiting harmful bacteria. Prebiotics are functional foods that have a number of beneficial health effects. The prebiotics in colostrum act as a food source for the ‘good bacteria’, enhancing the health of the gut and therefore immune system. Prebiotics can also improve bowel function as healthy levels of good bacteria can assist with constipation.⁽³⁾ Prebiotics can increasing the bioavailability of minerals and scientific evidence supports the effects of certain prebiotics on calcium absorption. Such evidence suggests that prebiotics may contribute to a reduction in the risk of osteoporosis.

It’s no wonder Colostrum has been referred to as “Life’s first food”, considering it is loaded with nutritional benefits ready to nurture animals, newborns, children, teenagers, adults and elderly alike. Thankfully, the benefits of colostrum are not species specific; meaning that it is safe and beneficial for human’s to take colostrum sourced from cows.

References:

⁽¹⁾ S. Rolfes, K. Pinna, E. Whitney, Understanding Normal Clinical Nutrition, Belmont, Thompson Wadsworth, 2006

⁽²⁾ P.A. Balch, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, , New York,Avery, 2000

⁽³⁾ Scholz-Ahrens KE, Schaafsma G, van den Heuvel E, Schrezenmeir J. Effects of prebiotics on mineral metabolism. Am J Clin Nutr 2001;73:459S- 64S.

⁽⁴⁾ Shah N.P. Effects of milk derived bioactives: an overview. British J Nutr 2000; 84(1) S3-S10

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