5 Benefits of Colostrum Powder

Although bovine colostrum powder has been touted as somewhat of a miracle substance, can it really help to fight inflammation, improve gut health and more?

In order to understand the almost biblical healing properties of colostrum, it’s important to know exactly where it comes from first. In simple terms, colostrum is a nutrient-rich fluid produced by female mammals immediately after giving birth, which is why it’s also referred to as “first milk”. The complex biological substance is loaded with antibodies and other macronutrients, all of which are crucial in the development of a newborn once it has left its mother's womb - but why is this milk-like substance intended for infants, being embraced as a health supplement? 

Colostrum Compounds Explained 

Newborns are subjected to somewhat of a reality check once they exit the womb, and colostrum is produced by the mother in an effort to give their infant the best possible shot in the “outside world”. Although all mammals produce colostrum, supplements like colostrum powder are usually made from cows known as bovine colostrum. 

Similar to human colostrum, it’s an extremely powerful substance that’s rich in vitamins, minerals, fats, carbohydrates, disease-fighting proteins, growth hormones, and digestive enzymes. For these supplements colostrum from cows is pasteurized and dried into pills or into powders that can be mixed with liquids. Bovine colostrum is typically light yellow in colour, with a subtle taste and smell that resembles that of buttermilk. 

While colostrum is rich in macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals, its claimed health benefits are mostly linked to specific protein compounds, which include:

• Lactoferrin, which is a protein involved in the body’s immune response to infections, including those caused by bacteria and viruses. 
• Growth factors are hormones that stimulate growth, and bovine colostrum is especially high in two protein-based hormones, insulin-like growth factors 1 and 2, or IGF-1 and IGF-2. 
• Antibodies, which are proteins also known as immunoglobulins. It is used by your immune system to fight bacteria and viruses, and bovine colostrum is rich in the antibodies IgA, IgG, and IgM. 

Five Benefits Of Using Colostrum Powder 

If you’re skeptical about the health benefits of consuming colostrum powder or other supplements, humans have actually been using bovine colostrum for thousands of years, specifically in ayurvedic medicine. In simple terms, the substance is just a more nutrient-dense version of the cow's milk that we’ve all been encouraged to drink for centuries for calcium. Just a handful of the known health benefits associated with colostrum for humans include the following. 

Reduce Inflammation

The lactoferrin found in colostrum is a powerful inflammation moderator, and actually rises in our bodies during times of increased inflammation by working to help lower the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6. In fact, doctors test lactoferrin levels in patient’s stools to help diagnose types of bowel diseases. 

Healthy Gut Systems 

Colostrum powder and other supplements stimulate the growth of good bacteria in the gut, such as lactobacillus and bifidobacterium. It also enhances the health of the gastrointestinal tract, by promoting cell growth in the intestines, which helps to soothe and heal a damaged gut system. 

Promotes Healing 

Thanks to it’s high amount of antioxidants and growth factors such as insulin, colostrum powder is used as a method to promote muscle growth, and promote healing in joints and ligaments. It's also shown to reduce stress and damage to muscles after exercise.

Diarrhea Treatment 

A study showed that healthy adults who took a daily dose of 1,200 mg of hyperimmune bovine colostrum containing antibodies that fight E. Coli bacteria were in fact 90% less likely to develop traveler’s diarrhea than those taking a placebo.

Immunity Boost 

The immune-boosting effects of colostrum are mostly down to its high concentration of the antibodies IgA and IgG, which are used to fend off invading viruses and bacterias. After all, this is what the substance is essentially used for in all mammals, right?

As a health supplement, colostrum can be consumed in a variety of different methods - think tablets, liquids or as colostrum powder. Dosages can vary, but many manufacturers recommend a daily 20-gram to 60-gram dose for athletic performance or improved intestinal health. When used to manage or treat diarrhea, colostrum supplements should be taken before a meal. 

 

Where to buy colostrum? 

Live Young Clinic stock MIP Colostrum Power and Capsules. 

Click here to shop the range now. 

MIP Colostrum Powder and Capsules are an undiluted form of bovine colostrum, and a product of New Zealand. With no hormones, antibiotics and chemicals used, MIP Colostrum Powder Caps are also GMO free, and ethically sourced. 

Each MIP Colostrum Powder Capsule is filled with 500mg of pure and undiluted colostrum, and contains ninety caps per bottle. With no added wheat, gluten, corn, yeast, artificial flavours, colours or preservatives, it is also free of rBST and GMO additives (genetically modified organisms), and features vegetable sourced Magnesium Stearate as an encapsulating aid.