Colostrum is a pre-milk substance produced by breastfeeding mothers. It is produced in abundance during the very first few milkings, however when purchasing bovine colostrum as a supplement, make sure it has been taken from the cow within the first six hours after birth.
Colostrum introduces immunoglobulins from the mother to the infant and turns on the child’s immune system. Among other things, colostrum has incredible immune-balancing benefits.
Colostrum contains over 700 nutrients, including growth factors, lipidic and glucidic factors, cytokines, oligosaccharides, antimicrobials and nucleosides. This substance introduces the newborn to over 95 different compounds that balance and stabilize the immune system. It also supplies eighty seven (87) growth factors, promoting DNA synthesis, fat utilization, normal cell growth and increased mental acuity.
Colostrum is nature’s most complete food.
Bovine colostrum is bio-identical in structure to that produced by human mothers. Research has indicated many health benefits from taking bovine colostrum including immunological balance, improved nutrient absorption and gut stability. Colostrum also increases energy and reduces inflammation and illness.
Improved Gut Health:
The gut is responsible for nutrient absorption, detoxification and immunological balance. Microbial balance governs our immunological response. The major player here is a special immunoglobulin protein called secretory IgA (sIgA).
Individuals with autism, chronic candidiasis, gut problems, IBS, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis typically have low sIgA. Chronic stress drains the immune system and the adrenals. Chronic infections, environmental toxins and poor lifestyle all contribute to this problem.
Colostrum is the best natural substance for boosting sIgA levels in the gut. Colostrum reduces inflammatory cytokines and pathogenic species in the gut.
Leaky Gut:
Leaky gut is nearly a universal problem in our modern world and is an underlying cause of most other diseases. Due to an onslaught of antibiotics, vaccines, and chemicals found in our air, water, food and cleaning products, the gut develops millions of tiny perforations that allow undigested food, bacteria, fecal material and candida to enter directly into the bloodstream.
These harmful invaders leaking into the bloodstream not only put an overwhelming burden upon the immune system, but they cause autoimmune disorders, weakened immune system, food allergies and even allergies to pollens. These same problems are also related to cancers, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, alzheimer’s, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and dozens of other debilitating diseases.
Colostrum provides raw materials that increase epithelial growth and help repair a damaged gut lining. The intestinal membrane replaces cells every three days and colostrum supplementation can help heal intestinal problems such as leaky gut syndrome and other permeability issues naturally.
Healing leaky gut could potentially reduce the symptoms of other related diseases
Strengthens the Immune System:
Colostrum has over 100 times more immunoglobulins than regular milk. Colostrum is also rich in transfer factors that educate and modulate the immune system, causing it to recognize specific antigens. These transfer factors also help the immune system to recognize the difference between normal tissue and pathological microbes. These transfer factors include immunoglobin G (IgG).
The transfer factors from colostrum are able to boost natural killer cell (NK) activity and calm a hyperactive immune system through activating suppressor T cells. This improves the intelligence of the immune system and allows it to function with greater efficiency. These transfer factors also act as a catalytic memory agent for the immune system to alert naive immune cells of an impending danger.
Colostrum-based IgG molecules can be a lifesaver to someone who is suffering from acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). These individuals are not able to effectively produce sufficient IgG on their own to combat pathogenic microbes like Cryptosporidium parvum. According to the Health Science Institute’s Underground Cures, “colostrum is able to ameliorate or completely eliminate the clinical symptoms of those suffering from cryptosporidiosis.”
A healthy immune system is so important that some scientists say that a healthy immune system could prevent virtually every known disease.
Getting clean sources of colostrum:
The best form of colostrum is from raw, grass-fed milk cows. Free-Mart supplies organic colostrum that is free of chemicals and is minimally processed to be sure that you are getting the best and most pure source of this miracle food available. It is then concentrated, giving you 5x the polypeptides found in normal colostrum, which gives you more value for money spent and which makes more of the active ingredients available to your immune system. Our colostrum is also taken from the mother in the first six hours after birth, to ensure maximum potency of our product.
Colostrum can be taken with food or on an empty stomach, however a slightly better response may be had by taking on an empty stomach with plenty of water, so that it gets into the digestive system with minimal interruption of saliva and stomach acids. Time of day for taking colostrum is not so critical as taking enough and taking it on a consistent basis. Some people will notice an increase in energy after taking, so if you notice that it interrupts sleep patterns when taking too late in the evening, simply take colostrum earlier in the day.
There are no major side effects of colostrum supplementation, but some individuals have experienced major pathogenic die-off symptoms when using large dosages. A good starter dosage would be 500 mg (1 capsule) and see how you tolerate that. You can easily work your way up to 1-2 grams daily. Experiment with different dosages until you discover what is right for you.
Note: Taking colostrum is perhaps the best way for a nursing mother to pass on a healthy immune system to her baby, however pregnant mothers should check with their physician before taking colostrum or a least avoid taking it during their first trimester.