With the threats of viruses challenging our health today, it makes sense to do all we can to strengthen our immune systems. One of the most powerful immune support superfoods ever discovered is Colostrum, the first milk produced by all mammals to transfer life-saving factors to their offspring.
Mother cows produce Colostrum for their calves to ready their immune defenses to handle the deadly toxins, viruses, and bacteria that surround them in their environment. If calves don’t receive it, their risk of infection and mortality increases. Bovine Colostrum also contains precious growth factors that supply building blocks for maintaining healthy muscles, tissue, bone, skin, and cartilage cells.
Here’s where it gets exciting. The health-promoting factors in this “drink of life” can also supercharge our immune system. Bovine Colostrum improves digestive health, promotes youthful skin, builds muscle, improves recovery from workouts, reduces inflammation, and even activates stem cells.
Colostrum is rich in macronutrients, antioxidants, immunomodulators, bioactive proteins, vitamins A, D, E, K, and B complex, and minerals like calcium and zinc. These nutrients play important roles in overall health, supporting energy, brain function, bone strength, and immunity.
Taking Bovine Colostrum supplements protects your health with important nutrients you don’t get in multivitamins or even the best diet.
Immune Factors in Bovine Colostrum exert broad-spectrum antimicrobial action by inhibiting the growth of disease-causing bacteria, viruses, yeast, and protozoa. Colostrum is anti-inflammatory and rich in immunoglobulins like IgG, IgA, and IgM vital to immune function.
We are all exposed to pathogens daily. There are also trillions of viruses that fall to Earth from space every day. Despite this constant attack, our body is well-equipped to identify threats and rally our immune defenses to eliminate them.
Colostrum helps support our immune system’s phagocytic and natural killer cell activity with bacteriostatic substances like Proline-Rich Polypeptide, Casein, Lactalbumin, Lysozymes, Leukocytes, Lactoperoxidase, and Lactoferrin. These natural factors can help protect us against infection by harmful microbes.
Many things can disturb the lining of the intestinal tract. The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, steroids, antibiotics, and infections can damage the lining. Growth factors in Colostrum, such as insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), promote healing, stimulate the production of white blood cells, and encourage the growth of beneficial probiotics, like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Colostrum helps maintain healthy GI integrity and barrier function.
Growth factors in Colostrum, such as FGF and IGF-1, can help to promote the repair and regeneration of gut tissue muscles, skin, bone, cartilage, and nerve health. When it comes to heart health, bovine Colostrum may also have beneficial effects. It may help to lower cholesterol levels, support healthy blood pressure, and improve iron metabolism.
Colostrum also promotes the growth of new blood vessels. When Colostrum was given to high-risk cardiovascular patients to prevent the flu, it was 3 times more effective than vaccination alone.
Bovine Colostrum has also been found to enhance natural stem cell activity vital for tissue repair and regeneration.
Colostrum contains compounds that activate immune cells and cytokines, protecting against pathogens and inflammation of mucous membranes throughout the body, including the throat, eyes, airways, intestines, urinary tract, and reproductive organs. Colostrum has been shown to benefit athletes prone to upper respiratory infections due to intense exercise, exertion, and oxidative stress.
Studies of athletes have found that Colostrum can increase performance and muscle strength, decrease body fat, and prolong exercise duration by increasing muscle buffering capacity during high-intensity exercises.
Colostrum contains very small amounts of lactose, so even if you are lactose intolerant, you should be able to take it. If you have an allergy to cow milk, or have asthma and eczema, avoid Colostrum milk products.
Colostrum has so much to offer. The presence of growth factors, immunoglobulins, cytokines, lactoferrin, and hormones helps the digestive, immune, and neuroendocrine systems to function properly.
Colostrum offers Mother Nature’s treasure chest of vital immune compounds for a lifetime of good health.
You can get Colostrum in capsules or powders, but be sure to use a trusted source. Medical Doctors Research offers high-quality, ultra-pure, Grade A, pasteurized Colostrum collected from U.S. dairies and Certified free of artificial hormones, antibiotics, GMO ingredients, and pesticides. Get MDR Colostrum Immune Factors from MDR by calling 800-637-8227 or http://mdr.com/colostrum.
References:
M.E. Berthon, M.J. Paxton, J.M. Peters, et al. Lactoferrin: a review of its anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating properties. Journal of Leukocyte Biology, 2002, vol. 72, pp. 209–216.
B.K. Kim, J.H. Lee, et al. Effects of Bovine Colostrum on the Growth of Probiotics and pathogenic bacteria. Journal of Dairy Science, 2004, vol. 87, pp. 2452–2460.
L.G. Myant, M.E. Berthon, et al. Colostrum and lactoferrin in the treatment of gut-associated infections. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 2000, vol. 30, pp. S39–S42.
J.A.S. Reseland, B. Aukrust, et al. Insulin-like growth factor I and blood pressure regulation. Journal of Hypertension, 2001, vol. 19, pp. 611–617.
Clinical Appl Throm Hemost. 2007 Apr,13(2):130-6.
Webster, Gill A, Open Nutraceuticals Journal, 2013, 6, 35-44.
Antonio J., Sanders M. S., Van Gammeren D. (2001). The Effects of Bovine Colostrum Supplementation on Body Composition and Exercise Performance in Active Men and Women. Nutrition 17, 243–247.
Główka N., Woźniewicz M. (2019). Potential Use of Colostrum Bovine Supplementation in Athletes – A Review [pdf]. Acta Sci. Pol. Technol. Aliment. 18, 115–123.
MDR Colostrum Tabs: http://flowcode.com/p/Zr6XswODk?fc=0
Paige says
Really interesting Pat, it makes great sense. Thank you for sharing!