People are seriously using bovine colostrum, and no, we’re not kidding.
The health benefits of milk are awesome (depending on who you ask), which only adds to the delicious flavor that ends up in so many of our favorite dishes. But did you know that bovine colostrum gives milk a run for its money? Bovine colostrum, yup — cow colostrum, is becoming one of the most popular immune-boosting supplements for people who want something new.
What is bovine colostrum, anyway?
Colostrum is the pre-milk fluid produced by breastfeeding mothers. The word “bovine” means it comes from cows. Essentially, bovine colostrum is the thin fluid produced by cows as they begin to nurse their calf.
Colostrum’s primary purpose is nutrition, but it’s also vital for the development of the newborn calf. It’s produced in high quantities during the first milking immediately after giving birth to the calf. During that first milking, it contains A LOT of the mother’s immunoglobulins, antibodies, and other cells that make up the immune system. Essentially, the mother is passing on her resistance to disease to her newborn calf, just the same way a human mother does when she starts the process of breastfeeding her newborn baby. The newborn’s immune system is almost incapable of protecting itself, so it needs the mother’s immunity in order to survive.
This means that colostrum—both human and bovine colostrum—is excellent for boosting your immunity. It can provide those vital antibodies and immunoglobulins that will raise defenses against a wide array of sickness.
But the benefits don’t stop there, and humans never seem to stop searching for the next best thing, either.
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Is bovine colostrum really that great?
The nutrient profile of bovine colostrum is far better than that of regular milk. Not only does it contain the regular lactose, proteins, and fats you get from regular milk, but there are also growth factors, antimicrobials, cytokines, and other vital nutrients. The growth factors can help to promote cellular growth, the synthesis of new DNA, and even make your body more effective at utilizing the fat in your diet.
Bovine colostrum is also useful for improving gut health. The microbes in the colostrum will fuel your beneficial gut bacteria, making your body better able to digest and absorb food. It can especially benefit those with chronic digestive problems like IBS or Crohn’s disease. This is thanks to the secretory IgA, an immunoglobulin protein that can help to regulate gut health. Not convinced? Read this well-documented study on curing a little kid’s digestive issues with bovine colostrum.
The truth is that bovine colostrum is much like human colostrum—the only difference is that cows produce a lot more of it, and it’s legal to get (yes, there’s still a black market for human breastmilk). You can drink bovine colostrum without worrying about indigestion or lactose intolerance, as it’s a very digestion-friendly food.
Where should you get your colostrum from? That’s the tricky part! It’s not easy to find bovine colostrum, and it can be a bit expensive unless you’ve got a pregnant cow in your backyard anyway. However, when doing your research, always make sure to look for bovine colostrum that comes from grass-fed cows. The nutritional profile of grass-fed milk and meat is always better and cleaner. You’ll get more nutrients per serving from grass-fed colostrum, and you’ll find there’s a much lower risk of contamination by antibiotics and hormones. Be smart (read: don’t just suckle off any local cow you find in a pasture), and do your homework before buying.
