Colostrum has long been a staple in the human diet, coming from breast milk in the early days of life. In fact, all mammals secrete this ‘liquid gold’, a term that gives credence to its immense nutritional value and vast array of benefits (Arslan A. et al, 2021). From gut health to immune system regulation, there are numerous health benefits that you can gain from reintroducing this nutritional powerhouse back into your diet (Streit L, 2019). Unfortunately the modern day diet has lost touch with this valuable nutritional supplement.
There are many beneficial nutrients in colostrum (Streit L, 2019): immunoglobulins and immunomodulators - important for the immune system and inflammatory response, lactoferrin - regulates iron in the gut and helps to reduce acne by fighting off bacteria/viruses, peptides, growth factors and a multitude of vitamins and minerals. You can think of colostrum much like eating liver: nature’s multivitamin. Colostrum is higher than regular cow’s milk in protein, magnesium, multiple B vitamins, vitamin C, as well as fat soluble vitamins A, D and E (McGrath, B.A. et al, 2016).
Unfortunately, lactose intolerance and other food related allergies have been on the rise this century. Fear not, colostrum is lower than regular cow’s milk in lactose (McGrath, B.A. et al, 2016). Colostrum can help to mitigate common food allergies due to its immunomodulatory abilities. From lactoferrin to growth factors, these compounds can help repair the gut wall, stimulate the growth of intestinal cells, and prevent intestinal permeability - also known as leaky gut (Hałasa M, et al. 2017). Colostrum can bind harmful bacteria and allergens via lactoferrin and immunoglobulins, preventing them from entering the bloodstream. It is especially important in newborn diets by helping to develop their immune system, as the mothers’ breast milk during the first 2-5 days post-partum is rich in colostrum. Newborns’ immune systems lack the innate abilities and adaptiveness that is required to fight off infections and protect against food allergies (Garofoli F, et al. 2023). This is why it is extremely important for mothers of newborn babies to breastfeed for at least the first month after their baby is born. This study highlights the anti-inflammatory and anti-allergenic properties of colostrum, another incredible benefit you can receive by supplementing bovine colostrum (Bagwe S, et al. 2015).
In my experience, Primal Being’s Colostrum has been my favorite thus far, and I have tried numerous brands. I gave up on taking colostrum until recently due to the lack of benefits I experienced. Most other Colostrum powders are grainy rather than a fluffy texture, like Primal Beings. Other colostrum products you’ll see on Amazon are over pasteurized (which kills many of the beneficial compounds), grain finished and underdosed. Primal Being uses a unique proprietary process that turns the colostrum into powder form. The thermal treatment process is carried out at a lower temperature than the industry norm. This allows the bioactive profile to remain intact at its most potent and raw form.
Because Primal Being’s thermal treatment process is different from other colostrum products, their IgG is not falsified during testing like most others. Unfortunately, this is a common practice in the colostrum market, leaving consumers thinking colostrum is a useless supplement, like I once did. Their colostrum is less denatured and aggregated than others due to the fact that they use the aforementioned low temperature pasteurization, leaving their IgG profile intact. Other companies report denatured/aggregated and turbid material in their IgG reports, which is not representative of the intact and bioavailable IgG amounts.
All in all, Primal Being’s colostrum has been my favorite addition to my supplement routine in the past few years. It’s easy to take as a simple scoop, washing it down with milk or water. The taste is delicious. Another easy way to use is adding to your protein shake, smoothie or frothed into iced coffee, as hot beverages will denature the bioactive profile. I have seen a reduction in acne, sensitivity to dairy, and overall inflammation. In addition, my energy has increased along with my stamina. Colostrum is multifunctional and I believe that everyone should have this in their supplement cabinet.
References
- Arslan A, Kaplan M, Duman H, Bayraktar A, Ertürk M, Henrick BM, Frese SA, Karav S. Bovine Colostrum and Its Potential for Human Health and Nutrition. Front Nutr. 2021 Jun 21;8:651721. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.651721. PMID: 34235166; PMCID: PMC8255475.
- Streit L (2019, February 27). What is colostrum? Nutrition, benefits, and downsides. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/bovine-colostrum#downsides
- McGrath, B.A., Fox, P.F., McSweeney, P.L.H. et al. Composition and properties of bovine colostrum: a review. Dairy Sci. & Technol. 96, 133–158 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13594-015-0258-x
- Hałasa M, Maciejewska D, Baśkiewicz-Hałasa M, Machaliński B, Safranow K, Stachowska E. Oral Supplementation with Bovine Colostrum Decreases Intestinal Permeability and Stool Concentrations of Zonulin in Athletes. Nutrients. 2017 Apr 8;9(4):370. doi: 10.3390/nu9040370. PMID: 28397754; PMCID: PMC5409709.
- Garofoli F, Civardi E, Pisoni C, Angelini M, Ghirardello S. Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Allergic Properties of Colostrum from Mothers of Full-Term and Preterm Babies: The Importance of Maternal Lactation in the First Days. Nutrients. 2023 Oct 2;15(19):4249. doi: 10.3390/nu15194249. PMID: 37836533; PMCID: PMC10574092.
- Bagwe S, Tharappel LJ, Kaur G, Buttar HS. Bovine colostrum: an emerging nutraceutical. J Complement Integr Med. 2015 Sep;12(3):175-85. doi: 10.1515/jcim-2014-0039. PMID: 25781716.
