Tennee | August 7, 2017
Colostrum has a lengthy history of therapeutic uses and benefits. Known best as natures “first food”, I first came across its use while studying Ayurveda.
In India, Ayurvedic physicians have used colostrum for thousands of years to help heal the body and enhance longevity. It is also used by India’s Rishis (spiritual teachers) as an exception to their vegan diet, for its spiritual and physiological benefits.
In Europe, colostrum has been a traditional folk remedy and tonic. In the United States, conventional doctors have consistently used colostrum as a natural antibiotic prior to the introduction of sulfa drugs and penicillin and in the 1950s colostrum was implemented in the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis. It was also used in 1950 by Dr Albert Sabin, (the researcher who developed the first oral vaccine for poliomyelitis) who found that colostrum contained antibodies against polio.
More recently, colostrum has been found to be three times
more effective at preventing the flu than vaccinations.
/Source: NCBI
My personal experience
I decided to try Colostrum recently as a last ditch effort to heal an area of inflammation in my gut that had been bothering me for over 3 months. Truth being told, I was cautious about using colostrum due to my sensitivity to milk. However, after doing some research, I learned that true colostrum has almost no lactose in it. So I settled on an ethically sourced, third party verified, pesticide and antibiotic free, grass fed, raw form of 6 hour bovine colostrum from a company that I trust.
Here is what happened:
From day 1, I felt nourished after drinking it and it settled my stomach. After taking colostrum on an empty stomach three times a day for three days, the irritation in my gut was no longer there. I was shocked that three days of colostrum would work so quickly on an issue I had been dealing with for 3 months so I continued to take the colostrum and after I finished up the 6.5 oz container I took three weeks off to see if the irritation would return and low and behold, it didn’t return! This piqued my interest to say the least, so I began to do some research to understand the workings of colostrum and how it can effects health.
What is colostrum?
Colostrum is the “premilk” from a mother mammal that is produced for her baby. Colostrum is produced for a few hours before and after birth and introduces the newborn to a multitude of different compounds that balance and stabilize the immune system. Colostrum specifically contains many probiotic organisms that help to reformat the gut. Colostrum also contains all essential fats, 87 growth factors, lactoferrin, transfer factors and all essential amino acids, and is the most complete source of nutrition known to man. Colostrum is found to have incredible adaptogenic qualities that are designed to educate the immune system.
Colostrum also boosts SIgA levels in the gut which increase the integrity of the gut lining. This in turn reduces the inflammatory cytokines and pathogenic species in the gut.
Why a bovine source?
When researching colostrum, I found research showing that molecular combinations of the immune and growth factors in cows colostrum are virtually identical to human.
Research has also shown only bovine colostrum is not species specific and can benefit human and lower mammals just as well as cows.
Colostrum is used therapeutically for issues such as:
- Bacterial infections
- Viral infections
- Allergies
- Chemical sensitivities
- Eczema
- Inflammatory disorders
- Food sensitivities
- Thymus issues
- Tissue regeneration
- IBS
- Crones
- Colitis
- Scars
- Low SigA
- Autoimmunity
- Overuse of antibiotics
/Source: NCBI
Biologically active components in Colostrum include but are not limited to:
Immunoglobulins (Ig) protect the gut and help to reformat and regulate the immune system.
These are antibodies that are used by the immune system to identify, attack and neutralize foreign substances such as bacteria and viruses. Immunoglobulins can be used to both up regulate and down regulate the immune system. This includes, IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE, and IgD.
Transfer Factors are protective proteins.
These small immune messenger molecules produced in response to the body’s exposure to certain types of microorganisms. Transfer factors work in concert with various white blood cells to keep microorganisms under control.
Lysozyme has an antibacterial effect.
These are antibacterial enzymes that help to support the immune system by upsetting the cell walls of harmful bacteria. Lysozyme interacts with other colostral components as it has a synergistic effect with lactoperoxidase, IgA and lactoferrin. With lactoperoxidase, lysozome partially activates it by forming a complex. With IgA, it works synergistically to combat E. Coli and in the presence of lactoferrin, the antimicrobial effects of lysozyme is also enhanced.
Oligosaccharides for skin and gut health.
Long chain sugars serve as a prebiotic and feed good bacteria in the intestine. Oligosaccharides also benefit the healing of the skin (specifically used for wound healing) as well as the digestive tract.
Lactoferrin inhibits the autoimmune response and inflammation.
This metabolic factor contained in colostrum is a protein required in the metabolism of iron. Organs and cells in the body have receptors for this protein to bind and inhibit autoimmune responses and inflammation triggered by problems such as leaky gut. Lactoferrin activates T cells, regulates antigen pathways and promotes enzyme activity. It also has a strong antioxidant and detoxification properties which dial down inflammation. /Source: NCBI
Proline Rich Polypeptides fine tune the immune system.
These small chains of amino acids have a powerful effect in initiating and balancing immune responses. PRPs specifically help to modulate the cytokine system by turning on an under active immune system while turning down an overreactive immune system. PRPs also act as molecular signaling devices, promoting growth and the differentiation of B-cells, stimulating Natural Kill cell activity and promoting the proliferation of leukocytes (white blood cells). These PRPs are responsible for cell mediated immunity and keep your immune system working in harmony like a well tuned piano. /Source: NCBI
Leptin for enhancing metabolic rate.
Another metabolic factor in colostrum is a hormone like protein that can suppress appetite, enhance metabolic rate and lead to body weight reduction. Leptin deficiency may be associated with obesity and particularly in diabetic individuals.
Growth factors stimulate cell growth, cell differentiation and cell maturation.
Growth factors act as a signaling molecule from one cell to another as well as regulating a variety of cellular processes such as cell growth and cell proliferation. Some health care providers advocate for using colostrum intermittently due to the growth factors present in order to advocate not overloading your system with growth factors which do increase cell growth.
Essential nutrients and mineral makeup include:
Vitamins A, B2, B9, B12 and D, Calcium, Chloride, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium and Zinc, Amino acids, Carbohydrates and Proteins.
After researching and experiencing the effects of colostrum
I truly believe that this is another example of one of mother natures miracles.
This is an example of a nutritive strategy that when used wisely may increase the bodies resistance to illness and imbalance. It is an amazing resource of nutrition necessary to support the development and repair of cells and tissues and has a complete nutritional profile that helps to maintain a healthy immune system. I am always blown away when something so simple proves to be so effective at supporting ones health.
Wishing you a radiant reality!
Tennee
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