Nature’s Best Kept Secret: The Ultimate Guide To Bovine Colostrum

What is Colostrum?

Colostrum is the first milk that a mother mammal produces after giving birth. So what does that mean and why should you care? What are the benefits of colostrum? Let’s find out.

My Personal Story

I grew up having a vague history of Crohn’s disease. I had so many tests and colonoscopies (yay!) during my adolescent and adult years. I was never officially diagnosed with Crohn’s though. Sometimes the diagnosis would be IBS or colitis, but my subsequent scopes always had me as either misdiagnosed or in remission. I was told to eat more fiber, which I didn’t accept as a solution.

One time, I had a severe flare up and went to see my GI doctor. Upon examination he put me on prednisone for two weeks and told me if my symptoms didn’t go away in those two weeks, I’d have to go on biologics (a.k.a. harsh medicines with side effects) indefinitely.

In this world, you have to be your own biggest advocate and one day while listening to the Renegade Pharmacist Podcast, the topic of colostrum came up. I had never heard of colostrum, but I was intrigued.

Back to the prednisone. Days 1 through 5- no improvements. I had taken prednisone before, but thought maybe it was just taking a while to kick in. Days 6 through 10- still no improvement. I really didn’t want to take these biologics unnecessarily, so I thought back to the podcast talking about the benefits of colostrum and decided to order some colostrum from Amazon. What did I have to lose at this point?

–> Try Colostrum Here<–

As soon as I took the colostrum, my symptoms went away. I kind you not, I swear by this stuff! I mean, it potentially could have taken the prednisone almost two weeks to kick in, but as soon as I took the colostrum, my problems subsided. I consider it a miracle supplement and nature’s best kept secret.

Since I’ve been using colostrum, I’ve never had another Crohn’s flare up/GI episode. Life changing stuff, really.

I guess it’s important to note that the colostrum I am talking about is Bovine Colostrum. And that I am not a doctor but I have had so much success with bovine colostrum myself. It’s even been studied for Covid-19. And while I’ve had personal success with it, a lot of studies back up my anecdotal experience with it.

Here are a few Studies on Bovine Colostrum for Your Reference:

Supplementation of Bovine Colostrum in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Benefits and Contraindications – National Institutes of Health 75RCXjQw3CWSFvjB/

Bovine colostrum: benefits of its use in human food – SciELO Brazil

Colostrum – its Composition, Benefits as a Nutraceutical – A Review. – Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science

Colostrum Therapy for Human Gastrointestinal Health and Disease – MDPI

Preventive effects of bovine colostrum supplementation in TNBS-induced colitis in mice – PLOS One

–>Click here to buy colostrum <–

What does colostrum taste like?

It’s a power, and it tastes kind of like vanilla ice cream. It’s actually pretty tasty. Colostrum has no smell.

How to I take colostrum?

Take one small spoonful of colostrum at least once daily, more if you are having digestive issues. I put the powder under my tongue for about a minute for the saliva to coat it. The saliva coat is a kind of protection that helps it get past the stomach into the intestines. Once your digestive issues calm down take it once a day or stop taking it. I personally take it every day to prevent any symptoms from recurring and for general health. Some people add it to smoothies so if that works, that’s a good idea too.

Is it safe for humans?

Absolutely it’s safe. I’ve been taking it for years and a lot of others do as well. If you have any concerns though, you should talk to your physician to certainly make sure it’s safe for your particular situation.

Can my dog take colostrum?

Absolutely! My dog takes it almost daily as well. I especially give it to him when he has diarrhea or swallows something shady during a walk. It’s common for dogs to have digestive problems from time to time. He loves it; I swear that he smells the nutrients in it and the biology in him makes him go crazy for it!

What kind of colostrum are you talking about?

I am talking about bovine colostrum (from cow’s milk). Humans make colostrum but that is for toddlers as it’s in breast milk. I have heard that there is goat colostrum and possibly other animals but this blog post is only talking specifically to bovine colostrum.

How many times per day should I take bovine colostrum?

I think the answer to this question is personal preference. I have never heard of anyone overdosing on colostrum, but I generally take it once a day. Sometimes if I feel like it, I’ll take it a few times a day, especially if I have some food that I might not agree with, if I am feeling under the weather, or have heartburn, etc. I also take it before a long run- as some studies say it helps prevent the runners trots or repairs leaky gut.

What brand should I take?

I recommend Soma Breath Brand (affiliate link) from the Renegade Pharmacist. I’ve also used Pure Velvet once when I couldn’t get Soma. Kion is also a reputable brand but that was way too expensive for what you get I thought (as most Kion products are). So for the quality and price point my number one recommendation, and the one I use religiously is Soma, so that’s the one I wholeheartedly recommend.

What are the health benefits of bovine colostrum?

I’ve mentioned a few already in this blog post, but some health benefits of colostrum include, but are not limited to:

Boosting the immune system
Help fight infections (like upper respiratory infections)
Rich in key vitamins, minerals, immune factors, and enzymes
Improve overall gut health
Seal tight junctions to help with intestinal permeability (leaky gut syndrome)
Diarrhea relief
Improve athletic perfomance
Possible treatment for colitis and even studied as a prophylalatic for Covid
More exciting research may reveal some more benefits!

Here are some of the specific compounds contained in colostrum in a little more detail and their role in why colostrum is nature’s best kept secret supplement (well maybe not anymore since word is getting out!)

Lactoferrin is a protein found in whey and breastmilk that only regulates iron absorption, but also protects against infections from viruses, fungi, and bacteria. Some studies suggest the reason why colostrum is produced in the first place (as the first breastmilk of a mammal is different from the rest) is to protect newborns from infections and give them a jolt of nutrition in their very critical first few days of life.

Antibodies also known as immunoglobulins, are used by your immune system to fight infections. Bovine colostrum contains antibodies like IgA, IgG, and IgM, for those who are science-minded.

Growth Factors like insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2). These growth factors help cells grow and promote bone and muscle growth.

Refer to the studies linked above for more information, and here is a good article as well. Also remember I am not a doctor so you can also ask your nutritionally informed physician if colostrum is good for you.

What are the risks?

Though I have had tremendous success with bovine colostrum supplementation for both me and my pet, it may not be for everyone. I recognize everyone’s situation is different, so really do your own due diligence and research before trying out colostrum. Though it’s a natural product and has a lot of promise, more studies are needed to see in what situations it can be recommend for versus when it shouldn’t be recommended. Some risks include how the cows for the bovine colostrum are raised– are they like conventional cows and therefore are fed grains and antibiotics, which can leach into the supplement (along with pesticides)? That’s why I recommend Soma Breath, as the cows are humanely raised and the colostrum is from grass-fed cows. So please buy your colostrum from a reputable brand to reduce the risk of low-quality colostrum Infortunately this stuff isn’t regulated by the FDA (surprise, surprise).

If you are allergic to milk or dairy, colostrum supplementation should be avoided.

Another risk is that further studies need to be done on a subset of individuals. It’s not know if colostrum has any risks for pregnant women, or individuals with diseases like cancer, so more research is needed and caution is to be taken for these individuals. I am not a doctor so if you have any concerns with colostrum, ask your doctor please.

Who shouldn’t take colostrum?

This goes back to the question above about the risks, but generally, people who have any health conditions like cancer, pregnancy, breastfeeding women, diabetes, etc. should check with their doctor before trying colostrum. If you are allergic to milk or lactose intolerant, colostrum is not for you. Also, it’s not vegan if someone out there needs that to be said. Again, I’m not a doctor and this post is only concerning my anecdotal success with colostrum, though studies also support the benefits of bovine colostrum.

Should I consume liquid, pills, or powder colostrum?

I have only ever taken the powder as that works well for me, so I can’t recommend any other way. I would take pills if I needed to but I just stick to the powder.

How long does it take for colostrum to work?

I can’t really answer that, as it’s specific to the individual. For me and my dog, however, the symptom relief is pretty much immediate, but I can’t guarantee that will be the same experience you (or your pet) have on it.

How did you first hear about bovine colostrum?

I was suffering from a Crohn’s disease flareup and was kind of at my wit’s end. I would try anything at that point. I didn’t want to go on long term medications with side effects for the rest of my life. I heard a podcast episode which was on something else entirely (breathwork) and there just happened to be a discussion around colostrum. As soon as I heard about it and all the health benefits, I dove right in, haven’t looked back since, and will continue to forever sing the praises of colostrum! A really neat synchronicity.

This is all quackery. Do you have any other resources?

Of course. Initially, this may all sound like quackery and you should be skeptical when new supplements are recommended that you never heard of. As is good practice, do you own research and make your own decisions. I’ll provide some more resources below. But first, I need to get this off my chest: You have to be your own biggest advocate for everything in life. No one cares about your health as much as you do! It’s your body and your life.

Also, this could be a topic for another day, but remember that most doctors (at least in America) are very good at prescribing medicines and monitoring you for diseases. They know nothing (or next to nothing- so basically…nothing!) about treating conditions holistically and barely take any nutrition courses in medical school. They are also constrained by time and what they can recommend due to a crazy insurance system. So with all that being said, here are some further resources on the health benefits of colostrum. Knowledge is power, and I really want to give you the best information to empower you ! In no time, you can ask powerful questions of your doctor and be your own advocate to take control of your health instead of depending on a for-profit system that has no incentive in finding the root cause of the disease but instead sees you as a money making dollar sign instead of a human being who wants to heal.

Inspiration not necessarily related to colostrum

Questions? Comments?

Have you have any experiences with colostrum? Anything you would add or subtract from this article on the benefits of bovine colostrum? Do you have any general questions? I’ll do my best to answer or point you in the right direction. Thanks for reading this long article on the supplement I rave about called colostrum. Stay healthy out there! – Ryan

Affiliate link disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and I may earn a commission a sale purchased through the link, at no additional cost to you.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. Please do you own research or talk to your physician before taking any and all supplements.