Every few months there is a new "it product" in the health and wellness space. Last year it was collagen. Lately? It's been colostrum. 

I don't know about you, but it seems I am targeted daily with ads for a popular colostrum brand (IYKYK) and sometimes all that hype makes me a bit skeptical. So I wanted to do my own research, test out some colostrum products, and share my experience. Plus let you know some of the science surrounding colostrum and wellness.

Quick Disclaimer: I do not think wellness equals trying all the new supplements and gadgets- actually, I am quite adamantly against that approach. I always educate health coaching clients to take a food-first approach and supplement after that foundation is set. In most cases, you don't need fancy supplements to live a healthy life. Rather, they should be seen as something that can supplement pre-existing healthy lifestyle choices. So if that's you and you're looking for a little extra support (not a quick fix) then read on 🤍

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What is Colostrum?

First things first, what even is colostrum? If you're anything like me, I had no clue until I was preparing to breastfeed my daughter. I learned how colostrum is the first form of breastmilk that comes into your breasts after delivering a baby (actually, it starts being produced way back in your second trimester)!

This thick, yellow fluid (aka liquid gold) only lasts a couple of days before transitioning into mature milk. And not only humans make this, but all mammals. The colostrum of cows is no different- and for thousands of years, farmers have collected it to support immune health, digestive health, athletic performance, and more. 

So can this "liquid gold" really support your health? Here's what the science shows...

Health Benefits of Colostrum

This nutrient-rich fluid is not only crucial for newborns but also offers a variety of health benefits for people of all ages. As a registered nurse and holistic health coach, I've seen firsthand how incorporating colostrum into a diet can boost overall wellness. Here are some of the top health benefits of colostrum:

• Immune System Support: Colostrum is packed with antibodies and immune factors like immunoglobulins, which help strengthen the immune system and protect against infections.

• Gut Health: Its natural growth factors aid in repairing the gut lining, improving digestive health, and reducing symptoms of conditions like leaky gut syndrome by supporting intestinal permeability (by strengthening those gap junctions between cells, your gut has less inflammation and can absorb nutrients better 👏)

• Anti-inflammatory Properties: Colostrum contains anti-inflammatory compounds that can help reduce inflammation throughout the body, potentially alleviating symptoms of chronic inflammatory conditions.

• Enhanced Athletic Performance: The growth factors in colostrum can aid in muscle repair and growth, making it a popular supplement among athletes for recovery and performance enhancement.

• Skin Health: Colostrum’s rich mix of nutrients and growth factors can promote healthy skin by aiding in the repair of skin cells and reducing the signs of aging

• Nutrient Absorption: It helps improve the absorption of nutrients from food, ensuring that your body gets the most out of your diet.

• Muscle Repair and Growth: Colostrum is rich in growth factors like IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor), which play a crucial role in stimulating muscle repair, enhancing protein synthesis, and promoting lean muscle growth. This makes it an excellent supplement for recovery after workouts and for supporting overall muscle health.

My Favorite Colostrum Brand

I was seeing ads everywhere for Armra colostrum. And to be honest, I have been sorely disappointed by popular health brands that have tons of advertising in the past so it makes me a little skeptical. Not to mention their products are rather expensive. 

I wanted to find a high-quality supplement from another reputable brand that had the same beneficial effects while being a bit more affordable. I also wanted to ensure that the baby calves were fed colostrum first before they harvested any. 

While there are various colostrum supplements available I was most impressed with Cowboy Colostrum. Here's why:

• grass-fed cows - this is a direct statement from their website regarding the quality of their cattle:

We make it a priority at Cowboy to source our colostrum from dairy farmers who treat their cows with love and respect. The cows are grazing on pasture as long as weather permits and in the cold seasons they are provided shelter and fed products derived from grass like hay. We collect first milking colostrum from grass-fed U.S. dairy cows within the first 4 to 6 hours after the calf is born and it gets theirs. Our cows are never treated with rBST r(BGH), antibiotics, or hormones.

• affordability- i'm trying to support my health, not send my husband into a panic hahaha

• no weird additives, chemicals, or artificial sweeteners - while they do have a vanilla flavored colostrum option, it is naturally sweetened with monk fruit 

• calves fed first - again, this is so important. If calves are missing out on their portion of colostrum, their overall health declines. This creates a negative cycle of the overall health and well-being of the cattle and any subsequent products from their lives : lower quality digestion leads to lower quality nourishment which leads to lower quality milk and meat that is later harvested from that cow.

• I also found that their unflavored colostrum didn't leave any weird flavor or aftertaste and blended easily into my morning coffee (because personally, I prefer a powder form and don't want to take any more capsules or a pill form) 

How to Use Colostrum

What's great about the powder form of colostrum is that you can easily blend it into something you are already drinking. Personally, I have been adding it to my morning coffee along with some organic half-and-half and grass-fed collagen.

They do recommend that you do not add the colostrum into scalding liquid as it can decrease the bioactive compounds available --which are the exact things we want!

So no boiling your colostrum ok?

Here are some other ways you can easily add colostrum powder to your diet:

• protein shake : simply add the colostrum in with a whey protein powder after a workout

• blend up with some milk and frozen fruit for a smoothie

• or if you like to keep things simple, just blend a scoop in water. 

PRO TIP: Make sure you either use a blender or a hand-held frother to mix your colostrum into liquid. Because of how fine the powder is, it does tend to clump up and will not mix well if you only use a spoon. 

My Not-So-Favorite Part

My first order was one container of their vanilla-flavored colostrum and one container of their unflavored one. I should have known from the beginning that the vanilla would not be my favorite-- and that is because I have never liked anything sweetened with monk fruit. It leaves a weird aftertaste in my mouth that I do not like. But I wanted to have a thorough review so I thought I'd give it a shot.

With that said-- my husband doesn't notice a weird aftertaste from monk fruit like I do. He adds it to his coffee and loves how it adds just a hint of flavor! Nothing strong, over-powering or overly sweet.

So, if you are sensitive to natural sweeteners like monk fruit, I would skip the vanilla version and instead purchase the unflavored one. If you want a little something something in your coffee, I love naturally sweetening mine with a little maple syrup or honey.

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• How to Naturally Sweeten Your Morning Coffee
  

What I Noticed After Taking Colostrum for 30 Days

I love trying new health and wellness products so that I can write about them here and give you my honest feedback. I usually try to give each product a minimum of 30 days before I make my final judgment and decided whether or not it is something I'd recommend. 

Immune Response + Support

Cowboy Colostrum powder was easy to add into my daily routine as I just mixed it into my coffee. I didn't notice any negative side effects (other than the personal preference to avoid monk fruit..) and believe that it really helped support my immune system. 

The back story is this- during the time I was trialing colostrum both my babies got sick. We are talking fevers, and snot, and a trip to the urgent care for antibiotics kinda sick. For a couple of weeks I was running on pretty poor sleep. Historically, this means I'll get sick too. It's just part of the nature of having young babies with developing immune systems. With that said though, I believe the high levels of antibodies in the colostrum really helped to support healthy immune function and energy. 

Because despite all the snot (seriously, there was so much) I didn't have any more than a day of a sore throat. Praise the Lord! 

Hair and Nail Growth

Over the last few years I have seen a significant improvement in my hair and nail health. I used to have weak, brittle nails that would peel and crack all the time. But over the last few years my nails have been so strong and grow quickly- along with my hair. So I wasn't expecting to see a whole lot of difference here. But sure enough, after a couple of weeks I noticed my nails needing to be cut sooner than usual. 

Histamine Response

Historically, I have pretty severe seasonal allergies. And despite doing a lot to support my bodies histamine response, I still inevitably have a few days every year of puffy eyes, a runny nose, inflamed sinuses... and just overall feeling pretty blah. 

But looking back on the period I've been regularly taking colostrum to try it for this post (April 1- now {currently may 18th}) I haven't had any of those days. When I think of my typical allergy symptoms, I can say that thus far, they have been much​ more mild. This could be due to prolonged time of supporting my body through healthy food, a lower allergen year (although i've been hearing other people really complain about their symptoms lately so i'm not sure), or it could be the immune support through the colostrum.

I cannot pin point exactly what the cause is but either way-- i'm a fan. I am curious to try colostrum for a longer period of time to really see if that is the key to supporting my seasonal allergies. 

FAQ's About Colostrum:

What if you have lactose intolerance?

Colostrum by definition is the first milk products produced by mammary glands-- and contains many of the same enzymes as other dairy products. This statement is directly from Cowboy Colostrum site in regards to their colostrum:

Different from mature milk, colostrum has a higher protein and fat content, and much less lactose. Although a tiny amount, Cowboy colostrum does contain lactose. So for those with a severe milk allergy, this is not for you.

What is the research on colostrum?

Unfortunately, there are not a lot of clinical trials or recent research that I could find that were large enough to hold much credit. Most of them had a conflict of interest (meaning they were receiving funding or financially shared an interest in the outcome of the study). But there are some that I could find, and some had really cool positive effects and encouraging results! Hopefully, in the coming years, we see more credible research done on natural products to support holistic health

- this study saw a correlation between secretory IgA levels in saliva after supplementing bovine colostrum

- this study saw a reduction in HPV lesions after topical bovine colostrum was applied intravaginally (seriously, so crazy and COOL)

- this study supports bovine colostrum as an adjuvant therapy in cancer treatment

Is colostrum safe for children?

There are some studies showing colostrum benefits in children and babies, but ultimately that is up to your parental discretion. Chat with your family healthcare provider to determine if a colostrum dietary supplement is right for your child.

My Final Verdict

Do I think bovine colostrum supplements are a MUST HAVE product? Honestly, no. 

Do I think they can be beneficial depending on your personal symptoms? Absolutely yes. 

While I already live a fairly healthy lifestyle and maintain a whole food diet, I plan to keep colostrum a part of my daily routine. Especially in a high-stress season of having two young children, working and running a business, I just know my body can use a little additional support. Here are some other times I think having a premium bovine colostrum supplement on hand would be helpful:

• seasons of high stress- if you are traveling, have young babies, going through a stressful season in your personal life, or are trying to heal from health concerns are some of the situations where I would consider supplementing with colostrum. I like to think of historically how farmers would use colostrum they harvested- they did not take it year-round. Rather, they kept it on hand for sick calves or their own sick children. They would use it as a supportive supplement during that time, but it wasn't an everyday product month after month. 

• supporting your immune system- If you are looking to give your immune health an extra boost, colostrum may be a great choice

• healing your gut- whether you are trying to health a health condition (like inflammatory bowel disease or leaky gut) or just improve digestion, improving your gut health can take some time and colostrum may be some added support (in conjunction with the right food choices of course)

As always, this is not medical advice. Chat with your personal healthcare provider before trying new supplement products as some may not be right for you and your personal health. 

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