What Is Colostrum?
Colostrum is the cow’s first milk after giving birth. It is thick, very yellow, tastes a little salty, and is chock-full of essential nutrients, vitamins, antibodies, and proteins. It’s a nutritional powerhouse.
A calf is born with an “open stomach” meaning the barrier between the stomach and the blood stream is virtually non-existent. This allows the powerful antibodies, proteins, and nutrients in his mother’s first milk to be almost instantly absorbed and available. Essentially, the cow lends her own immune system to the calf via the colostrum.
The “open stomach” also makes him very susceptible to harmful bacteria in the first few hours after birth and so it is imperative that he suckle within the first hour or so (and before the barrier between digestive system and bloodstream naturally “firms up”).
What Are The Benefits of Colostrum For Humans?
Interestingly, human consumption of cow/bovine colostrum is gaining ground in the holistic wellness world (as science “confirms” what farmers and dairywomen/men have known for centuries). And for good reason.
Colostrum is designed to kickstart the immune system and growth of a newborn calf and is the perfect medium to do so. As such, it has some pretty impressive benefits for us, too.
1. Immune System Support
To bolster the newborn calf’s immune system, colostrum contains a high concentration of immunoglobulins—proteins that play a crucial role in immune function. These antibodies help protect against harmful bacteria and support a healthy immune response, making colostrum an excellent way to boost your immune system’s effectiveness and reduce the risk of infection as it can more effectively fight off illness before you get sick.
2. Gut Health and Digestion
Colostrum also supports a healthy gut. The growth factors and anti-inflammatory properties found in colostrum can help maintain the integrity of the gut lining, promote healthy digestion, and even help repair gastrointestinal tissues (just like it does for a newborn calf). If you struggle with digestion or are concerned about regaining/maintaining a health gut microbiome, colostrum can help you get there.
3. Performance and Recovery
For athletes and fitness enthusiasts (or those of us who just want to keep our bodies moving effectively), colostrum offers some compelling benefits. The growth factors in colostrum, such as IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor), have been shown to support muscle growth, enhance recovery, and improve overall performance. If you want to maximize your workouts, recover faster, or just avoid some of the soreness that comes with strenuous activity, colostrum could be a good option to add to your workout routine.
4. Skin Health and Anti-Aging
Colostrum is gangbusters for internal health to be sure, but it can also have a positive impact on your skin. The growth factors and proteins in colostrum can promote collagen production, which is essential for maintaining skin elasticity and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
5. Mental Clarity & Sustained Energy
Colostrum contains the perfect balance of nutrients, proteins, and fats to help support your body’s metabolism. With that support, you can experience enhanced mental clarity, balanced energy absorption, and sustained focus without a crash as colostrum helps to nurture the gut-brain axis. Other benefits include improved mood, sharp mental acuity, and consistent energy so you can do the things you love and love the things you do.
The long and the short of it is this:
Real food has the power to heal our bodies and keep us strong.
And colostrum is a powerful tool as you work to cultivate a healthy, vigorous, thriving mind and body.
How Do I Use Colostrum?
I always keep a couple gallon-size zip-top bags in the freezer to use when any other farm animal gets sick (piglets, dogs, chickens, baby lambs).
For my family, I freeze the colostrum in ice cube trays and then pop them into a zip-top bag. I’ll add a couple cubes to smoothies in the morning, homemade “frappucinos” for snacks, into soups, or even a cup of hot chocolate. My kids can’t taste it, but they get all its benefits!
Many people also freeze dry it and save it in powdered form to add to coffee, smoothies, etc. and because it is so nutrient-dense, a little makes a big difference.
Colostrum is only available when a cow gives birth and so is available fresh from my farm only select times throughout the year. Also, in accordance with Ohio law, is only available to current herd share members.
For more information and/or to join our herd share, click here. To get on the list for colostrum, please fill out this form here.
*Please note, these statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. For more science, research, and information, I suggest the Weston A. Price Foundation.