by Kathryn Kirby

Created on: February 14, 2008

As newborns, we enter the world with incomplete immune systems, as adults we start producing less of the powerful immune and growth factors that can be found in Colostrum. A perfect, natural pre-milk that all female mammals being to produce just prior to giving birth.

This pre-milk contains the necessary ingredients to boost the immune system and stimulates cell growth and repair. Doctor's tell expectant mothers about these benefits to their newborns in hopes of encouraging them to breastfeed and give their newborn the best possible start.

Scientists are now cheering about the effects seen when giving adults of all ages Colostrum as a dietary supplement. Naturally, human colostrum is only available for the first day or so after delivery and ethics prevents us from harvesting this pre-milk for retail consumption.

Again, scientists have found an answer to the dilemma and testing began on the possibilities of using bovine (cow) colostrum as a human supplement. Bovine colostrum has been shown to be almost identical to that of a human, carrying the same essential ingredients. Unlike humans, cows produce an over abundance of colostrum that can be collected for human consumption without harming the nursing calf.

However new this idea may seem to most of us, the fact is that bovine colostrum was used by medical professionals to boost immune systems to ward off infections prior to the invention of antibiotics and sulfa drugs. A few of our oldest vaccines were created by antibodies found in bovine colostrum, the Polio Vaccine for example.

While boosting our natural resistance to illness and disease, the ingredients in colostrum help regulate the thymus gland, control inflammation and protect against allergic reactions. It also provides anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal protection. As a result, it assists in fighting off colds, flu, diarrhea, ulcers and yeast infections.

Conditions like asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease can be eased with the addition of colostrum to the diet. Medical professionals have also recommended it to improve chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and HIV. Some say it can also be used to ward off and/or fight some types of cancer.

Reducing the damaging effects of free radicals, binding and transporting iron, speeding healing time and enhancing nutrient absorption are just a few of the growth factors affected by colostrum. It has also been proven to help build lean muscle, increase metabolism, improve memory and mood, increase the elasticity of skin and increase energy.

Adding a colostrum supplement to your diet can improve your over all health and performance at any age. Just be sure to talk with your health professional before adding a colostrum supplement to your diet. Remember while not all the facts are in yet, colostrum really is not just for babies anymore.

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