Colostrum as you may recognize, is mostly known as the first milk that is produced by the mammary glands of a mother who has just given birth. It is rich with nutrients and one of the most important parts of a mother’s first breast feeding of her child. Now though, colostrum is being used as a nutritional supplement for adults, for much of the same reason it is held in such esteem for newborns. It has a mixture of powerful vitamins, minerals and amino acids along with antibodies that keep adults healthy as well by being able to boost our immunity and help us fight infections.

Rather than being produced from breast milk, colostrum is produced from cow’s milk which is then processed and made into powder for us to take as a supplement. The immunoglobulin’s that it produces help us to fight off bacteria, parasites and viruses and actually work to bind to the antibodies already made in our body. This activates our immune stimulating cells which work double duty to fight off infection. This works especially well in certain areas of our bodies such as our upper respiratory tract as well as our gastrointestinal tract. It has been shown to fight off disease causing organisms that frequently cause colds, diarrhea, and other common ailments.

Lastly, colostrum can be effectively used as a protein source, which specifically body builders and athletes are taking advantage of. It helps to supplement the lean body mass and can be used by those who do not get enough protein in their diet or just want extra protein to help with the lowering of fat in their bodies and raising of the lean body mass. The supplemental dosage is said to be around 10 grams per day for an overall effective intake.