What Is Colostrum? A Plain Guide

Colostrum has been a quiet staple of wellness shelves for years, and most people only know it as "that milk thing". It deserves a better introduction. So, what is colostrum? This guide explains what it is, what it contains, what researchers have looked at, and how people fit it into a day.

What colostrum is

Colostrum is the very first milk a mother produces after giving birth. It looks thicker and richer than the milk that follows, and it is made for a specific job: giving a newborn its first supply of nutrients and protective proteins while its own systems are getting started.

Compared with regular milk, colostrum has less lactose and more protein, fat, vitamins, minerals and small signalling molecules. The colostrum used in supplements comes from cows and is collected in the first days after a calf is born, then dried into a powder. It is a natural dairy ingredient, not a laboratory one.

What is inside

Researchers who have catalogued it describe a few standouts. The first is a family of proteins called immunoglobulins, mainly IgG. These are the antibodies a newborn calf receives from its mother. The second is lactoferrin, a protein that binds iron and has been studied for many years. There are also growth factors and other small proteins that scientists are still mapping.

Our [Colostrum Powder](/products/colostrum-powder) gives 2,300 mg of bovine colostrum per serving, standardized to 25% IgG, and our [Colostrum Capsules](/products/colostrum-capsules) give 500 mg per capsule with the same 25% IgG standard.

What researchers have looked at

Most of the human research on bovine colostrum has been done in athletes and active people, partly because hard training puts the gut and the body under strain, and that is a good place to look for changes.

In some of these studies, people who took colostrum had lower markers of gut stress during intense exercise than people who took a placebo. Researchers describe this as colostrum possibly supporting the gut lining under pressure. Other studies, and one larger review of ten trials, found that markers such as antibody levels in blood and saliva did not change consistently. In other words, the picture is mixed, and the best-supported area so far is the gut and recovery in active people.

A smaller trial in healthy older adults compared colostrum with whey protein and found that the colostrum group had better leg strength and lower markers of bone turnover. Body composition was similar between groups. It was a small study of about forty people, so it is a pointer, not a conclusion.

The reviewers who have gathered all of this are consistent about one thing: the studies are small, use different products and doses, and many included only men. They conclude that colostrum may offer some benefits for gut and general recovery, and that larger, well-designed trials are needed. The field is still growing.

Powder or capsules

Both forms contain the same kind of colostrum, and the choice is about habit.

The powder is the more flexible one. One scoop goes into 6 to 8 oz of cold water once a day. Many people stir it into a smoothie or a glass of cold water in the morning. It is a single scoop, which makes it easy to keep as a daily ritual.

The capsules are the tidier one. They are easy to travel with and need no measuring. If you prefer to keep everything in a pill organizer, they fit right in.

Things worth knowing

Colostrum comes from cow's milk, so it is not suitable for anyone with a milk allergy. It contains much less lactose than milk, but some lactose can remain, so people with lactose intolerance may want to start with a small amount or ask their doctor.

In trials, side effects were mild and uncommon. When they happened they were things like a change in taste, gas, nausea or an upset stomach. As with any supplement, if you are pregnant or nursing, under 18, taking medication or have a medical condition, check with your doctor first.

Where it fits in your day

Colostrum lives in two rooms. It is part of the [Settled room](/collections/gut-health), with the [probiotics](/products/probiotic-40-billion-with-prebiotics) and the digestive formulas, and it is part of the [Strong room](/collections/immunity-joints), with the immune and joint formulas. In rituals, it belongs to the morning, taken early with a glass of cold water.

If you like to build, the [Gut stack](/pages/gut-stack) pairs colostrum with a probiotic and a digestive enzyme blend, and the [Immune stack](/pages/immune-stack) sets colostrum capsules beside vitamin D3 and sea moss. You can add a whole stack to your cart in one tap with the saving applied for you.

Questions we hear

Is colostrum safe to take every day? In the trials we have seen, side effects were mild and uncommon. Many people take it daily. If you have a medical condition or take medication, ask your doctor first.

Is it vegan or vegetarian? It comes from cows, so it is a dairy ingredient and is not vegan.

Does it taste strongly? Some people notice a mild milky taste. Mixing the powder into a smoothie or cold drink makes it easy to take.

What does "supports normal immune function" mean? It is a general statement about the role the ingredient plays in normal function. It describes the everyday role of the ingredient in the body, not an effect on any health condition.

The short version

So, what is colostrum? It is the first milk, collected from cows in the first days after a calf is born and dried into a powder. It is a natural dairy ingredient with proteins researchers are still mapping, and many people keep it in their morning routine with a glass of cold water.

Keep reading

• [NAD+, explained simply](/blogs/almanac/what-is-nad-plus)
• [Shilajit, an old ingredient with a new following](/blogs/almanac/what-is-shilajit)
• [The Gut stack](/pages/gut-stack)

Meet the formula or step into the room.

Sources

• Bovine colostrum applications in sick and healthy people: a systematic review. PMC8308243
• Immunological outcomes of bovine colostrum supplementation in trained and physically active people: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PMC7231218
• A systematic review of the influence of bovine colostrum supplementation on gut permeability in athletes. PMC9227274
• The use of bovine colostrum in sport and exercise. PMC8225123

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This article is for general information and is not medical advice.