Should you drink bovine colostrum? Experts discuss the latest wellness trend loved by celebrities

Cow’s milk is making a comeback in the form of ‘bovine colostrum’.

As milk declines in favor of dairy alternatives like oat and almond milk, “bovine colostrum” – also called “liquid gold” – is being praised by a battalion of health enthusiasts, including famous “fitfluencers” like Kourtney Kardashian Barker and Gwyneth Paltrow.

The thick and sticky fluid, also called ‘foremilk’, is produced by mother cows to get a newborn calf through the crucial first three days of life.

Colostrum is produced after birth by all female mammals, including humans, and is packed with nutrients and antibodies to build a newborn’s immune system.

But it’s not just newborns who can benefit. Studies have shown that this first form of milk from cows can strengthen the immune system of athletes during intense physical training.

Alabama-based registered dietitian and culinary nutritionist Carolyn Williams told DailyMail.com that she is a big fan of the supplement — which sells in powder form starting at $50 a jar — and that she takes it daily.

She says that, in addition to improved strength, “studies suggest that taking colostrum supplements can improve gut health, reduce inflammation, boost immune function, lower the risk of flu and upper respiratory infections, and relieve stomach and digestive problems.” ‘

The nutritionist is such a fan of the ‘magic’ powder that she even tries to put it in her children’s drinks.

‘I love the potential benefits for overall gut health and the immune system, especially at this time of year when you’re more likely to get sick,’ adds Ms Williams.

‘Beef colostrum’ – also called ‘liquid gold’ – is being praised by a battalion of health enthusiasts, including celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian and Gwyneth Paltrow

Although it has long been stocked in specialty health food stores, bovine colostrum is now being packaged for the mass market and TikTok is flooded with users singing its praises.

The tightly packaged bovine colostrum, which comes in powder form for mixing with drinks, costs more than $100 per jar, making it one of the more expensive options to choose from.

Travel pouches are also available to make it easier to consume on the go, with the recommended dose being four one-gram servings per day.

Sarah Rahal, a pediatric neurologist and the brains behind Armra, told us Gosh she commissioned her own study into her bovine colostrum offering, “which showed compelling results.”

She said: ‘In just three months of taking two scoops a day, 86 percent of participants in our study reported feeling relief from bloating, and 80-87 percent reported an improvement in their muscle building, endurance and recovery .’

The doctor-turned-entrepreneur further highlights that colostrum has been traded on the black market for decades as it is known among elite athletes for its growth factors and peptides, which are exceptional at accelerating muscle building and tissue repair and repair. after intensive exertion.’

Bovine colostrum is not banned in the sporting world, but the World Anti-Doping Agency advises athletes against using it because it contains ‘high’ levels of IGF-1 and other growth factors that can affect the outcome of a doping test.

Ms. Rahal says she first began researching the benefits of bovine colostrum after experiencing her own serious intestinal problems that forced her to leave her own medical practice in New York.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle site Goop promotes ‘Armra’ as one of the recommended brands for bovine colostrum

Only when the needs of the newborn calves have been met will the surplus be collected for supplements

Now her goal is to get her product into “every household.”

When researching bovine colostrum, dietitian Ms Williams told this website that one of her concerns was that the newborn calves would ‘run out of their liquid gold’.

But after consulting with Dr. Keri Marshall, an experienced healthcare provider and epidemiologist, “her mind was put to rest.”

According to Dr. Marshall, who lives in North Carolina, does not raise additional funds for supplements until the needs of newborn calves are met. Mother cows typically produce colostrum for about 72 hours.

Armra founder Ms. Rahal also emphasizes that “baby calves can only consume about 50 percent of the colostrum produced. [and] the rest is seen as a waste product in the dairy industry.’

Her company buys excess bovine colostrum from “grass-fed cows on family dairy farms” across the US.

She adds: ‘We don’t just do that because it’s nice to say on the box – I put Armra colostrum in my body every day, I trust it.

‘The product I use for myself is what I make available to my customers in my company.

‘I care a lot about the animal where the colostrum comes from, because healthy animals in a healthy environment make healthy food.

‘That is one of our principles. And it’s all upcycled: this is a question we get a lot. Unlike humans, cows produce a surplus of colostrum.’

Kourtney Kardashian Barker’s lifestyle website, Poosh, also recommends bovine colostrum.

It describes the product as a ‘total-nutrition food’ [which] You can easily throw it into water, juice or something cold.’

Dr. Rahal says noticeable results typically occur after “four to six weeks of consistent, daily use.”

Despite bovine colostrum becoming a popular wellness trend, some experts have warned against it.

Registered dietitian Beth Czerwony told the Cleveland Clinic that possible side effects may include gastrointestinal problems such as nausea and gas.

She also emphasizes that supplements like bovine colostrum are not regulated by the FDA, so it’s difficult to know if you’re getting what it says on a supplement’s package.

There is also some concern about the growth hormone IGF-1 in bovine colostrum and whether it may cause certain cancers, such as breast cancer or prostate cancer.

Because bovine colostrum comes from animals, there is some concern about contamination from diseased parts of animals.

But WebMD notes that so far there have been no reports of people contracting diseases from bovine colostrum.

The nutrient-rich milk is normally collected and frozen at the individual farms and shipped frozen to central processing facilities.

It then undergoes pasteurization, possibly degreasing and the removal of lactose, before being spray- or freeze-dried into a powder.

Experts at Baylor Scott & White Health reveal that bovine colostrum is high in saturated fats and if not removed and ‘consumed in excess’ [it] could potentially increase cholesterol and the risk of developing heart disease.”

In light of these factors, Ms. Czerwony concludes, “It’s like the Wild West: people take what they want.

‘We don’t know how much to take and we don’t know how long to take it for. Does it take four to six weeks for any benefit to occur? Are you going to see him in two weeks?

“You are at your own risk if you try this supplement.”