Colostrum has been trending on TikTok for the last few years, with influencers, celebrities, and doctors discussing its benefits and uses. But is it worth the hype? Short answer: Yes.
Colostrum is the first milk that all mammals, including humans, produce after giving birth. It has been called “liquid gold” for newborns, not only because it has a yellowish hue, but because it provides babies with critical life-supporting nutrients as they begin their new lives. Find out more about colostrum, how it works, and why you’ll want to consider adding it to your wellness routine.
Key Takeaways:
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Colostrum is the first milk produced by mammals.
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Colostrum is highly nutritious and jam-packed with nutrients that support a newborn’s immune system and development.
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Colostrum is different than regular breast milk because it’s more nutrient-dense.
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Colostrum benefits a newborn’s immune system and is seen as a beneficial superfood.
When choosing a colostrum supplement, look for one that’s ethically sourced and made without added growth hormones—like Zhou’s Colostrum Gummies, which come in a delicious, innovative gummy format.
What Is Colostrum?
Colostrum is the first, highly nutritious milk produced after giving birth and lasts two to four days after lactation starts. It’s like a pre-version of breast milk, and very important to the growth and development of a newborn baby.1
Colostrum can be distinguished from regular breast milk by its thickness and yellow or orange color. The reason why it’s vital to newborns is because it’s abundant in nutrients, including proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, hormones, and growth factors.2
Fun fact: Colostrum gets its distinct color from carotenoids and vitamin A.3
While there are no clinical trials confirming the benefits of consuming colostrum outside of infancy, the use of colostrum to help support overall health dates back thousands of years. Today, colostrum is used as a functional food or dietary supplement that is believed by some to help support the general health of adults as well.
What Nutrients Are Found in Colostrum?
Colostrum is a bountiful source of several nutrients, including immunoglobulins (these little warriors are antibodies).4
For newborns, colostrum provides the blueprint for a strong immune system and healthy growth. Because of all the nutrients found in colostrum, it’s considered Mother Nature’s original superfood. No wonder adults are interested in colostrum supplements nowadays!
What Makes Colostrum Different Than Breast Milk?
Colostrum is produced the first two to four days after giving birth. After that, there is a transition period of two weeks into what is known as “mature milk,” or regular breast milk.
Colostrum: This is the first, nutrient-dense milk and lasts two to four days after birth.
Transitional Milk: This begins about four days after birth. The consistency is more like regular milk, but it still contains small amounts of colostrum and lasts about two weeks.
Mature Milk: This is the milk everyone knows about. The consistency is more liquid, it’s a bit lighter than colostrum, and lasts until the body is done producing milk.
The Benefits of Colostrum
The benefits of colostrum for newborn babies are plentiful. Colostrum helps strengthen the baby’s immune system, provides a good amount of nutrition, helps set the health of the gut, and is even easy to digest.3
While there are no clinical trials yet to confirm wellness benefits in older children and adults, due to all the benefits that colostrum has to offer newborns, many believe that taking colostrum later in life continues to be beneficial to general well-being.**
Is Colostrum Right for You?
If you’re curious about trying colostrum, here are a few things to keep in mind:
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Source Matters: Look for high-quality bovine colostrum supplements that are ethically sourced and minimally processed.
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Choose No Growth Hormones: If you’re considering taking colostrum, you’ll want to look for a version that contains no added growth hormones.
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Consult Your Doc: As with any supplement, it’s a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider before diving in, especially if you’re pregnant, nursing, or have a medical condition.
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Start Slow: If you’re new to colostrum, start with a small dose to see how your body reacts. Most people tolerate it well, but it’s always good to play it safe.
Choose One That’s Tasty: If you’ve searched for colostrum supplements already, you may have noticed they tend to come in powder or pill form. That’s what makes Zhou Colostrum Gummies so unique. They come in an innovative gummy format and a natural peach flavor that’s sugar-free and delicious. It’ll make taking Colostrum a treat!
Zhou’s Colostrum Gummies Are Innovative
Most colostrum products tend to come in a powder format, but Zhou has figured out a way to provide the same benefits of colostrum in a delicious gummy format.
Our unique process protects the naturally occurring immunoglobulins found in colostrum, which is what makes them so beneficial; you can enjoy the benefits without compromising quality. Our Colostrum Gummies passed rigorous testing for immunoglobulins in a third-party facility to ensure that we meet the levels necessary for colostrum to be effective. Now you can enjoy the whole-body benefits of this bovine superfood in a sweet, sugar-free gummy experience. Mother Nature’s original superfood has never been easier to take—or tastier.
Choose Wellness
Colostrum is such an interesting superfood, and now you know a little bit more about it! If you’re interested in learning about more superfoods, read this blog on superfruits. Need help achieving your fitness goals this year? Learn more about the SMART method.
Follow @zhou_nutrition on Instagram for more fitness and wellness tips!
References
1 Godhia ML, Patel N. Colostrum-it’s composition, benefits as a nutraceutical-a review. Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science. 2013;1(1):37-47. http://www.foodandnutritionjournal.org/volume1number1/colostrum-its-composition-benefits-as-a-nutraceutical-a-review/
2 Arslan A, Kaplan M, Duman H, et al. Bovine colostrum and its potential for human health and nutrition. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2021;8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8255475/
3 Professional, C. C. M. (2024, May 1). Colostrum. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22434-colostrum
4 Mehra R, Garhwal R, Sangwan K, et al. Insights into the research trends on bovine colostrum: beneficial health perspectives with special reference to manufacturing of functional foods and feed supplements. Nutrients. 2022;14(3). https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/3/659
