Colostrum supplements are being used more frequently to improve immune function and give the body a boost in nutrients. While this is something that babies usually get from their mothers when they are first born, there are some studies that suggest that adults may be able to reap the benefits as well. And who doesn’t want to boost their health and feel their absolute best?
When it comes to taking a colostrum supplement as an adult, you probably won’t be turning to colostrum that’s sourced from a human being. Bovine colostrum is what supplements are based off of these days. In this article I’m going to be taking a look at the basics of colostrum, its benefits, what to look for when you’re shopping for a supplement and some specific examples of colostrum supplements that are reputable and trustworthy. Let’s get started so we can learn all we can about this exceptional supplement.
Quick Table of The Top-Rated Colostrum Supplements
Product Name | Type | Product Rating | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
1. ARMRA Colostrum | Powder | 4.9/5 | |
2. Zuma Nutrition Colostrum | Powder | 4.8/5 | Official website (use code GW for 15% off) |
3. Life's First Naturals Colostrum | Powder / Capsules | 4.7/5 | |
4. Immune Tree Colostrum | Powder | 4.6/5 |
What Is Colostrum?
Colostrum is the first bit of milk that a woman’s body produces during pregnancy and right after she has given birth. Breastmilk doesn’t usually come in right away after a baby is born. Rather, it can take a number of days before that is flowing. The little bit of nutrients that are coming from a mother’s breast once her baby has arrived is in the form of colostrum. Some women actually produce a bit of it during the last few weeks of pregnancy as well.
Colostrum forms in a woman’s mammary glands and serves the purpose of building up a baby's immune system. Colostrum is very high in protein, vitamins, minerals and various antibodies. It’s essentially liquid gold because of how nutrient dense and beneficial it is.
Colostrum contains very high levels of protein and fat along with some sugar. It contains white blood cells that produce a variety of antibodies. These antibodies can then be used by the body to strengthen the immune system to protect against infection. Your baby (or you) won’t need a ton of colostrum to reap its benefits. A very small amount contains concentrated nutrients.
Colostrum Supplement Benefits
I’ve briefly touched on some of the benefits that come from a colostrum supplement, but let’s take a much more in-depth look at what can be achieved with this potent product.
Could Improve Immune Health
It’s incredibly important for babies to receive colostrum when they are first born. Did you know that calves and fawns have to receive this colostrum during their first few hours of life in order to prevent some pretty serious health issues? While some babies don’t get breastfed by their mothers, they will receive similar nutrients from formula. However, there is generally the antibody support missing from a supplemented beverage.
The more antibodies that our body has, the healthier our immune system will be. Antibodies from colostrum can reduce your risk of type-1 diabetes, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis just to name a few conditions. This supplement can trigger an effective immune response that benefits the body while helping you build up a healthier antibody army.
May Help Fight Infections
If you get sick or come into contact with some sort of germ or pathogen, you can utilize a colostrum supplement to engage an immune response that has the potential to help you fight an infection faster than you would if you weren’t taking any kind of supplement. If you’re prone to lengthy illnesses that just don’t seem to go away on their own, you might be surprised at what you can achieve with a colostrum supplement for immune health. Colostrum also has antimicrobial activity in addition to antibody support that can protect you against pathogens and infections such as salmonella, coli and pseudomonas aeruginosa (the bacteria that typically causes pneumonia and a variety of blood infections).
Could Improve Gut Health
I’ve talked a bunch about colostrum for immune support, but did you know that you can also use this type of supplement to improve your gut health? Colostrum consumption can lead to the prevention and repair of your intestinal permeability. If you’re experiencing leaky gut symptoms like chronic fatigue, frequent bloating, bouts of diarrhea and food sensitivities, colostrum can help maintain the junctions that exist between the cells of your gut lining. This can even add to immune support.
May Improve Mood and Energy Levels
Colostrum contains a very vast profile of macronutrients such as proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Supplementing to increase your intake of these things has the potential to provide you with a natural boost in energy. Colostrum contains carbohydrates, protein, fat, carbs, magnesium, B vitamins and vitamins A and C just to name a few, All of these things are needed in order to burn calories and produce energy. When you’re more energetic and your body isn’t dragging, you’ll usually experience a much better mood.
Colostrum Supplement Side Effects
In general, colostrum supplements are well tolerated by most people. However, you may want to keep an eye out for any side effects that you may experience when you’ve started a new product. Watch out for signs of an allergic reaction such as facial swelling, hives or trouble breathing. In this instance, seek medical attention immediately. Less serious side effects can include nausea, gas, stomach pain and diarrhea.
What to Look for in a Colostrum Supplement
Chances are you’ve probably never purchased a colostrum supplement if you’re just now reading this article. Are you wondering what you should look for in this type of product? Here are some of my helpful tips you can use to pick the best supplement containing colostrum.
Look for Low Temperature Extraction
Using a low temperature extraction process to source bovine colostrum is extremely important if you are looking to retain as much of the colostrum’s nutrients as possible. There can be more than 200 different nutrient components in colostrum, and it’s ideal that they all remain bioavailable to your body during manufacture of a product. Using a low temperature to complete this process will protect any nutrients that are prone to breaking down when they are exposed to high levels of heat. This is a process that’s not only used to make colostrum supplements, but it’s used for other products as well.
Check for the Purest Sourced Bovine Colostrum Concentrate
By now you’re probably convinced of the benefits that you can achieve from a colostrum supplement. However, it’s really important that you’re choosing a product from a brand that ensures they source their colostrum from extremely pure bovine concentrate. Colostrum supplements designed for human consumption don’t come from a mother’s breast. Rather, it is made using the colostrum produced by cattle. Stay away from any products that contain fillers or artificial ingredients that attempt to mimic the benefits of pure colostrum.
Steer Clear of Unnecessary Compounds like Casein and Fat
Some lower quality colostrum manufacturers may attempt to buffer their products using compounds such as casein and fat, which is naturally found in colostrum. You want to look for a product that only utilizes colostrum to provide health benefits. Anything additional is unnecessary and just covers up the fact that you’re looking at a low-quality product. Most brands will remove casein and fat to produce a purer final product.
The 10 Best Colostrum Supplements for Adults
It’s now time to break down the 10 best colostrum supplements that I’ve seen for adults. They each come with health benefits and quality ingredients that will benefit your body. Let’s get started sorting through them.
#1. ARMRA Immune Revival Colostrum
The ARMRA brand has an innovative colostrum supplement as part of their product line that has been developed by a physician. Containing a very potent bovine colostrum, a precise cold-extraction process is used to protect the more than 200 nutrients that are originally included in the colostrum. ARMRA also ensures that their product is extremely bioavailable, so your body can reap the benefits of what you’re consuming. ARMRA has removed the properties of colostrum that your body really doesn’t need in order to leave you with a purer final product.
ARMRA utilizes collagen sourced from the purest bovine colostrum on Earth that comes from grass-fed cows raised in the United States on reputable dairy farms. Nothing is taken from the baby calves. Rather, this is a colostrum that is excess and doesn’t need to be utilized by the animals. Unnecessary compounds like casein and fat have been removed.
Learn more with our review of ARMRA Colostrum to get a better idea of what the product is all about.
Pros
- Contains colostrum sourced from cows that have an excess production
- Includes more than 200 bioavailable nutrients
- Protects your immune system
- Possesses potent anti-bacterial protection
- Mixes into a glass of water or another beverage
Cons
- This is a product that contains dairy, so it isn’t usable by people with an allergy to milk or dairy products. It is casein free, if that’s your sensitivity or source of reaction.
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Zuma Nutrition’s Colostrum supplement contains this highly nutritious nutrient that is found in the breast milk of mammals such as cattle. It has the potential to stimulate growth, healing, and repair in each and every organ, gland, and tissue we have in our bodies. Colostrum can also be used to support the immune system thanks to potent immunoglobulins that act as our first line of defense against all kinds of infections and illness.
The colostrum included in ZUMA Nutrition Colostrum Supplement has been derived from cows. It contains a large amount of nutrients, antibodies, digestive enzymes, minerals, and vitamins. Much more than you would find in cow's milk. The final product does not contain any amounts of milk byproduct such as lactose or dairy. You can utilize this product to repair DNA and damaged mucosal tissue, support optimal gut health and fight against harmful organisms. Containing the enzyme peroxidase, colostrum from Zuma can prevent damage from disease-carrying microbes.
Pros
- Supports Gut Health
- Heals the lining of your gut
- Supports a healthy immune system
- Improves athletic performance and shortens your recovery time
- Third-party tested for purity
- Contains organic ingredients
Cons
- It is recommended that you take this supplement on an empty stomach, so watch out for symptoms of GI upset
Life’s First Naturals Colostrum Supplement for Adults contains the potent ColostrumOne™, which acts as a comprehensive source of immune boosting activity, protective proteins, growth factors as well as prebiotics. All of these ingredients work together to support your health and help you feel your best each day. It mixes easily with water or milk, but you just want to make sure that you don’t add it to any kind of heated beverage. Otherwise, you could be destroying some of the nutritional composition of the product. No matter what your age is, you’ll benefit from regular supplementation of this science-backed colostrum supplement. It’s made in the U.S. from naturally derived ingredients.
Pros
- Helps support the body's natural immune response
- Boosts respiratory health
- Supports a healthy gut
- Balances digestive health by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria
- Aids the gut in its natural repair process.
Cons
- I’d like to see more reviews for this product listed on the company’s website. At the time of writing this, I only saw three included.
Anti-aging is about adding life to your years according to Immune Tree. Their Colostrum Supplement Powder is designed to help you take control of your health, so you experience a better quality of life overall. Colostrum6 has been formulated with natural biological life factors in the areas of immunity, metabolism and growth so you feel stronger the longer you use it. Natural Chymosin (also known as rennin) is a proteolytic enzyme included in Immune Tree Colostrum Supplement Powder. It has been included in a manner that bypasses stomach acids that could impede absorption rate. You’re encouraged to be creative with how you use your supplement. It’s a powdered supplement, so you can add it to a plain glass of water, milk or a healthy morning smoothie.
Pros
- A rich source of colostrum that supports metabolic growth
- Supports immune function
- Can promote joint and bone health
- 100 percent organic
- Gluten-friendly
- Formulated for excellent bioavailability
Cons
- You have to go looking for some feedback and testimonials for the Immune Tree brand. There aren’t any specific reviews or ratings included for their colostrum supplement.
Colostrum-LD Powder from Sovereign Laboratories is designed as a supportive supplement for a healthy immune system and healthy digestive system. Sovereign Laboratories recognizes that colostrum is the first food of life. They collect their colostrum from the first milking of Grade A dairy cows. They are not supplemented with rBST or BSE and are also antibiotic free. Colostrum-LD has been coated with bio-identical liposomal lipids that are sourced from milk and sunflower lecithin. This is done to protect the structural integrity of the colostrum during the digestive process.
Sovereign Laboratories has chosen bovine colostrum for their supplement due to its bioavailability to humans. It is also very high in naturally occurring immunoglobulins and growth factors. Lactoferrin and amino acids are also major components that will boost the body’s natural immune function.
Pros
- Has a 4.5 star rating out of five stars on the Sovereign website
- Supports a balanced immune system
- Antibiotic free
- Repairs a leaky gut
- Formulated with sunflower lecithin for optimal bioavailability
- Supports intestinal health
Cons
- This is definitely one of the more expensive colostrum supplements I’ve come across. A one-time purchase costs $43.95, but it will only last somewhere between 15 and 30 days.
Hearthy Foods has a bovine colostrum powder that is very rich in nutrients and probiotics. It even meets your daily protein needs if you feel that you have gaps in your nutrition. You can use this product to boost your immune function, reduce inflammation in the body and increase your energy levels. It can be ingested in a glass of water, juice or smoothie. You can also apply it directly to the skin for quick regeneration and to turn back the hands of time. With zero additives or unnatural ingredients, you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish with Hearthy Foods Bovine Colostrum Powder.
Pros
- Grass-fed bovine colostrum
- Does not contain any unnecessary additives
- High nutrient content
- Fights back against inflammation in the body
- Contains a naturally sourced probiotic
Cons
- I would like to see more online reviews for this product. There were only 12 reviews listed when I was looking over the website.
VSano’s Colostrum Powder is sourced from mother cows within the first 72 hours after they have birthed their calf. It is during this time that the mother cow will produce an excess of 8 liters of colostrum that typically goes unused by the calf. Rather than being discarded, it can go towards supplementation. This liquid gold can be used for human immune support, gut health, providing essential nutrients and repairing a leaky gut. This colostrum supplement contains less lactose than is found in cow’s milk, so people with a dairy intolerance should be able to tolerate it with ease.
When a calf is first born, he or she will have a leaky gut. This increased permeability of the intestinal lining will actually allow for beneficial bioactives to be absorbed into the blood stream. While our bodies are designed to allow for this process to occur on purpose after birth, we can use colostrum for the same benefits. Not to mention, you have the potential to support your joint health and muscle health. VSano Colostrum also contains at least 25 percent immunoglobulins that can promote human immune health. Its proline rich polypeptides will also support the immune system.
Pros
- 25 percent of this colostrum comes from the first milking
- Boosts your immune function
- Supports intestinal health
- Keto friendly
- Grass fed
- Does not contain any GMOs, pesticides or antibiotics
Cons
- It’s recommended that you use this product for four weeks in order to see its full benefits
Ancestral Supplements Grass Fed Colostrum contains powerful immune factors in the form of immunoglobulins and antibodies in order to fight infection and prevent disease. It also included proline-rich polypeptides, lactoferrin, glycoproteins and cytokines. Colostrum is very high in nutrients, enzymes, minerals and amino acids. You can use this supplement to heal, build and repair your body at a cellular level. This product has a good number of positive reviews listed on the Ancestral Supplements website. You may need to take the product consistently for a few weeks in order to see its full potential. This is a grass-fed supplement that is free of additives and artificial ingredients. It comes in a capsule form, so you don’t have to worry about a messy powder that needs to be precisely measured each day. Ancestral Supplements Grass Fed Colostrum can be taken on the go with you wherever you are headed.
Pros
- Promotes optimal gut health and immune support
- Contains essential iron
- Allows for human growth and cell repair
- Improves athletic performance and endurance
- Hormone and pesticide free
- Third-party tested
Cons
- Expensive (at $68 per bottle), but you get 180 capsules in one bottle of Ancestral Supplements Grass Fed Colostrum
#9. Kion Colostrum
Made from grass-fed, pasture raised cows, Kion Colostrum is a beneficial source of various vitamins, minerals, proteins, and enzymes. This includes things like:
Cytokines- These are small proteins that promote communication between the various cells in your immune system.
Lactoferrin- This is an essential protein that provides support to the overall health of your intestinal lining while also boosting your immune system.
Immunoglobulins such as IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG and IgM are antibodies that are the building blocks of your body’s immune response.
Proline-Rich Polypeptides- Amino acids that the body utilizes for regulation of the immune system while aiding in the production of white blood cells.
Growth Factors such as IGF-I, IGF-II and EGF are essential hormones that will help the body build and maintain tissues that are located in the GI tract.
This product is also free of GMOs and artificial ingredients / additives. All that’s included in this powder is 100% powdered bovine colostrum. There’s nothing else to review when you’re trying to decide upon a colostrum supplement. This is a reputable brand, with a 4.8 star rating out of five stars. There are over 170 reviews currently listed on Kion’s website.
Pros
- Promotes healthy gut function
- Aid in the body’s immune response
- Increases energy, endurance and supports athletic recovery
- Made from grass-fed bovine milk
- Contains natural sources of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and enzymes
Cons
- Can have a slightly lumpy consistency depending on what you’re mixing it with
NOW Supplement Colostrum Vegan Capsules includes naturally occurring immunoglobulins and lactoferrin to deliver biologically active proteins such to the body for the maintenance of lean muscle and a healthy immune system. Colostrum can also enhance the bioavailability of the nutrients that enter your body by way of the food you eat thanks to a healthy GI system. NOW has made this product free of all of the major eight allergens. It is also gluten free, soy free and corn free. It has a GMP Quality Assurance accreditation, meaning that the process of manufacturing the product, testing it and packaging it has been reviewed extensively.
Pros
- Made from natural and organic ingredients
- Scientifically formulated and clinically tested
- Colostrum in a capsule form for easy administration
- Gluten free and free of all major allergens
- GMP quality assured
- Can enhance nutrient absorption in the body
Cons
- Some people may reap the benefits of regular use of NOW Supplement Colostrum Vegan Capsules, while others may not notice any changes. Keep in mind, this doesn’t mean it’s not working.
The Bottom Line
At this point in time, we know that colostrum is very important in regard to early human development. However, not a great deal of research has been done to look at the effects of taking colostrum in adulthood. We do know that there are people that have seen amazing results from a product of this type. While we may not understand all that colostrum can do for the body, we know that it is extremely beneficial for the immune system, gut health, joint health and much more.
You may want to discuss taking a colostrum supplement with your doctor before starting any kind of regimen. However, this type of product is very well tolerated by those people who take it on a regular basis. Most brands recommend taking their product for at least four weeks before determining if you are achieving results.
Tips for Success from the Nutritionist
If you’re wondering what the best way to dose your colostrum is, here are some of my tips for success.
- Look for a powder supplement if you’re not a big fan of taking capsules and you want the freedom to choose your own dose. You can mix this powder into the beverage of your choosing. It’s recommended that you don’t mix it into anything hot in order to protect its integrity.
- Give yourself time to see how your body is going to adjust to this supplement. You might not see any big changes right away, but your body may be hard at work.
- Don’t forget that your allergies are largely tied to your immune system. If you’re suffering from ongoing allergies that don’t seem to go away with the change in seasons, consider colostrum to alleviate some of your symptoms.