faq about colostrum 1- New Zealand Colostrum and Stem Cell Enhancing Products.

Frequently asked questions about colostrum continued.

	What is Colostrum?
	Can children take colostrum?
	Can I take colostrum with other supplements and medications?
	Do the immunoglobulins and growth factors in colostrum survive pasteurisation?
	How Does Colostrum Differ From Plain Milk?
	How does colostrum produce the anti-aging results?
	How does Colostrum interact with medicines?
	How Does Colostrum Work?
	How much colostrum should I take?
	I am vegetarian and I do not eat animal food.
	I don't want to take colostrum away from the calf that needs it!
	Is Bovine Colostrum Safe?
	Should Colostrum be pasteurised?
	Should I be taking colostrum if I am pregnant?

What is Colostrum?

Colostrum is the first food for growth and immunity; it is the pre-milk or rather the first lacteal secretion that is produced by the mother in all mammals immediately following the birth of her young. Colostrum is frequently referred to as “lifes first food”. It not only supports life but also makes it flourish. Colostrum is produced in the first few days following the birth of the newborn. Colostrum is a non-toxic, non-allergenic food supplement that has no negative interactions with drugs, food or other supplements.

Each drop contains the promise of life: the immunoglobulins, growth factors, antibodies, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, and other substances designed to provide the body with the ability to face a lifetime of invasion by micro-organisms and environmental toxins. Colostrum is a non-toxic, non-allergenic food supplement that has no negative interactions with drugs, food or other supplements.

Can children take colostrum?
Absolutely. Colostrum can help growing children in many ways.

Can I take colostrum with other supplements and medications?
Although colostrum has no known drug interactions, you may find that the other supplements and medications that you are taking could have a more pronounced effect.

Do the immunoglobulins and growth factors in colostrum survive pasteurisation?
Tests have been carried out on colostrum (which is flash pasteurised at 72C for 15 seconds) show that the colostrum retains its bioactivity during this process.

How Does Colostrum Differ From Plain Milk?
Colostrum not only contains all the goodness of milk but also contains significant levels of growth promoting and disease fighting substances commonly referred to as growth factors, immune factors and immunoglobulins. These substances are also present in milk but at negligible levels. Further, colostrum has a much higher protein, vitamin, mineral content and is lower in lactose.

How does colostrum produce the anti-aging results?
After puberty our body begins slowing down the production of growth hormones. These hormones are necessary for the reproduction of virtually all of our body cellular tissue. It has been shown that by age 80 we are producing virtually no growth hormones, and so we age and die. Normal reproduction means just that (normal) not aged, cancerous, wrinkled, or weakened. The New England Journal of Medicine (a few years back) stated that the most effective anti-aging process would be simply the replacement of growth hormones at proper levels to slow, possibly stop and even reverse the aging processes.

How does Colostrum interact with medicines and other supplements?
In effect, you will get more bang for your buck with anything you consume when you take Alpha Lipid Colostrum. Whether it is water, supplements or food. You will be getting greater benefits since your body will be able to utelize them more. You may even find that you don't have to take as much as normal since your body is able to absorb the nutrients better. There are no known contraindications with Colostrum use with medications or supplements. Colostrum is a food.

How Does Colostrum Work?
The main function in the newborn is in the form of transfer of passive immunity from the mother to the child. The mother has been exposed to a variety of environmental factors and organisms to which her immune system has produced antibodies during her lifetime. In transfer of passive immunity the mother passes on her complement of antibodies to these various factors onto her offspring. In humans and apes the mother passively immunises her young in utero by passage of antibodies through the placenta. In animals where maternal antibodies do not pass the placental barrier (horses, cattle, pigs, and sheep) the young are passively immunised immediately after birth by way of colostrum. In these species the maternal antibodies present in the colostrum are absorbed directly through the gut in the first few days following birth.

How much colostrum should I take?
The amount of colostrum you take varies from person to person. The label suggests 2 to 3 capsules twice daily, but if your recovering from an injury you may want to start off taking more than this. Also, if you feel a cold or flu coming on you may want to up your dosage to help you recover quicker and relieve your symptoms.

I am vegetarian and I do not eat animal food.
Colostrum is neither animal nor vegetable. We take very good care of our cattle and make sure they are healthy and live a long happy life. Mother Nature produced colostrum for every mammal on Earth and it is by far the healthiest choice. With that said, the choice is completely yours.

I don't want to take colostrum away from the baby calf's that need it!
Don't worry, we don't deprive calves of their colostrum. Calves need it as much as any mammal and many calves would die without it. We make sure the calves get their fill first and then we take the remainder.

Is Bovine Colostrum Safe?
Bovine colostrums have been used for years as a food supplement, its use and safety is well documented. Colostrum is completely safe; it has no negative side effects and is a whole and natural food that can be consumed in ANY quantity. There are absolutely no toxicity levels. Further the manufacture and use of dairy products, and their associated safety and nutritional benefits is also well known. Through quality control management of the entire manufacturing process, from collection of the colostrum, through to packaging and storage, ensures the colostrum is delivered in perfect condition, certified to be fit for human consumption.

Should Colostrum be pasteurised?
Absolutely! Cow manure can easily splash onto the udders contaminating them with E-coli, salmonella and other pathogenic bacteria. This creates the potential for contamination of dairy products.

Dairy products (for human consumption) must be pasteurised to kill these pathogens. There are two ways of pasteurising colostrum - the optimal flash (15 second) pasteurisation and a slow 30-minute vat process. Flash pasteurisation uses the expensive, high-tech equipment found in the modern dairy that does not denature the colostrum. With the less expensive, 30-minute pasteurisation process, a huge vat of colostrum is heated from the outside. It takes a long time to heat a large kettle of colostrum to the required temperature. During this interval, bacteria grow in the colostrum.

As the bacteria feed upon the colostrum, it denatures and destroys its effectiveness. Most colostrum that is being sold to the public today has been prepared for the animal feed market and has not been pasteurised. Colostrum is pasteurised to the most demanding of International Standards - 72°C for 15 seconds - to ensure the highest microbiological quality.

Should I be taking colostrum if I am pregnant?
Colostrum definitely wont hurt you or your fetus, but as always with anything you take during pregnancy you should check with your health care professional first.. Colostrum will help to supplement your immune system which suffers during child birth, it will help you recover faster and it will also help you to lose those extra pounds quicker associated with pregnancy.