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Troubleshooting Colostrum

8/23/2015

12 Comments

 
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So you've read my success story, you've read up on all the facts about colostrum and you made the purchase. But the results after the first few times you took it were less than favorable. What gives? Did I take too much? Am I just too allergic to dairy to tolerate it? Could it be this Windex of all supplements works for everybody but me? 


Not so fast... 

When it comes to troubleshooting colostrum, there are two things you should remember and they are:

  • It takes your body a little getting use to it, so start sloooow.

  • Intolerances/allergies to dairy might be an issue.

Now, let's explore each of these in more detail...

Detox symptoms


Colostrum can sometimes cause side effects, such as GI discomfort, nausea, head aches or worsening of symptoms. I spoke directly (on the actual phone with a human voice and everything) with the manufacturer of the brand I recommend (found, here) about this concern. She explained to me that colostrum causes the body to detox and release toxins. Because of this, the body needs a little time to get use to the supplement, similar to when you start adding probiotics to your regimen. Though the reaction to colostrum is not considered a "die-off" symptom like when introducing probiotics to the body, it's a similar type of reaction and the dose just needs to be titrated down to a smaller amount until the body adjusts to it. 

At my max, I was taking 2 tbsp. per day; one first thing in the morning and one at night, both on an empty stomach. I now only take half that and just once per day. When starting off, I usually recommend .5-1 tsp. once a day and then work your way up. Everyone will differ in dosage and needs, however.

Because I get asked this often, I'll add that it was about a month before I started to notice improvements and about 4-6 months before I could successfully re-introduce foods that once caused reactions. I've been taking colostrum for about a year and will continue to supplement daily with it. I figure I have spent my entire life causing damage to my body, so taking colostrum for an extended period of time seems practical for now. However, I'm open to weening myself off of it when I see it fit to do so.

Another option, per the recommendation of the representative I spoke with, was to simply continue high doses and push through the discomfort so as to reach that point of tolerance and detox more quickly. However, I don't recommend this, for no other reason than the fact that I don't like to feel worse before I feel better. I've gone through enough GI woes, thanks. 


Dairy Allergies and intolerances


Probably the most common concern I hear is about dairy. First and foremost, if you have any intolerances or allergies to dairy then use your best judgement and proceed with caution. If you get a little gas or inflammation after consuming dairy, it's probably worth a shot to try. Colostrum could help with that intolerance. But if you have allergic reactions that cause anaphylaxis and trouble breathing, just don't. 

When I first started taking colostrum, my IgG blood tests showed high allergic reactions to whey, casein and lactose, which are all found in dairy products. However, I did not have any reactions to the colostrum and was able to slowly re-introduce dairy after a few months. 

At the moment, I try to limit my consumption of dairy, but I do not have a problem digesting it when I eat it. My repeat of food allergy tests may differ from the original results because sometimes we have allergic reactions to foods because of our leaky gut, not necessarily the food itself. Heal the gut, reverse the allergy. 

It's important to remember why the quality of colostrum matters. The earlier the harvest, the lower the trace amounts of lactose and casein will be, the less likely you'll be to have a reaction to them. It's worth the investment to spend more money on the higher quality brands if you are concerned about dairy allergies and sensitivities. At the end of the day, only you know whats best for your body. I went years without supplementing with probiotics because they always caused more GI distress, until I found a soil based brand that has worked extremely well for me. Know your body, respect your limits and don't be afraid to branch out and try different forms or brands of colostrum.

Here are the main points to consider:
  • Colostrum is not dairy
  • Colostrum may contain trace amounts of casein and lactose
  • Early harvest of colostrum will contain less trace amounts
  • Poor quality colostrum contains transitional milk (dairy)
  • "Casein Free" colostrum contains up to 1,000 ppm of casein
  • Colostrum may reverse dairy intolerances
  • Goat, sheep or defatted colostrum may be an alternative
  • Every body is different

In addition to these points, here was something I found about the brand of Colostrum that I recommend:
"Lactose content has a great influence on allergic-like responses experienced by some individuals, if less than 77 mg then a response is not likely to occur. Surthrival colostrum is about 10.4% lactose or less, which is indicative of colostrum taken at 6 hours or less. Levels of lactose between 11 and 25% are indicative of colostrum taken within the first 24 hours and not considered “true” colostrum."
Read more, here.

It's still worth a shot


So while this is still a product I can stand behind, it does have a catch for some individuals and may not work for everyone.  

The best advice I can give you is to do your homework (see suggested reading material below), try it out, give it some time and adjust as needed. 

Best of luck!

Related Blogs:
How I Healed My Leaky Gut
Colostrum 101
Why Aren't We Talking More About Colostrum?


Never miss a post!

12 Comments
Jeff
1/7/2016 03:10:33 pm

I have had severe IBS for over a decade.. between up and downs and trying numerous products i stumbled onto the above mentioned one and am on day 5... unlike most positive reviews, i feel discomfort in half teaspoons once a day. I feel like this could be the colostrum doing its work and repairing, while my screwy digestive system attempts to fight back. Of course i want instant relief but realize its not going to happen. The lactose has bothered me throughout the years but im hoping this product makes that breakthrough in that area as well. I want to see this through. I am extremely sluggish and notice heavy eyes and falling asleep is like cake. So, that leads me to believe this is some sort of die-off effect. This blog is a bright spot for me and your knowledge wisdom in this area is a reason to keep going.

Reply
MzRa
7/13/2016 02:19:26 pm

I am on first two days with 2.5 gr colostrum. I feel bloating and severe cramps. Even worse than my previous symptoms. I want to decrease it to one gr per day from tomorrow. So strange :\

Reply
dusty kuhstoss
10/18/2020 09:35:20 pm

Just wondering how long did your cramping last when you started taking colostrum? I've been on it a week and just stopped from the cramps and upset stomach.

Alexandra
10/20/2020 11:07:51 pm

Dusty, if you start with a low dose (1/2 tsp. per day) and slowly work your way up ("slowly" is relative to your tolerance and needs) you should not expereince and GI upset. I have heard of this happening and it is common with dosing too high. I was on a very low dose for several days before increasing and then weeks before I made it to 2 tbsp x2 per day. Hooe this helps!

Reply
Josi
3/13/2016 02:28:46 pm

I'm thankful for your blog...it has helped educate me even further. I am into a year of research and suffering every step of the way...with LGS. I just visited my Primary Care Doc and she looked at me with such ICK reaction when i told her about colostrum..she say's "you know that's Mother's milk right, i mean Eck" was her reaction. I told her i may be suffering from LGS and i don't even think she heard what i was saying...These Doc's, i dunno...anyway, as i said, I am over a year now suffering with the worst IBS one can imagine...I've had it all my life but never to this degree of ab-normalcy..I long to feel normal again...I am on Symbiotics currently and am feeling the Herheimer. I've had to back off and then go up in dose, then back off a few times. I am extremely damaged and what is so damned frustrating is I got three Doc's and not one can tell me what is wrong and why this is happening...so i move forward in my studies of the gut and how it becomes damaged like this...may i ask the probiotic you are using? and can you post pics of the label on surthrival...thanks for your work and on encouraging others...i pray healing come to all....Josi

Reply
Marci
8/28/2019 11:28:21 am

Josi, my IBS symptoms went away less than two days after starting Keto. I see this is an old post, but it might help someone.

Reply
Becky
9/1/2018 10:19:09 am

Can I use colostrum supplements instead of the powder?

Reply
Heni
4/25/2020 07:30:12 am

Alex, you mentioned that you could not tolerate any probiotics until you finally found some soil based probiotics that worked wonders for you. Could you please share which one was it? Thank you!

Reply
Alex
4/25/2020 10:24:23 am

Hi there, Heni. Honestly, its been so long that I had trouble remembering. I am fairly certain it was by Swanson. Came recommended to me by Russ (Domestic Man). Its also inexpensive which was another perk. I haven't taken any in a while... maybe its time to re-integrate it ;) Let me know how it works for you.

Reply
Heni
4/25/2020 10:41:43 am

Thanx Alex for your fast reply! I have just checked the Swanson probiotics, wow, it sounds awesome. It comes with enzymes & minerals. Thank you! I will surely try it! I have hard time with simple probiotics.

Cyndy L
10/29/2020 05:30:46 am

Thanks so much for your information. I am so glad I found you in my research, as I just started colostrum for SIBO and IBS, but experienced die off symptoms the next day and wondered if I should continue or not. You've provided the info I needed. Thank you again.

Reply
Alex
11/1/2020 10:51:48 am

Cyndy, thats great to hear! Die off symptoms do happen but they can be managed by cutting down on the dose. A little goes a long way with Colostrum!

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    :::Author:::

    I'm Alexandra; blogger, paramedic, and eater of fat. 
    I eat bacon daily, take my coffee with heavy cream, eat the yolks and consume coconut oil by the spoonful. Because of this, I have never been healthier or happier in my life. Welcome to my blog, where I intend to abolish the fat phobia that plagues us and give dietary fat the healthy reputation it deserves.


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