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...
Not so fast...
When it comes to troubleshooting colostrum, there are two things you should remember and they are:
Now, let's explore each of these in more detail...
- 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.
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:
In addition to these points, here was something I found about the brand of Colostrum that I recommend:
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.
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!
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!
