How Does Colostrum Provide More Energy?

Secreted in the few days immediately following birth, bovine colostrum is known to contain a variety of essential vitamins and minerals that may contribute to better health. If you are feeling sluggish or find that you could use more stamina in your day-to-day, colostrum may just provide you with the energy that you need. Learn more about colostrum’s energy potential below.

Colostrum’s Effect on Energy

Colostrum is a rich source of all macronutrients (proteins, fats, and carbohydrates). This may provide a natural boost in energy as all of these components are necessary to provide and burn calories. Carbs are the most accessible source of energy, while fat and protein can also act as fuel when broken down.

Studies also show that bovine colostrum naturally contains higher concentrations of vitamins and minerals than cow’s milk, along with higher amounts of macronutrients mentioned above. Common nutrients in bovine colostrum include:

• Vitamin A
• B vitamins
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Magnesium
• Calcium

The sheer nutrient density may provide you with a boost in energy. Along with these nutrients, many of colostrum’s potential benefits come from three specific protein compounds: lactoferrin, growth factors, and antibodies.

Lactoferrin

An iron-binding glycoprotein, lactoferrin is considered one of the most powerful natural immune modulators. It can help to support your immune system and regulate responses to physical trauma and infectious assaults caused by bacteria and viruses.

Growth Factors

Bovine colostrum is a rich source of insulin-like growth factors 1 and 2. These are protein-based hormones that can contribute to the growth and repair of tissue.

Antibodies

Alternately known as immunogloblulins, antibodies are proteins within the body that work directly with your immune system to combat bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Colostrum contains three major types of immunoglobulins, IgA, IgG, and IgM.

Other Benefits of Colostrum

Colostrum’s rich nutritional content may directly provide you with energy, but its other potential benefits may promote your general health to help you feel more energized.

Supports Gastrointestinal Health

Nothing saps your energy quite like digestive issues, but colostrum may help to heal and protect your gastrointestinal tract. Studies suggests that supplementation with bovine colostrum may effectively reduce intestinal damage and clinical symptoms of colitis and similar inflammatory bowel diseases.

Supports the Immune System

Your immune system works hard to keep away disease-causing bacteria and viruses that could leave you tired and bedridden. Sometimes your immune system could use a helping hand. As mentioned above, bovine colostrum contains several compounds that may help to mediate immune functions and responses. Studies show that consuming bovine colostrum may effectively prevent pathogens from entering your system via your GI tract while modulating mucosal immunities in the GI tract. Colostrum may also affect the systemic immune system and possess anti-inflammatory properties.

In another study, distance runners were given a bovine colostrum supplement and evaluated for salivary IgA. Results show that the runners who had taken bovine colostrum had a higher concentration of IgA in their saliva compared to the placebo group. Higher salivary IgA levels suggest stronger immunities and an improved ability to fight common infections in the upper respiratory tract.

How Colostrum Gives Athletes Energy

Athletes put their bodies through rigorous punishment every single day to achieve the peaks of physical prowess. All of that training and exercise requires a constant need for energy, which is where colostrum comes in. The nutrient density in colostrum gives athletes an easy source for carbs and protein to fuel their workouts.

During intense periods of training, athletes are known to develop gut issues as a result of stress and increased body temperature. This results in a leaky gut, which is characterized by increased intestinal permeability that allows toxins and harmful microorganisms into the bloodstream. Athletes taking colostrum are shown to experience less leakiness and fewer gastrointestinal problems, including diarrhea, nausea, and cramps.

In a 10-week study, 29 highly trained cyclists were provided with either a supplement containing 10 grams of bovine colostrum per day or an equivalent placebo group (comprising 10 grams of whey protein per day). After five weeks of supplementation, the cyclists underwent performance testing, followed by five consecutive days of high intensity training and further performance tests. Results showed that the bovine colostrum group showed improvements in baseline performance and time trial intensity compared to the placebo group. The bovine colostrum group also showed a decrease in ventilator threshold. This suggests that colostrum supplementation may improve physical performance while preventing fatigue.

Bovine colostrum is a nutrient-rich supplement that may help to not only boost energy, but also promote general health.