Bovine Colostrum and Swine Flu
The Center for Nutritional Research has a very informative artcle on Bovine Colostrum and its ability to help boost the immune system and prevent swine flu (DISCLAIMER: These statements have not been approved by the FDA).
Colostrum is the first milk produced by the mother following the birth of a child. It is loaded with all sorts of immune and growth factors that in the baby help condition the gastrointestinal tract and give it the immune protection it needs until its own immune system is up and running. In the adult, colostrum helps heal the gut, which is crucial to our health and well-being. Many, perhaps most, diseases and illnesses enter out bodies through the gut. They are able to do this because of the damage we do to the gut lining by things like drinking alcohol, coffee and sodas, smoking, taking NSAIDs and aspirin for pain, poor diet and the like. Our gut lining is also damaged by environmental toxins in the water we drink and the food we eat. A healthy gut lining keeps out toxins and disease-causing organisms, but a damaged gut lining can allow these through due to increased permeability.
Colostrum has been proven to heal these injuries and restore the permeability back to where it should be. It promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria while killing harmful bacteria, like H. pylori (a major cause of ulcers) and fungus, like Candida. The immune components of colostrum also helps protect us against pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Taking colostrum regularly as a nutritional supplement keeps us healthy and prevents colds and flu before they can take root. “
To read the entire article, click HERE.
Our family has been taking bovine colostrum daily in order to optimally support our immune systems (along with not eating sugar/grains). It can be purchases online or in a health food store. My kids don’t LOVE it, but two-year old will down a whole capsule with a spoonful of coconut oil and a splash of raw honey). My four-year-old will drink it mixed into a smoothie or green drink. If you’re really fortunate, you can find a farm that will sell you real live colostrum! We’ve gotten that before from our goat farm, and then cultured it—talk about a superfood!
For those of you who love to read scientific studies (or if you don’t believe me), you can find A LOT of studies (I stopped counting after 38; and I wasn’t even halfway down the page) HERE.
Stay safe and healthy!
5 Simple, Thrifty Immune Boosters
With swine flu threatening to be back with a vengence this fall, the authorities seem bent on everyone getting a vaccine. Vaccines developed in less than, oh, a few months, really make me nervous since they obviously haven’t had time to be really tested over the long haul. Personally, I would rather build my immune system to be able to optimally handle a virus. Whether you decide to get a vaccine or not, there are some simple things you can do to build up your immune system now:
