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Symbiotics New Life Colostrum
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Frequently Asked Questions about New Life Colostrum
top of page Why Do I Need Colostrum, as an Adult? Once puberty has passed, our bodies begin the aging process by gradually producing less of the immune and growth factors that help us fight off disease and heal damaged body tissue. Colostrum is the only natural source of these life-giving components. Research has shown that colostrum not only supports immune function, but can help enhance fat utilization for fuel and optimize cellular reproduction). As far as we know, no other substance on the planet can provide all of these marvelous benefits. 
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How Safe Is Colostrum? Colostrum is a natural food that has been used for years as a food supplement. What If I'm Lactose Intolerant? The amount of lactose in colostrum is scant - 163 mg. in two capsules compared to 13,000 mg. in one 8-oz. glass of milk. Any discomfort would more likely be a sign that colostrum is healing the digestive tract. What If I'm Pregnant or Nursing? Consult with your medical professional prior to taking any prescription drugs, over the counter medications, herbs or nutritional supplements. This includes colostrum.
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Can I Give Colostrum to my Children? Pediatricians recommend that infants, who have not been breastfed, be given colostrum to supplement their formula. We suggest that you consult with your pediatrician for proper dosage information. If your pediatrician is not aware of the importance of supplementing with colostrum, the Center for Nutritional Research can provide him/her with information. What about My Pets? Bovine colostrum works wonderfully with cats, dogs and other mammals because it is not species-specific. The colostrum powder can be sprinkled over their food or a small amount added to their water. Most pets love the taste of colostrum. Encourage them to drink water after they take colostrum. How Much Should I Take? Each person is unique (age, weight, health problems) as to the amount of colostrum needed to achieve an optimal benefit. Remember, colostrum is a food and can safely be taken in any quantity.
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Can I Take Colostrum With Other Supplements and Medications? Colostrum heals the digestive tract so well that all substances taken internally (food, herbs, natural healing substances, and medications) will become more bioavailable to the body. Although colostrum has no known drug interactions, you may find that the other supplements and medications that you are taking will have a more pronounced effect. What is the Difference Between the Powder and the Capsules? Research is pointing to the fact that to receive the maximum benefit from colostrum, it should be taken both encapsulated and in powder form. Colostrum should be taken encapsulated, on an empty stomach with a full glass of water to enable the colostrum to reach the small intestine where the immune factors have been shown to do their best work. To receive the optimal benefit from the growth factors (repair body tissue, fat utilization for fuel, anti-aging), colostrum should be taken in powder form so it can mix with the acid in the stomach or mouth. The powder can either be mixed as a shake with water or juice (possibly orange juice) or taken sublingually (under the tongue).
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Are There any Side Effects from Taking Colostrum? Side effects are very rare. Due to its detoxifying nature, certain side effects may occur. It's possible for these toxins to produce minor rashes, bowel changes or flu-like symptoms until they are cleansed from the body. Most side effects stem from other supplements or medications that that are taken with the colostrum that are finally being utilized by the body. You may want to consult with your health care provider so that he can adjust or re-evaluate your supplements or medication needs. I'm a vegetarian. Isn't Colostrum an Animal Food? Although colostrum is an animal food, it has been an important part of the strict vegan diet of India's Hindu Rishis (spiritual leaders) for thousands of years. In present day India, the milkman delivers colostrum to the wealthy Vegans. It's interesting that cows are sacred in India, a country where vegetarianism is most prevalent.
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Can the IGF-1 in Colostrum Cause or Further Cancer? Recent developments have prompted an intensive search for information regarding colostrum involvement in the plight of cancer. This issue has evolved in part from the evidence derived from medical research studies indicating that IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor-1, plays a role in the progression of carcinoma or sarcoma. It is the position of Symbiotics, Inc., the producer of New Life Colostrum, that colostrum does not play a causal role in the onset of this disease, nor does it mediate the proliferation of cancerous cells. The role of IGF-1 in the proliferation of cancer cells is not exactly clear. Insulin-like growth factor 1 is a peptide hormone secreted by the liver in response to growth hormone. Mammals produce IGF-I for normal cellular activities. IGF-1 regulates cellular activities such as cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. A feature of cancer is uncontrollable proliferation, loss of differentiation and an inability to undergo apoptosis. Because IGF-1 is a strong regulator of these activities, it has been theorized that this hormone must have a strong impact in the progression and development of cancer. Research has shown that increased levels of IGF-1 in the plasma are associated with an increased risk of prostate and breast cancer. However, studies suggest that the higher levels of this hormone in cancer patients are a result of cancer cells over producing the insulin-like growth factors, not because of an addition of the hormone by an external source. It is very important to understand that the studies which have concluded that IGF-I causes the progression of cancer growth have all been focused on subjects with pre-existing cancer conditions. Perhaps a more objective study would include healthy patients, as well as patients with cancer. With this in mind, it can be surmised that reasonable documentation on the causal effects of IGF-I and cancer do not exist. Colostrum is a nutritional supplement that contains many bioactive compounds. Some of these molecules have been intensively studied to determine the effect they have on cancer cell growth and apoptosis. A recent study in Sweden focused on alpha-lactalbumin, one of the immune factors present in colostrum. This compound was found to cause cancer cells to "commit suicide." Another study emphasized the inhibition of cancer cell growth and induced apoptosis by Interleukin 4, a cytokine found in colostrum. Natural killer cells that are present in colostrum provide resistance against tumors, however these cells have thus far shown minimal cytotoxic activity. Other compounds that can potentially inhibit the process of carcinogenesis are Tumor Necrosis Factor, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, proline-rich polypeptide (PRP), and TGF-beta like peptide. Colostrum has been shown to have many beneficial health effects. However, taking colostrum cannot change the inherent genetics of an individual. Many humans are predisposed to cancer, and many of us have dormant cancer cells in our body. Colostrum supplementation does not change our DNA; our parents predetermine our genetic make-up. With any nutritional or dietary supplementation, the hope is to create a healthy being to discourage the proliferation of unhealthy cells. Clinical human studies specifically identifying the effects of colostrum on cancer must be implemented to assure the public that this supplement does not cause cancer, nor does it assist in the progression of the disease. There are numerous studies that exist describing the health benefits of colostrum, and the advantages that are derived from the use of this supplement. As providers of colostrum, we cannot ignore claims that our product causes cancer, or that a compound in colostrum causes cancer, no matter how false this claim may be. Hopefully the evidence presented here reveals the truth behind these claims so we can inform our consumers that our product is safe.
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Why is Some Colostrum De-fatted? Does This Minimize the Growth Factors? There are no growth factors in the fat content of colostrum. Growth factors are proteins and are not a part of the fat. De-fatting colostrum is important to keep the colostrum from going rancid on the shelf. How Safe are the Gelatin Capsules? Gelatin caps are recognized as safe and come from disease free animals.
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Should Colostrum be Pasteurized? 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 pasteurized to kill these pathogens. There are two ways of pasteurizing colostrum – the optimal flash (15 second) pasteurization and a slow 30-minute vat process. Flash pasteurization uses the expensive, high-tech equipment found in the modern dairy that does not denature the colostrum. With the less expensive, 30-minute pasteurization 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 pasteurized. Check the label to make certain that the colostrum product you are choosing has been flash pasteurized.
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Why is Colostrum Better if it is Collected Over 48 Hours Rather Than the First 6 Hours? The first milking after birth is reserved for the newborn calf. This colostrum may be very high in IgG but it also contains significant amounts of blood and mucous. The second milking of colostrum (collected during the first six to twelve hours after birth) is higher in IgG growth factor than subsequent milking. Because the level of IgG is high, the other more important healing components in colostrum, such as lactoferrin and PRP, are less. These factors are higher in later milking (up to 48 hours after birth). Is Estrogen found in colostrum? There is a scant amount of bovine estrogen in bovine colostrum. This form of estrogen is not bioavailable to humans when taken orally. We are seeing current evidence that colostrum's growth factors are balancing the body's sex and growth hormones – both male and female. It is advised that women on hormone replacement therapy that are experiencing symptoms of too much estrogen may need to adjust their medications and supplements known to boost estrogen.
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Why Can't I Get Colostrum From A Local Farmer? You can. It needs to be refrigerated and consumed before it spoils. Raw colostrum is not pasteurized and contains immune factors from just one cow. This differs from processed colostrum, which is concentrated and provides a broad base of immune factors that have been pooled from hundreds and sometimes thousands of cows. How Can I Afford Colostrum? How much money do you spend on supplements and medications that only treat or mask the symptoms, and do not address the underlying cause? Many of these remedies have the potential to ultimately weaken the organism. Colostrum not only deals with the cause, while protecting the body, but also may eliminate any need for future medications. How can you not afford colostrum?
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Why Should Colostrum be fresh processed (not frozen)? Quality dairy products, including colostrum, are never frozen because it changes the composition. This is noticeable with the look and taste of milk when you freeze and thaw it. Colostrum's effectiveness is greatly changed in this freezing/thawing process. Check to make sure your colostrum is fresh processed and never frozen.
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Quality Assurance Info These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. |