Thursday, March 12, 2009

Colostrum- For those who missed out on breast feeding

In the last decade, it seems some people are not satisfied with all the available food in North America. While a great majority seek a pill for all their health problems, some of us have gone way over board. Today, there is an intense interest in drinking colostrum. And this fad is not limited to the weight watchers and athletes; it is being used by thousands of individuals who simply want good health.

Colostrum is produced by the breast during the later stages of pregnancy. This milk is usually produced during the early days of breast feeding. The milk is slightly orange to yellow in color and quite thick in texture. Even though the volume is low, it is very nutritious. Colostrum has been thoroughly analyzed and found to be low in fat and high in proteins, carbohydrates and a number of immunoglobulins. It contains more minerals and less fat and carbohydrate than normal milk.

The human colostrum contains up to 20 per cent protein, predominantly immunoglobulins, representing the antibodies present in maternal blood. These antibodies protect the fetus from infections and help the baby grow faster and healthy. Unlike formula milk products, colostrum is easy to digest and highly recommended for all babies.

The amount of colostrum produced by the breast is fairly small. Just the initial breast milk is colostrum. It only lasts a few days and then the breast will start to make normal breast milk. For the baby, colostrum plays a number of roles including building up immunity and improving digestion. Now it seems that everyone who missed out on breast-feeding wants to get their hands on colostrum.

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