The first time I heard about colostrum was during an anti-natal class in South Kensington (run by the very lovely and equally beautiful Marina Fogle, Ben Fogle’s wife… anyway I digress)… Me and a bunch of other soon-to-be mums were told that the first bit of milk that comes out of your breast was packed full of many immune supporting antibodies, is antibacterial and antifungal and is packed with nutrients, minerals and vitamins. In fact, it sounded like there was very little that colostrum didn’t solve. When my sons were born I was lucky enough to be able to give them this “liquid gold”, and I honestly can say that I have not once thought about it since. Until, suddenly, colostrum entered the wellness world and is now being hailed all over TikTok and Instagram as the next frontier of wellness supplements. But don’t worry, in this instance it isn’t colostrum from some poor new mum somewhere – the colostrum on the market is the first form of milk produced by cows in the days following birth. It’s rich in antibodies, growth factors, peptides, and over 400 bioactive nutrients, designed by nature to strengthen a newborn’s immune system. Now, brands are tapping into this nutrient-dense formula for adults, claiming benefits from gut healing to better skin and immunity. Colostrum is freeze-dried, flavoured, and marketed as a daily dose of resilience. And it’s catching on, fast. We chat to two experts in Nutrition to unpack the hype and find out if this is a fad or something we should be leaning into.

Superfood Status 

Alice Mackintosh, Nutritionist and Founder of wellness brand, Equi London, explains, “A new-born animal (humans included) has a very immature gut and immune system, and colostrum is the perfect fuel for this new and delicate environment, being incredibly rich in immune-supporting compounds, growth factors, and nutrients to help prime the immune system and nourish the gut.” But such is the hype around Colostrum is that it is recently being hailed a superfood, this tends to be because it’s naturally packed with compounds not typically found in significant amounts in regular milk. Alice goes on to explain that these contain things such as immunoglobulins (proteins that support the immune system), growth factors (which play a role in tissue repair and Lactoferrin – “which is an incredible protein with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties”. 

Colostrum + Gut Health

“Gut health is probably what colostrum is best known for”, says Alice, “I see good results with it in my clinic, especially for people who have a very sensitive gut. The lactoferrin and growth factors may help maintain the integrity of the gut lining and some studies suggest it may reduce intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”) after intense exercise or illness and provide prebiotic compounds that support beneficial bacteria.” But if you were hoping that Colostrum is a one-size-fits-all approach, you’d be wrong… “For most people, focusing on a fibre-rich diet, diverse plant foods, and probiotic-rich foods remains the foundation of a healthy gut microbiome – with colostrum potentially acting as a supportive add-on, rather than a replacement.”

Which Colostrum Should I Buy?

To answer this I spoke to Eleanor Hoath, a Nutritionist in her own right and also the on-board Nutritionist to Healf.com – a market place for premium wellness products that have a rigorous selection process. “You want something that’s really clean, from grass-fed, pasture-raised cows, with strict testing to make sure it’s free from antibiotics, hormones, and contaminants. How it’s processed makes a big difference too. If it’s exposed to heat or harsh treatment, you lose a lot of those delicate immune and growth factors you’re actually taking it for.” Whenever I look to choose a supplement I often will ask what a few different Nutritionists choose and if there is a cross-over, if there is then it’s an obvious choice. In the case of colostrum, all roads seem to point to ARMRA, who use a cold-chain filtration method that keeps the nutrients intact. Eleanor also adds that she prefers using powdered colostrum in general as “they’re usually more potent and have fewer fillers than capsules whilst actually getting to the tissues and gut integrity.”

Is Colosutrum Here to Stay?

Both Alice and Eleanor seem to certainly think so. Whilst websites like Healf are seeing steady month-on-month growth in colostrum sales, it doesn’t just seem to be a hardcore wellness crown that are after them, which is likely a result of Nutritionist recommending them to their clients as well as the recent marketing boost they have been getting on social media platforms. Eleanor adds that “the change in attitude towards animal versus vegan lifestyle supports this. Less people are opting for vegan options and more people are choosing animal based options so this helps.” And because of this growing interest, studies are being conducted to support consumers’ anecdotal evidence that colostrum is working well to help support a healthy lifestyle. In particular, Alice homes in on where there has been study success: “There is some scientific backing for claims like immunity, performance, and recovery, particularly in specific contexts – for example colostrum’s antibodies and lactoferrin have been shown to support healthy immune responses and may reduce the risk of upper respiratory infections in some studies.” So it’s certainly seemingly living up to the hype. 

But What About Its Sustainability + Quality?

“Most reputable producers collect colostrum after calves have received the amount they need to thrive.” Alice says, “However, practices can vary, and conscious consumers should look for brands that give due focus to this – sourcing from small, pasture-raised herds and prioritising calf health and welfare.” Eleanor goes on to add “At Healf, we only bring in products that are transparent about what’s in them, made to a really high standard, and importantly have a solid reason to exist. Scientific evidence is a big part of that. We don’t need fifty years of research on something new, but there has to be a clear scientific rationale, safety data, and ideally some peer-reviewed studies to back it up. It’s about balancing innovation with credibility and finding brands that not just our expert panel approve of but our customers and community.”

words by Sadie Reid