It started with an instagram infographic that featured colostrum on the list of "It Girl Must-Haves" along with collagen, green tea and sleepy girl mocktails. Next, TikToker popped up on my "For you" page claiming that colostrum helped her gut and immune health. A week later, one of my favorite podcasts ran an ad for colostrum powder, claiming it eradicated the host's chronic bloating. Then, like clockwork, one of my colleagues asked me, "Have you tried colostrum yet?""

I can't go five minutes lately without stumbling upon ads and testimonies about bovine colostrum, a form of milk secreted in the first few days after a cow gives birth. I'm not alone: A quick search for "colostrum" on TikTok generates more than 19,000 posts with supplemental hashtags. Meanwhile, there are dozens of TikTok and Instagram accounts dedicated to the benefits of colostrum, 1 of which has 169,000 followers.

According to its overnight fan base, colostrum gives users light skin, shiny hair, a midsection without bloating, and free-flowing breast milk if breastfeeding. "Colostrum has gained a reputation in the cosmetics and beauty industry as a new miracle ingredient for hair and skin health," said Dr. Min-Qing Lee, Chief Medical Officer of Hair and Skin Science Certified pharmacist Dr. Sue Ojageer, who has helped influencers and celebrities appreciate collagen powder and collagen-rich bone soup for their smooth skin and luscious hair. I agree to compare the colostrum boom to the recent obsession with vitamin supplements.

Like other viral miracle products, I'm skeptical. One cup per day of this powder can really provide health-altering results"I wonder if colostrum is really worth the hype, once and for all

colloquially referred to as "liquid gold," Dr. Lee describes colostrum as the earliest milk produced in humans, cattle, and other mammals, both during pregnancy and immediately after birth. "It's the first nutrition we receive and it's packed with vitamins, minerals and antibodies," Dr. Lee tells me.

Colostrum is excreted from the mother's mammary glands in the first 2-3 days after birth and is thicker and yellower than normal breast milk. Dr. Lee and Dr. Lee. Ojageer says colostrum also contains healthy fats, sugar, protein, growth factors and white blood cells.

Dr. Jolene Brighten, a board-certified endocrinologist, adds that colostrum is packed with immunoglobulins that protect the body from infections.

If you are taking colostrum in pill or powder form to mix it into coffee, rest assured that you are not drinking someone's breast milk. Board Certified Dermatologist of MDCS Dermatology Doctor. Brendan Camp has confirmed that the colostrum on the market is derived from cattle. Just like milk, colostrum comes from a cow's breast — but it's raw after an animal has given birth to a calf, whereas the milk you drink from a carton is produced later

like collagen, colostrum has been hailed on social media as the savior of hair, skin and nail health.

"Antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds, peptides, and prebiotics in colostrum are thought to have skin-stimulating properties," says Dr. Camp. It is said that by supporting the production of collagen and elastin, visible signs of aging can be minimized, but he says there is not enough data yet to support this claim.

There is also limited evidence that colostrum can meaningfully increase hair growth, Dr. Lee says. Bovine immunoglobulins contained in colostrum contain vitamin A, zinc and hyaluronic acid — all of which promote scalp health and therefore healthier hair. doctor... Lee also says that colostrum's antimicrobial properties can support cell turnover, reduce inflammation, and address scalp and overall skin troubles. However, as multiple factors can affect skin health, Dr. Lee warns that the results of adding colostrum to your diet can be different.

Finally, the effects of colostrum on gut health can also lead to better hair and skin. "Since colostrum seals the mucosal barrier and protects the body's immune system from inflammation, has a positive effect on the gut and can affect skin health, bovine colostrum is immune

So if we deviate from this limited number of studies, colostrum may help not only with aging, but also with atopic dermatitis, sunburn, irritation, or sensitive skin. But to say for sure, more research is needed.

Colostrum packs the biggest punch when it comes to your gut health. Immunoglobulins in colostrum may help "heal the gut" and improve problems such as traveler diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease, Dr. Brighten said.

When your stomach is functioning normally, the rest of your body also works well, Dr. Ojageer notes. "Gut health balances hormones in the body that affect mental health, skin health, and sleep," she says, adding that colostrum and proteins, growth factors, and, however, she recommends adding daily probiotics to colostrum, especially if she relies on the former to prevent urinary tract infections, bacterial vaginosis, or other problems related to vaginal pH balance. It warns that it should not be completely replaced.

And when it comes to using colostrum supplements for bloating and weight management— a claim TikTokers have repeatedly claimed— Dr. Bright says the evidence is once again inconclusive.

"Depending on the cause, it can help with bloating," she admits, but people should be aware that it can also cause bloating."Most of the evidence that it affects the appearance of the gut is anecdotal at the moment.

Bottom Line'Colostrum helps you and if you have not experienced any side effects, you should feel free to continue using it. However, if you are trying colostrum for the first time, be sure to manage your expectations.

Double-board Certified OBGYN and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Expert Dr. Lucky Sekhon says the high protein and low fat content of colostrum plays an important role in ensuring that babies are easy to digest and that breastfeeding has a great start."But she stresses that nursing mothers do not need bovine colostrum supplements.

It's not a necessary addition to your breastfeeding routine, as mothers naturally produce colostrum in the first days after childbirth, or even before the baby is born. "In order to receive colostrum directly from breastfeeding, we should focus on making sure the baby is properly latched," explains Dr. Sekhon. "If for some reason the mother is unable to breastfeed, use a spoon, cup, or syringe to express colostrum (from the mother) and give it to the baby.

She adds that while breastfeeding, it is especially important to check with your doctor before taking any supplements containing colostrum.

Just because everyone seems to be trying colostrum online doesn't mean it's a necessity for your health routine. All doctors I have consulted recommend checking with a doctor before using colostrum, Dr. Lee advises looking at other ingredients in your colostrum supplement before experimenting. "Some supplements and products may contain additives that contain common allergens, such as soy," he explains.

First and foremost, avoid colostrum if you have a dairy allergy (after all, colostrum in cows is a type of milk). And colostrum is not suitable for vegans because it is an animal byproduct. Some activists have also expressed concern about the ethics of depriving cows of colostrum from lactating calves.

In addition, Dr.Lee, like other supplements, is unlikely to see the results of colostrum intake unless the nutrients it contains are already deficient.

"We recommend taking dietary supplements for people who have been identified as having nutritional deficiencies that can cause hair loss or who are trying to optimize their health," he says. "I do not recommend it to people without defects or with contraindications to certain supplements."

Finally, there is no such thing as a miracle medicine. Users need to manage their expectations and make sure the rest of their lifestyle supports their overall health. Dr. Ojageer and Dr. Lee remind patients that hydration, exercise, good sleep hygiene and a healthy and balanced diet are the keys to overall health (including hair and skin health).

Colostrum is harmless to most users and can support your health (pending further scientific research). Still, Dr. Lee says, "The results vary according to the individual, based on their diet and nutrient absorption." Sufficient results can take time and may require patience and consistency.

Verdict Colostrum may be a new collagen. Packed with essential vitamins and nutrients to support gut, skin and hair health. But as with collagen, it is essential for anyone who tries it to manage their expectations with a healthy dose of skepticism. TikTok recommendations are not the same as research or professional medical advice.