The case of the missing sniffles
One of our editors tends to get sick in the winter, and yet, this winter, he has not had so much as the sniffles. We asked what he thought was responsible, and whether he is doing anything differently this year.
Most of what he is doing is the same as what he has done in the past. He washes his hands frequently (a trick any school teacher knows), uses a protective agent, Dermashield (http://www.dermashieldusa.com/), and tries to avoid being around sick people. He has also, at the recommendation of a friend, been taking colostrum (http://www.symbiotics.com/, and bought at http://www.vitacost.com/SymbioticsNewLifeColostrumPLUS/). Colostrum, better known as mothers’ milk, has a positive effect of the immune system of babies. Indeed, the colostrum FAQ from La Leche League at http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/colostrum.html says:
“Colostrum actually works as a natural and 100% safe vaccine. It contains large quantities of an antibody called secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA) which is a new substance to the newborn. Before your baby was born, he received the benefit of another antibody, called IgG, through your placenta. IgG worked through the baby’s circulatory system, but IgA protects the baby in the places most likely to come under attack from germs, namely the mucous membranes in the throat, lungs, and intestines.
Colostrum has an especially important role to play in the baby’s gastrointestinal tract. A newborn’s intestines are very permeable. Colostrum seals the holes by “painting” the gastrointestinal tract with a barrier which mostly prevents foreign substances from penetrating and possibly sensitizing a baby to foods the mother has eaten.
Colostrum also contains high concentrations of leukocytes, protective white cells which can destroy disease-causing bacteria and viruses.”
Since most of us don’t have a ready supply of lactating mothers, the colostrum used is from cows. According to http://www.colostruminfo.com/, “Bovine (cow) colostrum is nearly identical to human colostrum but research confirms it is four times richer in immune factors than human colostrum.”
While we can’t vouch for the efficacy of mothers’ milk with adults, nor that it is the mothers’ milk that has been keeping him healthy, the idea has a certain charm to it, and might be worth your examination.
