Acid Reflux and Colostrum
“I began using colostrum for immunity, and to my surprise my acid reflux symptoms vanished the first month!”
About Colostrum and Acid Reflux
GER (gastroesophageal reflux, or “acid reflux“) occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) opens spontaneously, for varying periods of time, or does not close properly and stomach contents rise up into the esophagus. GER is also called acid reflux or acid regurgitation, because digestive juices—called acids—rise up with the food. Nature’s first supplement,colostrum, contains immunity factors, healing agents, and anti-inflammatory components. It protects against infection, initiates and maintains homeostasis (balance), heals the trauma of birthing, and promotes the regeneration of damaged cells. The components of colostrum are produced by our own bodies, but in decreasing amounts as we age, and that is partly why we age and why colostrum supplementation is so helpful. Bovine colostrum (from dairy farms) is virtually identical to human colostrum, but is more concentrated.
The Science
“Recent studies suggest that colostral fractions, or individual peptides present in colostrum, might be useful for the treatment of a wide variety of gastrointestinal conditions…” — Bovine Colostrum and Healing in the Gastrointestinal Tract, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 72, No. 1, 5-14, July 2000
“Transforming Growth Factors (TGF) are polypeptides which promote cell proliferation, tissue repair and maintenance (wound healing) and embryonic development. Dr. F.J. Ballard, et al, found bovine colostrum contained up to 100 times the mitogenic potency of human colostrum.”
— Beth Ley, PhD, Colostrum, Nature’s Gift to the Immune System
“Several colostrum components stimulate wound healing. Nucleotides, EgF, TgF, and IgF-1 stimulate skin growth and cellular growth and repair by direction action on DNA and RNA. These growth factors facilitate the healing of tissues damaged by ulcers, trauma, burns, surgery, or inflammatory disease. Colostrum’s wound-healing properties specifically benefit the skin, muscle, cartilage, bone, and nerve cells.” — Zoltan Rona, M.D., The American Journal of Natural Medicine, March 1998
Anti-inflammatory agents in colostrum: Colostrum contains interlukin-10, which reduces inflammation caused by arthritis, infection or injury whether from surgery or trauma. Colostrum contains lactoferrin, which defends against infection and cancerous tumors and is anti-inflammatory. “One of the major benefits of lactoferrin is its ability to reduce inflammation through the regulation of inflammatory cytokines such as Interleukin-1 (IL-1, Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF).” — Ley