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Written by Superhuman
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Saturday, 19 January 2008 |
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Ever feel like just when you are in the best shape of the season you get a bad cold, bronchitis or the flu and your training program suddenly grinds to a halt?
The immune system is the ultimate limiting factor of performance. Illnesses linked to immune system breakdown are just as devastating as a pulled muscle or sore knee. Colostrum, the pre-milk fluid produced by the mammary glands of all nursing mothers (both human and animal), may be just what the doctor ordered for boosting immunity during intense training. Colostrum promotes growth in newborns and protects them from disease by beefing up their immune systems. Australian researchers found that trained cyclists given colostrum supplements for five weeks improved immune function during normal training and following a period of intense exercise. The athletes had fewer upper respiratory illnesses compared to a group who received a placebo (fake colostrum). Several studies from Finland and the United States found that colostrum supplements increased IGF-1 levels in power athletes. IGF-1 is a highly anabolic substance that builds muscle and bone. At least five studies have shown that colostrum is a beneficial supplement for athletes. Inexpensive cow-derived colostrums can usually be purchased at any dairy. It’s also an ingredient in several commercially available supplements. (Journal Applied Physiology, in press; published online Nov. 9, 2006)
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