Dear Lactnuts--

A dear friend of mine with severe colitis has been off dairy and gluten
for about a year. She has been symptom free for about 6 months On the
advice of her nutritionist, she started cow colostrum supplements last
week. Within the day, she had the most severe symptoms she had ever
had--cramping, diarrhea, bleeding, etc. She told me about it because she
was unable to leave the house for even an hour for a previously
scheduled meeting.

Of course not everyone would have such a violent reaction--in fact most
people can drink cow milk and be just fine.  But this is being touted as
a way for people to build up their immune systems, so it is being
targetted at a vulnerable population.

I note my friend's severe reaction because I think it highly likely that
had she been brestfeeding a cow's milk sensitive baby, the baby would
have reacted too.  Of course this is speculation--but my own daughter
reacted if I ate tuna with casein as about the tenth ingredient, so I
know how sensitive dairy-sensitive babies can be to even tiny amounts of
dairy in their mothers' diets. We all need to be aware that this new
source of dairy is out on the market and being taking by people who may
not think of this when we question their diet.

Whatever else cow colostrum may do or not do, this is an intense dose of
bovine proteins. What else could cow colostrum possibly be?  I am sure
it can help those who have a medical need for bovine proteins.  FOr the
rest of us, I don;t have an inkling of what benefits it may have.
Warmly--
Judy Gelman
Washington, DC

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