Benefits of Colostrum for Athletes

Benefits of Colostrum for Athletes. MIP Colostrum contains two important compounds that work together to build lean muscle mass,  IGF-1 and Growth Hormones (GH). IGF-1 (Insulin-Like Growth Factor) is a small peptide with a more potent anabolic effect than any known compound, including all types of steroids. 

During exercise, IGF-1 is the signal which triggers muscle cell proliferation. IGF-1 works hand in hand with GH to build lean muscle mass. In many studies, Colostrum has been proven to improve lean muscle tissue growth, improve muscle recovery, and reduce soreness. 

In these studies, it is important to note that testosterone levels did not increase, making it an incredible supplement for women too!

Athletes can experience a number of benefits from taking MIP colostrum supplements. These include:

Helps the Body to use Energy Efficiently

Athletes require strength and stamina to compete. Anything that will enhance endurance and maximize fuel is certainly an asset. During heavy workouts and in times of hunger, the body burns its own protein instead of fat. 

Studies have shown that Colostrum shifts fuel utilization from carbohydrate to fat, actually preventing the body from burning glucose for energy. One study showed that cyclists who took Colostrum reduced their fatigue by 22% and improved their endurance by 12%.

The additional growth factors in MIP Colostrum keep concentrations in the body high enough so that protein (muscle) is not compromised during heavy workouts. It also stimulates glucose transport in the muscle, making more efficient use of the available fuel. Athletes and bodybuilders often report that they lose weight while gaining inches.

Helps with Faster Recovery after Exercise

Each time we exercise strenuously, we cause minor injuries to muscle tissue. The muscle-building factors in MIP Colostrum repair this damage and strengthen the muscles. The benefits of MIP Colostrum extend to nearly all structural cells of the body. IGF-1 is the best-known compound for the synthesis and repair of cartilage.

Other compounds known as Transforming Growth Factors A and B are known for their ability to enhance healing and the synthesis and repair of both RNA and DNA.

This means that MIP Colostrum not only speeds up the repair of muscle tissue but also helps prevent injuries in the first place by strengthening tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. Athletes who take MIP Colostrum report that they have fewer injuries since their connective tissue is stronger and more elastic. They also report that they recover faster from workouts and competition.

Strengthens the Immune System

The immune system is the body’s first line of defense against infection. It is constantly on the alert for anything that does not belong in the body and will attack it with a vengeance. 

The problem is that sometimes the immune system can’t tell the difference between a cold virus and a protein in your food. When this happens, you may experience an “allergic reaction.”

An allergic reaction is when the immune system overreacts to a harmless substance. The reaction can be anything from a runny nose to anaphylactic shock, which can be fatal.

Athletes are particularly vulnerable to allergic reactions because the stress of training and competition often weakens their immune systems. MIP Colostrum contains both broad spectrum and specific factors that improve our immune system and help our body fight off all sorts of viral, bacterial, fungal, and allergenic invaders. 

MIP Colostrum supplements the body with the critical immune factors needed to fight infection (Immunoglobulin, Leukocytes, Cytokines, Lactoferrin, Interferon, and PRP) and fight allergies.

The letter Ig, which means Immunoglobulin, identifies the five types of specific antibodies, known by the names IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD, and IgE. Most circulate in the blood and lymph systems to bind to invading organisms and to activate specific actions that help rid the body of disease-causing agents. 

Their purpose is to help destroy invading pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi before they can multiply and cause infection or disease.

Helps in Gaining Lean Muscle Mass

Athletes are constantly striving to increase their lean muscle mass while reducing their body fat. MIP Colostrum helps them reach this goal through two distinct mechanisms. 

First, the growth factors in MIP Colostrum stimulate the synthesis of new muscle tissue. Second, they help to reduce body fat. Additionally, MIP Colostrum prevents muscle protein from breaking down, increases protein synthesis, and recruits satellite muscle cells that add size to muscle fibers.

One of the primary growth factors in colostrum, IGF-1, is known to increase lean muscle mass while reducing body fat. In one study, IGF-1 was shown to increase muscle mass by 10% while reducing body fat by 15%.

In another study, subjects who were given a colostrum supplement for eight weeks gained an average of 2.5 pounds of lean muscle mass while losing 3.5 pounds of fat.

Helps in Reducing Inflammation

Inflammation is a natural response of the body to injury or disease. It is characterized by redness, swelling, heat, and pain. Although inflammation is a necessary and beneficial response, it can become a problem when it becomes chronic.

Chronic inflammation is a low-grade inflammation that persists for long periods of time. It is a major factor in many diseases, such as arthritis, heart disease, and cancer.

MIP Colostrum contains a number of anti-inflammatory agents that help to reduce chronic inflammation. These include:

Leukocytes

White blood cells destroy invading pathogens and remove debris from the tissue.

Cytokines

Proteins that regulate the immune response.

Lactoferrin

An iron-binding protein that inhibits the growth of bacteria.

Interferon

A protein that inhibits the replication of viruses.

PRP

A protein that helps to repair tissue damage.

One of the primary anti-inflammatory agents in colostrum is lactoferrin. Lactoferrin has been shown to reduce inflammation in a number of studies. Make sure to read about the benefits of Lactoferrin to know about this natural protein in detail.

So, these are some of the benefits of colostrum for athletes. If you are an athlete or just looking to improve your health, consider adding a colostrum supplement to your diet. 

MIP Colostrum is the best colostrum supplement that provides all the benefits of colostrum in a convenient powder form. It is easy to take and has a wide range of health benefits. Give it a try and see the difference for yourself.

Is Colostrum Good for Athletes?

After reading the above information, the answer to this question is quite evident. Colostrum is good for athletes and individuals who want to improve their health and well-being.

If you are looking for a natural and effective way to improve your health, consider adding a colostrum supplement to your diet. MIP Colostrum is a high-quality colostrum supplement that provides all the benefits of colostrum in a convenient powder form or other types of supplement. It is easy to take and has a wide range of health benefits.

Does Colostrum Increase Testosterone?

Colostrum does not increase testosterone levels directly. However, it does increase IGF-1 levels. IGF-1 is a growth factor that stimulates the production of testosterone and other hormones.

In one study, subjects who were given a colostrum supplement for eight weeks had an increase in IGF-1 levels by 19%. Additionally, they had an increase in testosterone levels by 7%.

So, while colostrum does not increase testosterone directly, it does increase IGF-1 levels, which in turn leads to an increase in testosterone.

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Study Summaries on Colostrum and Athletic Performance

Edmund Burke, Ph.D. reports on research involving the Finnish Olympic Ski Team:

The athletes worked out extremely hard, and their blood creatine-kinase levels were monitored over a seven-day period. Creatine-kinase is a critically important muscle-cell enzyme marker of muscle-cell damage if detected in the blood. Thus, when blood creatine levels rise, it is often a sign of significant muscle damage. 

Compared to team members who drank placebos, the athletes who consumed Colostrum showed roughly one-half the blood creatine-kinase levels four days after acute exercise. They also said that they were less fatigued and that their performance seemed to have improved.

Because of its ability to increase stamina and endurance, the effects of bovine colostrum on athletic performance have been the subject of many studies. Supplementing with 20 grams per day in combination with exercise training increased bone and lean muscle mass in active men and women after eight weeks. (Nutrition, 2001)

The tissue composition of resistance-trained limbs experienced a significantly greater increase in circumference and cross-sectional area in people taking 60 grams of colostrum for eight weeks compared to whey protein for the same time. (European Journal of Applied Physiology, 2004)

Bovine colostrum supplementation during training significantly increased peak anaerobic power but had no effect on anaerobic work capacity (Journal of Sports Science, 2003)

In a randomized, double-blind placebo study, 51 active males received 8 weeks of training while consuming either 60 grams per day of bovine colostrum or 60 grams per day of whey protein powder. 

Vertical jump performance in the colostrum group increased by 3.0 cm, but only 1.3 cm in the whey protein group. ( 2000 Pre-Olympic Congress, Sports Medicine and Physical Education, International Congress on Sport Science, Brisbane, Australia)

Bovine colostrum supplementation at 20 grams or 60 grams per day improved trial performance in cyclists after a 2-hour ride at 65% VO2 max. Improvements in performance times were: 

37 seconds faster for the double-blind placebo-controlled group, 134 seconds faster for the 20 grams per day colostrum group, and 158 seconds faster for the 60 grams per day colostrum group (Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 2002)

Bovine colostrum helped make distance cyclists retain more energy following a bout of intensive training. Those cyclists using colostrum performed at a higher level with fewer signs of fatigue during tests taken after their 5 days of intensive training (Journal of Sports Medicine, September 2006)

Skeletal muscle is able to repair itself through regeneration. However, an injured muscle often does not fully recover its strength because the process is hindered. IGF-1 can improve muscle healing and regeneration (Muscle and Nerve, 2003)

After 8 weeks of colostrum supplementation, elite field hockey players improved significantly in the 5 x 10 meters sprint, compared to the whey-fed group (Paper presented at NSCA National Conference and Exhibition, Orlando, 2000)

Colostrum has been shown to improve athletic performance, reduce the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections, and reduce intestinal damage and permeability caused by the administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. 

Research scientists found that Supplementation with colostrum and whey protein during running training increases intestinal permeability in a study of 31 healthy subjects. And heavy exercise causes gut symptoms, in extreme cases heat stroke partially due to increased intestinal permeability of luminal toxins. 

Twelve volunteers completed a protocol (14 days colostrum/placebo) prior to standardized exercise. Gut permeability utilized 5 h urinary lactulose-to-rhamnose ratios. In vitro studies (T84, HT29, NCM460 human colon cell lines) examined colostrum effects on temperature-induced apoptosis, heat shock protein 70 expressions, and epithelial electrical resistance. 

In both study arms, exercise increased blood lactate, heart rate, and core temperature by similar amounts. Intestinal permeability in the placebo arm increased 2.5-fold following exercise, whereas colostrum truncated rise by 80% following exercise. In vitro apoptosis increased by 47-65% in response to increasing temperature by 2°C. This effect was truncated by 60% if colostrum was present. 

Thus, colostrum supplementation may enhance athletic performance and prevent heat stroke. Buckley JD, Bovine colostrum, and whey protein supplementation during running training increase intestinal permeability. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2004; 13(Suppl): S81.

Bovine colostrum supplementation and exercise performance: potential mechanisms. Bovine colostrum (BC) is rich in immune, growth, and antimicrobial factors, which promote tissue growth and the development of the digestive tract and immune function in neonatal calves. 

Although the value of bovine colostrum to human adults is not well understood, supplementation with BC is becoming increasingly popular in trained athletes to promote exercise performance. The combined presence of IGFs, transforming growth factors, immunoglobulins, cytokines, lactoferrin, and lysozyme. 

In addition to hormones such as GH, gonadotrophin-releasing hormone, luteinizing GH-releasing hormone and glucocorticoids, would suggest that BC might improve immune function, gastrointestinal integrity and the neuroendocrine system, parameters that may be compromised as a result of intensive training. 

A review of studies investigating the influence of bovine colostrum supplementation on exercise performance suggests that BC supplementation is most effective during periods of high-intensity training and recovery from high-intensity training, possibly as a result of increased plasma IGF-1, improved intramuscular buffering capacity, increases in lean body mass and increases in salivary IgA. 

However, there are contradicting data for most parameters that have been considered to date, suggesting that small improvements across a range of parameters might contribute to improved performance and recovery, although this cannot be concluded with certainty because the various doses and length of supplementation with BC in different studies prevent direct comparison of results. 

Future research on the influence of BC on sports performance will only be of value if the dose and length of supplementation of a well-defined BC product is standardized across studies and the bioavailability of the active constituents in BC is determined. 

PMID: 20030905 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]  Shing CM, Hunter DC, Stevenson LM., School of Human Life Sciences, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.

Bovine colostrum supplementation attenuates the decrease of salivary lysozyme and enhances the recovery of neutrophil function after prolonged exercise. Oral supplementation with bovine colostrum (COL) has been shown to enhance immunity in human subjects. 

However, there is limited research on the use of bovine COL supplementation to counter exercise-induced immunodepression as a model of stress-induced immunodepression, and previous research has focused primarily on salivary IgA. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of bovine COL supplementation on exercise-induced changes in innate immunity (neutrophil function and salivary lysozyme) in addition to salivary IgA. 

Twenty healthy, active men cycled for 2 h at approximately 64 % maximal oxygen uptake after 4 weeks of daily bovine COL (n 10) or placebo group (PLA, n 10) supplementation. Blood and saliva samples were obtained before and after supplementation and before and after exercise. 

Exercise-induced significant increases in markers of physiological stress and stress to the immune system (circulating neutrophils, neutrophil: lymphocyte ratio, immature granulocytes, atypical lymphocytes, and plasma cortisol), but there were no differences between the COL and PLA groups. 

Significant group x time interactions (two-way mixed model ANOVA) were observed for neutrophil function (stimulated degranulation) and salivary lysozyme concentration and release (P < 0.05). Significant exercise-induced decreases were observed in these parameters, and bovine COL supplementation either speeded the recovery (neutrophil function) or prevented the decrease (salivary lysozyme) in these measures of innate immunity. 

These results suggest that 4 weeks of bovine COL supplementation limits the immunodepressive effects induced by an acute prolonged physical stressor, such as exercise, which may confer some benefits to host defense.

PMID: 20030905 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher] Davison G, Diment BC., Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Aberystwyth University, Carwyn James Building, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3FD, UK.