"The cow is of the bovine ilk; one end is moo, the other milk," is a rhyme by humorist Ogden Nash. It's the milk end that we're interested in — particularly the colostrum, the first secretion of the mammary glands of a cow after giving birth. (This happens for up to seven days, and cows produce far more colostrum than a calf needs.)

Bovine colostrum is higher in protein, fat, carbohydrates, magnesium, B vitamins, and vitamins A, C, and E than regular milk, and it’s very rich in antibodies.

That’s because it's designed to strengthen the immune system of a newborn and prepare the digestive system for receiving nutrition. And it can do the same for you.

Two randomized studies have found that taking bovine colostrum supplements decreases the incidence of upper respiratory infections (such as COVID-19) by 50%.

Other studies have found that bovine colostrum can also reduce gastrointestinal damage linked to NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and aspirin by 80%. 

Dr. Mike suggests that doctors who prescribe low-dose aspirin daily to reduce risk of heart attack, stroke, and 11 types of cancers consider adding this supplement to the regimen. He even joined the scientific advisory board of one company to see if he could motivate them to fund a study on the benefits of taking bovine colostrum with aspirin.

Talk with your doctor before trying this. But avoid bovine colostrum if you're lactose intolerant or pregnant.