My Conversation on NPR Debunking Colostrum Supplements

You know what I didn’t have on my bingo card?!  Getting interviewed by NPR (yes!) based on a debunking I did of colostrum supplements last year!  

It's always a little surreal when a topic you've spent time fact-checking and writing about suddenly makes its way into national media. But considering how much attention colostrum supplements have received lately, it makes sense. They're one of the latest wellness products being marketed as the answer to just about everything - which, as you can probably guess, tends to make my evidence-loving ears perk up.

If you've spent any time in wellness spaces lately, you've probably seen influencers calling colostrum supplements "liquid gold" for everything from gut health and immunity to skin, hair, and athletic performance. 

Here’s the TLDR: Colostrum - the first milk produced after mammals give birth - is undeniably important for newborns. But a question that often gets lost in the marketing is whether something that benefits a newborn calf automatically provides the same benefits to a fully developed adult human.

The answer is much more nuanced than many supplement ads would have you believe - I know, shocking plot twist.

While some early research suggests colostrum may have applications in certain situations, many of the claims made on social media far outpace the evidence. NPR recently took a closer look at the science behind bovine colostrum supplements and invited me to weigh in on what we actually know, what we don't know, and how consumers can separate promising research from persuasive marketing.

If you've been curious about colostrum - or wondering whether the hype matches reality - I hope you'll check out the interview below.