According to latest studies, there’s evidence that Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Lou Gehrig’s disease may be caused by a lack of a certain protein. The protein is called TDP-43 and reacts like a toxic protein in the body which destroys the brain tissue. The protein actually acts as prions, a special type of protein responsible for Mad Cow and Chronic Wasting Disease. After doing a lot of research on these two neurological diseases, scientists now think that the same process might be occurring in human neurological diseases.
50% of Alzheimer’s patients have prions in their bodies
A 2011 study found out that the TDP-43 protein was found in nearly 50% of Alzheimer’s disease patients, which definitely shows there’s a link between the two. A follow-up research on the study in 2014 discovered that 43% of the Alzheimer’s patients with the protein are 10 times more likely to experience cognitive impairment than the others. Knowing this, it’s clear that if we want to defeat Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, we should get rid of the TDP-43 protein. But, how does one even end up with it?
CAFO – a link between Mad Cow and Chronic Wasting Disease
Some prions have beneficial cell functions, but others can destroy our tissue. As natural herbivores are being forced to eat animal parts, it may be the reason for the TDP-43 in our body. This is why some experts suggest avoiding CAFO (confined animal feeding operations) meat, which accounts for almost all the meat we eat in restaurants.
As you may already know, CAFOs are extremely large animal-growing facilities. In there, animals are being fed with an unnatural diet rich in antibiotics and other types of harmful compounds which is a recipe for disaster. Add the fact that animals which are natural herbivores are being force fed with animal parts and the situation becomes even more dire.
Mad Cow disease is a plague created by man. It was created by the inhumane CAFO system by making herbivores cannibals, as remains from a dead animal could still feed other animals for a long time afterwards. The Mad Cow disease is spread by feeding cattle waste and bone meal, which is why some countries have banned the beef feed for cows.
However, the meat industry has found a workaround. They are now feeding cows with chicken litter which can also transmit the Mad Cow disease. This is a mixture of dead chicken parts, feathers, manure and chicken feed which should definitely not be given to cows. Cows shouldn’t be fed with cattle byproducts, but the industry is still infecting healthy cattle and consuming this meat may be the reason for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
On the other hand, the Chronic Wasting disease is triggered by domesticating wild animals and feeding them a diet not suitable for them. Sometimes, this disease may be spread by farm game animals. The infected elk or deer release prions into urine and saliva up to 3 months before the infection, and the prions remain contagious for a long time. Consuming infected game transmits the infection to humans, resulting in an increased risk of neurological problems.
The link between CAFO and Alzheimer’s disease
Consuming infected meat may be the main reason for the human version of Mad Cow disease – the Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. According to one report, tissue from the central nervous system of infected cows can be found in hot dogs and processed foods as well as ground beef. After contracting the human variety of the Mad Cow disease, it can stay dormant for up to 5 years and strike suddenly.
Last year, a Texas man became the fourth American Mad Cow victim. The symptoms of vCJD are similar to those of Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease and include dementia and memory loss. Some experts say that Alzheimer’s disease is actually a slower form of Mad Cow disease, although this is only a theory. The TDP-43 protein we get from infected meat can also raise the risk of Parkinson’s or Lou Gehrig’s disease, and which disease you get depends on the affected area of your brain.
The case for foodborne Alzheimer’s disease
The theory that neurological diseases are spread by the consumption of CAFO meat has been going on for a decade. In 2005, one study caught the eye of the public by revealing that Alzheimer’s and Creutzfeldt-Jakob often coexist, and that there might be a common pathogenesis between these two diseases and Mad Cow disease. Another study showed that 13% of Alzheimer’s patients are misdiagnosed and suffering from Creutzfeldt-Jakob instead.
In the study, the scientists also found out that bovine tuberculosis is a vector for the human version of Mad Cow disease. This disease is a prevalent threat in American CAFOs, with 20-40% of American dairy infected at all times. This makes it a great health risk and it was known for decades. That’s why milk containers often have the tuberculosis-tested sign on them.
Choose what you eat wisely
In order to protect ourselves from the dangers of these diseases, we need to pick our foods wisely. Instead of CAFO meat, we should make sure to eat organic meat. Make sure the meat was raised in humane conditions and wasn’t fed with antibiotics. Just like the meat, the produce you’re buying should also be organic. Make sure to add vegetables and fruit in your diet as well in order to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other health problems as well.
Source:healthy-holistic-living.com
