There's something about commercial frozen yogurt

[Stephen]

I'm reading Jordan Rubin's "Patient Heal Thyself," simply for expanding my horizons and learning about others experiences.

As I read his story I stumble upon this line: "As I recall my eating habits in the two years prior to my illness, I can say that I consumed more dairy products than I had previously in my life, including commercial frozen yogurt."

This absolutely blew me away because I began working at a Frozen Yogurt shop not even 6 months before my diagnosis and was eating commercial dairy almost daily.

What is it about large amounts of dairy and especially frozen yogurt that tripped both Jordan Rubin and myself into Crohn's? I don't know.

Note that Patient Heal Thyself feels very much like a brochure for Jordan's Garden of Life supplements, but there's a lot of useful information there if you can see past the advertisement.

 

[Gianni]

I do see past the advertisements when it comes to Jordin Rubin. To be honest, I don't care that he's making money off the supplements because they are amongst some of the best ones and he always has vegan alternatives in his line !

I remember two years prior to my diagnosis I had been drinking a lot of milk. I felt like I needed to get stronger for high school sports and what not so I took caseinate and whey protein powders (derived from milk) and nearly had a glass of milk each night, not to mention the many bowls of cereal I had.

It's worth noting that some cows do pop up with Johne's Disease (the cow equivalent of Crohn's Disease). Yet of course they are still used as dairy cows.

One standing and very plausible theory is the role of mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis bacterium (MAP bacteria). MAP is a hardy bacteria strain that can withstand standard pasteurizing procedures and has been introduced into our diets.

Johne's disease (pronounced "yo-knees") is a contagious, chronic and usually fatal infection that affects primarily the small intestine of ruminants. All ruminants are susceptible to Johne's disease. Johne's disease is caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis, a hardy bacteria related to the agents of leprosy and tuberculosis. The disease is worldwide in distribution.

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_diseases/johnes/

Johne's Disease is caused by MAP. As far as Crohn's, it has been up for debate for a long time and is followed by much controversy. For me it remains suspect number 1, although I have many suspects.

http://crohn.ie/archive/research/chemo/htfull.htm

That is a 2 year study following Crohn's patience being treated with MAP targeted antibiotics.


It seems so strange to me that they were able to figure out the cause of Johne's Disease in a matter of a few years yet MAP hasn't been discredited nor credited for the cause of Crohn's... it's interesting that it was so easily pointed at for Johne's Disease.


I don't believe frozen yogurt would differ that much from other dairy products although I would like to be told otherwise if anyone else knows anything. I believe it's just any type of commercial dairy. I believe that fermented dairy can weaken MAP although I'm not sure on that.

I know kiny has quite a bit of knowledge on MAP and milk in general if he wants to chime in.

Bottom line: I avoid dairy like the plague.

Gianni

 

[nogutsnoglory]

If MAP is so widely distributed and it truly was a contributor to IBD, wouldn't we see so many more people with these diseases? I think dairy is probably not good for us nor natural but the math doesn't add up.

 

[Gianni]

A national study of US dairies, Dairy NAHMS 96, found that approximately 22 percent of US dairy farms have at least 10% of the herd infected with Johne's disease.
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_diseases/johnes/

The numbers aren't high and we are still seeing a steep rise in auto immune diseases. Bacteria may take years to create an environment malicious enough for your body to react as it does with Crohn's Disease.

Johne's disease usually enters a herd when healthy but infected animals are introduced to the herd. Herds that are not infected should take precautions against introduction of Johne's disease. Such precautions include keeping a closed herd, or requiring replacement animals come from test negative herds. In 1998, the United States Animal Health Association approved the Voluntary Johne's Disease Herd Status Program for Cattle (VJDHSP). The VJDHSP provides testing guidelines for States to use to identify cattle herds as low risk for Johne's disease infection. With numerous tests over several years, herds progress to higher status levels. The higher the status level, the more likely a herd is not infected with Johne's disease. In April of 2002, USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services-Veterinary Service incorporated portions of this program into its national program standards: Uniform Program Standards for the Voluntary Bovine Johne’s Disease Control Program (VBJDCP). VBJDCP test negative herds (often referred to as Status Herds) serve as a source of low Johne's disease risk replacement animals.

Just how a healthy cow could be infected but not show the disease progression or symptoms, the same could be said about humans. Bacteria isn't always going to infect the host especially if it isn't a suitable environment.

Also clear preventative measures are being taken.

Like I said, it's just a standing theory I would just like it to be looked into more seriously.

Gianni

 

[Stephen]

I remember two years prior to my diagnosis I had been drinking a lot of milk. I felt like I needed to get stronger for high school sports and what not so I took caseinate and whey protein powders (derived from milk) and nearly had a glass of milk each night, not to mention the many bowls of cereal I had.

It's uncanny how perfectly this describes me literally 6 months ago.

 

[Stephen]

Do you believe that MAP is the sole cause of Crohn's?

 

[Gianni]

Well I don't believe all Crohn's falls under one diagnosis. I believe many things can case an overreactive Immune system.

I do believe that yes, MAP, is a cause of a certain branch of Crohn's Disease. It very well could be reason for most of the cases, at the same time maybe not... hard to say.

 

[Stephen]

Well I don't believe all Crohn's falls under one diagnosis. I believe many things can case an overreactive Immune system.

I do believe that yes, MAP, is a cause of a certain branch of Crohn's Disease. It very well could be reason for most of the cases, at the same time maybe not... hard to say.

Well I think based on what I've seen from Jordan -- and maybe the fact that a drastic change in diet has worked so well for me -- that my IBD was caused by MAP.