Scientists presented a disturbing finding regarding the milk we drink -- it is contaminated with an organism that may cause Crohn's disease.

These findings were confirmed through the testing of 702 samples from California, Minnesota and Wisconsin, three of the biggest milk-producing states. It was discovered that at least 2.8 percent of the samples tested carried a dangerous organism called mycobacterium avium Paratuberculosis (MAP) that was both active and had the ability of multiplying.

It has been known that MAP causes Johne's disease among the cattle and sheep population. The continual rise of Johne's has become a concern among the dairy producers because of the way it wreaks havoc upon the bodies of the animals. MAP damages the animal's systems by triggering chronic inflammation of their intestines then spreading rampant throughout their bodies leaving them with a deteriorating disease and no practical cure.

Facts on Crohn's Disease

• Chronic inflammatory is defined as a disease of the intestine that initiates a wasting reaction in people's bodies
• Crohn's disease afflicts over half a million Americans
• Approximately 20,000 Americans, particularly young people, are diagnosed with Crohn's disease each year

Experts have noted a clear relationship between MAP and Crohn's disease. This could be seen from the tests that revealed nearly all of the people affected by Crohn's disease had also been affected with the MAP infection.

Despite the milk industry's awareness of this dangerous connection, they have decided to create clever marketing campaigns targeting children instead of investing time into finding out how to rectify the problem. The milk industry and the FDA argued that the milk was safe because it went through a pasteurization process, which they claimed killed off any dangerous bacterias such as the MAP infection.

Members of a research association that supports Crohn's patients have continued to push for removal of MAP from all dairy products and are waiting to see what the FDA will do next to address the problem.

Crohns.org

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

So not only does pasteurization kill the beneficial bacteria available in the milk, but it leaves a potentially harmful organism alive and well. The evidence for drinking healthful raw milk is well documented, and I suspect it is only a matter of time before the many reasons not to drink pasteurized milk become public. The solution to this contaminated milk dilemma -- drink raw milk. Raw milk is actually one of the more profound healing agents in inflammatory bowel disease. Rather than causing it, raw milk causes the disease to go into remission. Dangerous Grains are one of the main contributors to the development of Crohn's disease. There is fairly strong Paleolithic evidence that 10,000 years ago most humans did not consume many grains. They were hunter-gatherers who subsisted mostly on vegetables and meats. Ten thousand years is a mere blip in a biological sense for humans -- over 99 percent of our genetic make-up was in place, in fact, before we ever started consuming grains. When considered from this perspective alone, it is not too surprising that grains can cause a wide array of health issues. Contemporary humans have not suddenly evolved mechanisms to incorporate the high carbohydrates from starch- and sugar-rich foods into their diets. You can find out more about the dangers of grains in my new book. For those with Crohn's disease or IBS, coconut oil would be an extremely beneficial addition to your diet. The anti-inflammatory and healing effects of coconut oil have been shown to play a role in soothing inflammation and healing injury in the digestive tract. Coconut oil also has antimicrobial properties that promote intestinal health by killing troublesome microorganisms that may cause chronic inflammation. Related Articles: Don't Drink Your Milk! Pasteurized Milk and its Link to Autism, Part I Autism and Malnutrition: The Milk Connection More Reasons Why You Don't Want to Drink Pasteurized Milk Soy Milk Is Safe! That Is What the Formula Industry Says The Mystery in Your Milk