Bacteria found in milk and beef linked to rheumatoid arthritis

“Drinking milk or eating beef could cause rheumatoid arthritis, scientists warn,” reports the Mail Online. However, the story is more complicated than the headline suggests. Researchers investigated genetic mutations in the blood cells of people with rheumatoid arthritis. They believe that mutations to a gene that regulates the immune system may “take off the brakes”, so that the body mounts an over-the-top immune response which causes inflammation and damages joints and tissues. They also tested people’s blood for DNA from Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis bacteria, known as MAP. Researchers have linked…