All About Mad Cow Disease (BSE): From Its Causes to Beef Consumption

Mad Cow Disease, officially known as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), is a terrible disease that causes holes in the brain like a sponge.

Mad Cow Disease, which once terrified the world, has been recognized as a serious problem that goes beyond a simple disease of cattle and threatens human health.

Today, we will take a closer look at the causes of mad cow disease, its effects on the human body, and various stories related to the consumption of beef that we enjoy eating.

1 Tragic Transformation of Herbivores: Causes of Mad Cow Disease

Mad cow disease originally occurs in cows, which are herbivores that live by eating grass.

But how does a terrible disease that causes holes in the brain occur in cows?

The cause is not only grain feed called 'concentrated feed', but also shockingly, behavior that is no different from 'fratricide'.

Cows have stomach structures that are optimized for digesting grass rich in fiber.

However, they are often fed grain-based concentrated feed to induce rapid growth and increase productivity.

This not only puts a strain on the digestive system of cows, but can also cause more serious problems.

The problem does not end here.

Mad cow disease is known to be caused by a mutated protein called 'prion'.

This prion is a terrifying entity that destroys brain tissue by modifying the normal protein structure.

What is even more shocking is that mad cow disease can be transmitted when certain parts (brain, spinal cord, etc.) of a cow infected with mad cow disease are used as feed and fed to other cows.

This is a tragedy caused by an act that goes against the order of nature, just like the cannibalism of Papua New Guinea or some animals that are omnivorous but feed their own kind.

Shadows on Humans: Human Mad Cow Disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD)

The dangers of mad cow disease are not limited to cows.

Humans who consume certain parts of cows infected with mad cow disease can develop a fatal disease called 'variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD)'.

This is a scary disease that causes holes in the brain like a sponge, causing neurological dysfunction and ultimately death.

Because of this seriousness, governments of each country are taking strong measures such as strictly restricting beef imports from countries where mad cow disease has occurred, prioritizing the safety of their citizens.

This is an inevitable choice to fulfill the national responsibility of protecting the citizens.

Beef Consumption Status in South Korea: Number 1 Importer of US Beef?

According to recent reports, South Korea is the number 1 importer of US beef.

American cattle, which are raised by grazing on wide lands, are known to have a relatively low risk of mad cow disease compared to cattle in Korea that are raised in densely populated areas.

In reality, cattle require a large area of ​​pasture for grazing, but in Korea, where the land area is small, densely populated farming is inevitable.

How to enjoy beef: Cooking methods and marbling debate

In the West, beef is mainly consumed by grilling it like steak, but in Korea, various cooking methods such as grilling, steaming, and soup are used.

In particular, at one time, beef with a rich marbling of the top plus grade was considered high-quality and enjoyed great popularity.

However, recently, as interest in health has increased, some say that the preference for marbling with high fat content is not as high as it used to be.

In fact, there are research results that show that fat, the main component of marbling, can oxidize when grilled directly over charcoal, etc., and produce harmful substances such as benzopyrene that are not good for the body.

Also, the meat juice that flows out when grilling meat is melted fat, which may be pleasing to the mouth, but may not be good for your health.

As the saying goes, "Bitter taste is good for the body," it can be said that eating habits that consider health are more important than immediate gustatory satisfaction.

Healthy eating habits: The virtue of moderation

In the East, it has long been considered important to refrain from speaking and eating moderately.

It is a wise teaching that you can maintain health only when you excrete more (output) than you consume (input).

Eating excessive food in pursuit of momentary pleasure can ultimately result in harming your health.

It's like when you gain one, you lose the other.

For this reason, many people have difficulty managing their weight, and the diet market may be constantly growing.

A balanced diet and appropriate exercise are essential for a healthy life, and when consuming beef, you need to consider the fat content and use various cooking methods to enjoy it healthily.

Mad cow disease is an incident that reminds us once again of the importance of safe food.

With a proper understanding of beef consumption and healthy eating habits, we will be able to live a healthier and safer life.