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Hey there,
Last week we met Toxoplasma gondii—the parasite that rewires mice to run toward cats instead of away. Creepy. But here’s the twist: you don’t need a cat to meet Toxo. Undercooked meat, unwashed produce, or plain old dirt can carry it too.
So how do you keep your odds low without paranoia? Three moves cover most of it.
1. Kitchen Rules That Matter
Heat wins. Cook pork, lamb, venison, and game meats all the way through. Freezing helps, but heat is the closer.
Wash like you mean it. Anything that touched soil—spinach, carrots, berries—gets a rinse.
Board boundaries. Raw meat on its own cutting board, always.
Toxo can form hardy cysts in tissue. They survive for months, even in chilled or frozen meat. That’s why cooking is your best defense.
2. Cats Are the Host, Not the Villain
Scoop daily. It takes a couple days for Toxo eggs in litter to become infectious—beat the clock.
Pregnant or immunocompromised? Delegate litter duty, no guilt.
Keep them indoors. Fewer hunting trips = fewer parasites brought home.
Cats are the parasite’s “final host.” They’re where Toxo reproduces, but the infection chain usually starts with prey (like rodents). So managing your cat’s environment matters more than blaming the cat.
3. Terrain Is Everything
Immune basics: Sleep, protein, and minerals like zinc/selenium keep your defenses sharp.
Gut support: Fiber + fermented foods help clear and rebuild.
Shoes off, gloves on. Don’t track soil inside; garden with gloves.
Most people infected never feel a thing. Symptoms often depend less on the parasite itself and more on the “terrain”—the state of your body’s defenses.
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Until next week,
Gabi & Bea