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Addicted to Cheese? Here’s Why
Ever felt like you couldn’t give up cheese? Ever think it might actually be a drug? The surprising news is that as far back as the 1980′s researchers have known that cheese contains trace amounts of morphine. Seriously.
In 1981, Eli Hazum and his colleagues at Wellcome Research Laboratories reported traces of the chemical morphine, a highly addictive opiate. It turns out that morphine is found in cow milk and human, purportedly to ensure offspring will bond very strongly with their mothers and get all the nutrients they need to grow.
Researchers also discovered the protein casein, which breaks into casomorphins when it is digested and also produces opiate effects. In cheese, casein is concentrated, and so is the level of casomorphins, so the pleasurable effect is greater. Neal Barnard, MD said, “Since cheese is processed to express out all the liquid, it’s an incredibly concentrated source of casomorphins—you might call it dairy crack.” (Source: VegetarianTimes.com)
One research paper states, “Casomorphins are peptides produced from the breakdown of CN and possess opioid activity. The term opioid refers to morphine-like effects which include signs of sedation, tolerance, sleep induction, and depression.” (Source: University of Illinois Extension)
And another research study conducted in Russia found that a type of casomorphin found in cow milk might impact human infant development negatively, specifically in a manner resembling autism.
To make matters worse, cheese also contains saturated fat and cholesterol, which contribute toheart disease. One ounce of cheese can contain a large amount of saturated fat (check out this Fat Content of Cheese Chart).
A recent New York Times article states Americans now consume about 33 pounds of cheese each year. Reducing cheese and saturated fat consumption is something anyone can do to prevent heart disease, since “Unhealthy diets and lack of exercise may kill about 300,000 to 500,000 Americans each year.” (Source: Cspinet.org)
But as many know, cutting back on cheese can be challenging because of the good feelings – the opiate effects of casomorphins – it produces.
Chef Isa Chandra Moskowitz, a former self-described cheese addict said, “You need to give yourself a couple of months without cheese, some time to let your taste buds catch up with your ethics. It might sound like deprivation at first, but your body will adjust.”
“I started loving Brussels sprouts and butternut squash,” Moskowitz said. “I could taste the subtle difference between a raw and a toasted pumpkin seed. Once you figure out that you don’t have to cover everything in cheese, you start to become almost like a supertaster.” (Source:VegetarianTimes)
Source : Care2
Hold the cheese please? What do you think? Share in the comment stream below.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Claire Geel on -
I think....I looooove cheese. I am a full blown addict. I not sure if I can give it up *sniff sniff*. Maybe one day they can put on my tombstone "lover of cheesus"
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Permalink Reply by Misha on -
I love articles like this... I can't believe it! I used to love cheese as a kid, like most. I can only imagine what kind of damage teenage-food choices teamed up with raging hormones can do! Thanks for sharing!
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Permalink Reply by Lauren Woods on -
Including this comment? Now I'm so confused!
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Permalink Reply by Jenii Stevenson on -
I cracked up laughing..lol
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Permalink Reply by Lauren Woods on
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Now that people know, they can cut out the middle man and just get their hands on some morphine, buahaha! Lol jk
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Permalink Reply by Serena on -
I wonder if my health insurance would cover rehab for my cheese addiction?!
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Permalink Reply by William Pine on -
Well i for one agree that this cheese is an addictive drug, i too struggled with it for a while but fortunately my ethics and pocket gave me the strength to overcome the addiction, Now I am a vegan and proud XD
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Permalink Reply by Lauren Woods on
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Because you are so strong :)
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Permalink Reply by julie blackwood on -
I was addicted to cheese. I became vegetarian in 1980 but could not leave cheese completely alone! I have finally given it up. I can't bear what is done to dairy cattle. Anyway I believe that the body just gets used to the fat and high satiety value of cheese. These days it is much easier to give up. I use a vegan mayonaise to add a creamy fatty flavour and feel to rice cakes for example. I find it satisfying .
I am happy not to be contributing to the 'need' of over filled udders of poor cows to provide greedy humans with cheese , ice
cream etc.
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Permalink Reply by Lauren Woods on
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This is a wonderful story, and you are a wonderful person :)
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