Often people say they are ‘addicted to cheese’ — does cheese and other dairy products contain addictive properties?
Researchers have hypothesised that the ingestion of cheese and other dairy products produces a similar chemical response and effect in the body, to that of opioids. Opioids are natural or synthetic substances that act on opioid receptors in the brain to produce morphine-like effects.
In the case of cheese and dairy, the answer lies in the casomorphins, which are protein fragments derived from the digestion of the milk protein, casein. The distinguishing characteristic of casomorphins is that they have an opioid effect.
How does this affect our brains and bodies?
Studies have shown that casomorphins bind with opioid gates, which are associated with pain control addiction and reward mechanism in the brain. Casomorphins play with the dopamine receptors and trigger that addictive element.
When so-called “addictive” foods are ingested, they release two important chemicals in the brain called opioids and dopamine. The opiads are released into the blood stream and bind to receptors in our brains, which give us feelings of pleasure and even mild euphoria. These are also the same opioids that are activated by alcohol, sex, heroin and other drugs. Dopamine is also what motivates us to eat in the first place. Its job is to build our anticipation of food and triggers us to remember, and then look for those foods we love.
In the case of cheese and dairy, once it is consumed, casein is digested slowly (compared to whey) and breaks down to produce the drug-like casomorphins that are then released into the bloodstream. The casomorphins then attach themselves to opiate receptors in the brain, which is thought to cause this addictive-like behaviour to dairy products.
It has been suggested that the opiates from casein in mother’s milk, produce a calming effect on the infant and may play a role in the mother-infant bond.
Are there other possible reasons why cheese and other dairy products are addictive?
It should be noted that just because something activates your opioid system doesn’t make it addictive. Therefore, it should be taken into consideration that there are other possible causes for someone to have a love for, or crave a certain food.
Remember, milk (and cheese) is a high fat food, and as any nutritionist knows, foods high in fat, sugar, and salt can have an addictive effect on someone. The consumption of these foods dates back to our ancestors and was actually a survival mechanism. Since food scarcity was an issue, it was optimal for our ancestors to consume foods that were higher in essential nutrients needed for our survival, such as fatty, sweet, and salty foods.
Our DNA may play a role as well when it comes to food addictions and preferences as it has a lot to do with a person’s upbringing: Chances are if you’re exposed to something as a young child, you’ll be less averse to it as an adult. Research has shown that people’s preferences for foods like coffee, artichokes, bacon, dark chocolate, blue cheese, and broccoli, are linked to variants in different specific genes. This is similar to salt as well.
Does eating too much cheese and other dairy products cause adverse reactions?
Firstly, the answer is obvious if you have an allergy to cow’s milk, or an intolerance or sensitivity to lactose (the sugar in dairy). An allergy is more severe and obvious in that it may cause anaphylaxis. However, symptoms associated with a lactose or dairy intolerance are less severe but might be prolonged. Symptoms include: abdominal pain, cramps, bloating, excessive wind (flatulence), diarrhoea, nausea, respiratory problems and even skin issues like rashes, acne or redness.
Even in people who do not have an allergy or intolerance to dairy, they may experience some issues processing it. Casein’s slow digestion rate also puts great strain on the digestive system in the fact that the body has an extremely difficult time breaking it down. In some people, excess consumption of dairy may cause an increase in intestinal permeability, which is a result of an inflamed and irritated mucosal lining (gut wall). As a result, an individual may experience malabsorption of nutrients causing nutrient deficiencies, bloating, abdominal discomfort, constipation, diarrhoea, fatigue just to name a few.