Have you ever wondered why you cant stop nibbling at that cheese platter? or why we crave a cheesy pizza or melted potato bake? Or why your cheese keeps disappearing from the lunch room fridge?There is a very good reason that may surprise you - I know it did me - and like many health choices, it all makes sense now.
So what`s the big secret? Casomorphins. Sounds like a drug right? That cause it is. Likened to an opiate effect in our systems, cheese is full of it. Now it`s starting to make sense why you cant give up cheese, as many dairy free dieters will attest to! Opiates give a feeling of euphoria and calming. Yup, sounds like cheese (and cream). Milk and icecream have a similar effect, but of course is not as concentrated as cheese. So mature tangy cheese is even more loaded than softer white cheese, but don`t kid yourself, they`re still chock a block full of Casomorphins.
So how does this work? Pretty simple really - Milk is full of a protein called Casein that when digested creates protein fragments called Casomorphins which have a natural opiate effect on our systems. Casomorphins interact with opioid receptors which are involved with the control of pain, reward and addiction in the brain.
As a rough guide, it takes 10 kilos of milk to make one kilo of cheese, therefore, after removing all the watery whey, you are left with concentrated amounts of casein. When casein breaks down in your stomach, producing Casomorphin, it also acts as a histamine releaser, which is why so many people are allergic to dairy products.
Even if you are not allergic to dairy, the effect that Casomorphins has, means that you want some more..., oh and just a bit more, and before you know it you`ve overindulged, feeling very relaxed and much happier if not a tad regretful of the quantity you just consumed.
In fact, although cheese has always been a staple in many European households, the amount we consume in, on and over foods these days has more than quadrupled, adding to obesity and health problems.
Researchers have known since the 80`s that it is found naturally in mothers milk as well as cows milk, which also explains why babies get milk drunk and sleep well after a feed
It makes sense that many social gatherings have evolved around cheese, with such a strong relaxing effect on the body, just as they have around coffee and alcohol and why they all go hand in hand.
That`s why it`s one of the hardest foods to say NO to in life, and like all opiate drugs, causes bowel blockages if eaten in quantity and regularity. And on a more serious note, why dairy is now strongly related to several cancers, due to the IGF-1 triggered when processed in our bodies.
Don`t panic, I`m not asking you to give up cheese - unless you have an intolerance to it - but like all good things we choose to eat, be aware and choose moderation over indulgence.
