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 to heart 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)

Hold the cheese please? What do you think? Share in the comment stream below.

Image Credit: Dorina Andress

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Dale O.

11:02PM PDT on Apr 14, 2013

Interesting but if this is really such a problem people would likely only be eating cheese...no veggies, no whole grains. The fridge full of cheese, just overflowing. Many people drink a few glasses of milk per day or eat a small amount of cheese. How many people eat entire blocks of cheese in a day or rob the store to get access to even more 'addictive' cheese? There are no cases of people going to 'Cheese or Milk Addiction Centres' either or 'Chocolate Addiction Centres' for treatment. Has anyone ever been held up for the cheese or chocolate you have in the bag on the way home? Most people eat cheese in moderation, such a novel idea!

http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/basics/l/aa001109a.htm

Some vegans are against people eating cheese and drinking milk because they object to the use of animal products even if it not obtained from factory farms, such as from organic sources. Same goes for eating eggs even if organic or eating local raw honey and wearing any animal products such as a wool scarf.

April 14
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Donna H.

8:52AM PDT on Sep 24, 2012

Thanks.

September 24
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Colleen P.

8:48AM PDT on Sep 24, 2012

animal based morphine eh? the kind derived from opium poppies used in medical field. is a better one. if we need the morphine and not the cheese?

kidding, kidding.

don't forget now. you mothers are giving your baby human morphine in your milk.

Jessica E.

8:44AM PDT on Sep 24, 2012

Dr Neal Barnard explains it all so well in his video, Chocolate, Cheese, Meat and Sugar- Physically Addictive http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VWi6dXCT7I

Anne G.

1:30PM PDT on May 21, 2012

Well, now I know why I love cheese so much, and no I will not give it up.

May 21
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Stenar M.

1:20PM PDT on May 21, 2012

I haven't eaten cheese in about 4 years, but I still sometimes have cravings for it.

Sylvia W.

11:41AM PST on Feb 21, 2012

For what it's worth, most non-dairy 'cheese' also has casein - it is used in the processing - which explains my addiction to soy cheese - I have an allergy to cow milk so I started using alternatives before it became 'trendy'. For those who want to occasionally indulge without kick-starting the addiction look for Daiya brand - it is a non-milk cheese which is made without casein. I found it quite acceptable on my English muffin mini-pizzas recently. On the other hand, awareness is important. Now that I know why I love my 'cheese' I can be more selective about how often I use it.

February 21
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Sandra M.

6:07PM PDT on Jul 28, 2011

No matter how addictive cheese is if you are compassionate person your mind is powerful and you CAN stop eating cheese and stop supporting the very cruel dairy industry, it is much more cruel than just killing the animals for meat, they have to impregnate the cows to produce milk and create your beloved cheese, then what do the babies become?... byproducts, nothing more, they are either killed for veal if they make it passed the trauma or the even less fortunate ones will become milk cows just like their mothers, the mothers suffers after every calf is taken away year after year, almost 100% of milk cows get mastitis which means that you are also eating puss and blood in the cheese, that's right moldy milk with puss and blood. Any truly compassionate person can block the cheese addiction, I was addicted myself and now after 5 months I don't even miss it, not to mention I lost a lot of weight I was gaining, I went back to my teenage body.
Think about the animals who suffer for your palate everytime you take that bite and pretty soon you will find yourself turning away from it, that is unless you truly are selfish and just plain don't care, like people who wear fur they are well aware of the cruelty but for vanity they still support those cruel industries.

July 28
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Blueberry M.

7:33PM PDT on Apr 2, 2011

interesting

April 2
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2:01AM PST on Feb 23, 2011

Wow. I didn't know that. I thought cheese was so addictive because of the high glutamate content... And I'm sure it is, at least for me, as I've experienced the same thing with yeast extract and other foods high in free glutamate.... I'm fine as long as I completely avoid dariy products, yeast extract, dried tomatoes, algae, soy sauce, and of course artificial flavour enhancers (I don't eat meat anyway). But as soon as I have, say, a slice of cheese, I just can't stop.
Thanks for this interesting article which highlighted another possible aspect of my cheese addiction.