Scientists Have Explained The Reasons Behind Humanities Obsession With Cheese
There is a real scientific reason to why the West loves cheese so much: it is just as addictive as morphine.
How come? Well, prepare yourself because here comes the science.
Dairy products all contain a protein chain called casein. In the cheese-making process casein gets really concentrated and then when your body comes to break it down, it doesn’t always do it - sometimes staying in bead-like chains of amino acids.
These chains can contain four, five, or seven amino acids, and the shorter ones are called casomorphins - a bit like morphine in structure. Because of this similar structure, they can attach to your brain’s opiate receptors and make your mind start begging for more.
It takes 10lbs of milk to make 1 lb of cheese. As milk is turned into cheese, most of its water is removed leaving behind concentrated casein and fat. So, concentrated dairy products, like cheese, have especially high levels of opiates.
At this point you might be wondering what the evolutionary basis might be for these opiates to be in a mammal’s milk. Dr. Neal Barnard, founder and president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), explains that, “It appears that the opiates from mother’s milk produce a calming effect on the infant and, in fact, may be responsible for a good measure of the mother-infant bond.”
“Like it or not, mother’s milk has a drug-like effect on the baby’s brain that ensures that the baby will bond with Mom and continue to nurse and get the nutrients all babies need. Like heroin or codeine, casomorphins slow intestinal movements and have a decided antidiarrheal effect. The opiate effect may be why adults often find that cheese can be constipating, just as opiate painkillers are.”
