Grilled Opiates on Rye?

“This grilled cheese has too much cheese,” I would complain as a child. I probably felt that too much cheese would choke me if I wasn’t careful. But eventually, my tastes changed and I couldn’t get enough cheese. Whenever I got the craving, I would throw some cheese in the microwave. I was ever so careful so I wouldn’t burn my fingers on the hot bowl when I took it out scurrying off to the living room to sit in front of the TV with a steaming bowl of plain, melted cheese. I loved cheese with all of my heart. It held a special place in my psyche, right next to Captain Planet and Raphael (the red Ninja Turtle). I didn’t know that eating a bowl of melted cheese was weird until a friend came over to play. He laughed at how strange it was and made me self conscious about it. After that, I became a closet cheese junky.

I know that I’m not alone in the world. There are thousands, maybe even millions of cheese junkies like myself. I could relate to George Costanza of Seinfield, who wanted to eat a block of cheese like an apple. But what is it about cheese that makes it so delicious? When I started to listen to my body and tried to understand its nutritional needs, I thought that a craving for cheese was simply my body telling me that I needed more fats or salt. It turns out that my body wasn’t craving fat or salt but simply a “drug”.

In 1981, scientists started researching the opiates in cheese. After much intensive investigation, it was discovered that casein, a protein found abundantly in dairy products, releases opiate molecules (called casomorphins) when digested. It is said that one casomorphin compound has about one-tenth the opiate strength of morphine.

During cheese processing, lactose, water and whey proteins are removed concentrating the levels of casein remaining in the cheese. In his book, “Breaking the Food Seduction”, Dr. Neal Barnard states, “A cup of cow’s milk contains about six grams of casein. Skim milk contains a bit more, and casein is concentrated in the production of cheese. A one-ounce slice of cheese holds about 5 grams of casein, and each of those grams holds millions of individual casein molecules.” (Reference Link) I’ve never had morphine but I have had a cheese lovers pizza; probably pretty close.

Morphine is a common opiate derivative; as are codeine and heroin. The opiate release in casein could explain why I crave cheese and chose to have it added to nearly any food item. Turns out that the one (or more) pizza night I enjoyed each week was more like my need to satisfy a chemical dependency. As one lady put it, “It has been harder for me to give up dairy than cigarettes. I am not joking about that.” (Reference Link)

After understanding my own chemical addiction to cheese, it has changed the way I look at the stuff. Recently, I have actively tried to cut it out of my diet. When I feel the all-too-familiar cravings, I now realize that it’s my body telling me it needs a fix. This kind of understanding makes me not want to each cheese at all. I need to focus on giving my body what it really needs, and not just what it is craving. Now, I think I’ll have a no-cheese pizza loaded with colorful veggies.

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