Did you know that cheese has casomorphines inside that act in the brain similarly to HEROIN?!
That’s right! We all joke about being addicted to cheese, but there is real evidence showing important issues that aren’t such a laughing matter after all.
Addictive foods aren’t anything new. There is even something that food manufacturers call the “bliss point,” which is the exact right amount of salt, fat, and sugar that makes you unable to stop. We all have heard that food can be addictive, but it’s even more insidious that you might think.
I grew up being called, “the mouse of the house” because I was that cheese obsessed. I had a thick top layer of melted provolone and pepper jack on almost all of my meals. This is, of course, in addition to consuming several slices in between meals for a mid-morning and afternoon ‘snack.’ So the thought of cheese being so addictive made logical sense. That’s why when I received my results from my genetic test showing that I was intolerant, I still couldn’t quit my addiction. It wasn’t until I did the CambiatiCleanse and read, The Cheese Trap that I really was able to kick my cheese habit for gouda. ?
Completing the CambiatiCleanse helped me to remove cheese from my diet, to add nutrients, and to experiment with tasty new cheese alternatives. I really felt a huge difference in my body not consuming cheese and it was eye opening that something so small could steal my energy and give me lots of brain fog. Reading The Cheese Trap gave me even more clarity on why I was so addicted and I understood the health concerns of consuming such a food.
Cheese Crack
Not only is cheese not helpful for our bodies, there is also a crucial protein in dairy products called casein. When broken down during digestion, casein turns into a smaller compound called casomorphine.
It’s a bit amusing that ‘caso’ sounds a lot like ‘queso,’ which makes it easy to remember. Morphine should sound a bit familiar as well.
When consuming cheese, these proteins activate the same brain receptors as when morphine addicts are using. This is the same story for heroin users. These same activated pathways and receptors release the pleasure and reward hormone, dopamine, making cheese addictive similarly to uses of morphine and heroin. Yikes!
Digging Deeper into Dairy…
We know what you’re thinking. “But where will I get my calcium then?” We get this question a lot. And it’s a good question since the dairy industry does a great job of brainwashing us to believe cow’s milk is some sort of super food. Sorry (we’re not sorry) – it’s not.
If there were vital nutrients we needed from milk – it wouldn’t come from a species totally unrelated to our own, would it? That makes no sense. You may have heard it explained this way: “milk is a perfect food… for baby cows.”
When you think about it, it makes sense why cheese and dairy all together would contribute to weight gain. Both are loaded with calories that are intended for a growing calf. It can also slow your metabolism just like other fatty foods, it is missing the fiber you need to control appetite, its sodium adds insult to injury in the form of water weight, and its addictive effect stimulates you to continue shoveling it in more and more.
Do you see animals nursing other species? It sounds crazy when we put it that way, doesn’t it?
Here are the best sources of calcium: dark leafy greens (like kale, collards and mustard & turnip greens). Did you know the calcium in dark leafy greens is absorbed at double the rate of calcium from dairy? (About 60% from leafy greens compared to 30% from dairy.)
Other great sources: beans, nuts and seeds, and fortified nondairy milks (remember – look for unsweetened!
More reasons not to continue your relationship with dairy?
Kidney stones, skin eruptions (eczema, acne), asthma, inflammation, allergies and mucus overproduction and more (including cancers, especially those of the reproductive systems) can all be linked to dairy. Same for gas and bloating. Not pretty. Many experts estimate that 70% or more of our population are dairy intolerant!
Still not convinced? Here’s another mind-blowing factoid: countries with the highest intake of calcium, dairy and animal protein have the highest rates of osteoporosis.
Joint pain and inflammation? Dairy is your culprit.
In fact, most studies out there find little or no evidence that milk or other dairy products benefit bone health. Conclusion? Milk’s not doing such a great job of keeping our bones strong. Reason being there’s more to bone health than simply loading up on calcium alone. It needs other nutrients (like Vitamin D and Magnesium) to be efficiently absorbed.
Oh and remember our good friend casein? Casein triggers respiratory issues, migraines, arthritis, skin conditions and other problems. Not to mention, cheese elevates your cholesterol and the saturated fat within that small slice, crumble, or cube increases your chances of gaining heart disease and Alzheimer’s.
Too Evolved?
We are all born with numerous enzymes that serve specific purposes throughout our lives. One important enzyme is called lactase. Sound familiar?
Lactase is used to help us digest our mother’s milk while breastfeeding. Breast milk provides us with enough quality protein that is needed to build and repair tissue, which is vital during our growing years. This enzyme helps to break down and digest the sugar, lactose.
About 75% of the world’s population loses this lactase enzyme after weaning. This then leads to lactose intolerance. This allergy shows that our digestion system has evolved to where it does not need this milk after all. In more extreme cases this intolerance can lead to uncomfortable cramping, bloating, and even diarrhea. For most people the symptoms are so subtle that until they stop eating cheese they don’t notice.
I found out that I was lactose intolerant through experiencing these side effects as well as confirming through my genetic test. Being a recovering cheese addict, I can assure you that all hope is not lost!
We have lots of support for you to kick cheese to the curb for good.
There are awesome cheese replacements that Team Cambiati have discovered. We can’t wait to share our delicious findings with you! And we promise that we will never give you just nutritional yeast and tell you that it tastes like cheese. We are well aware that won’t satisfy you!
If you want to learn more about how you can kick your favorite addictive food with Cambiati Wellness, then fill out the form below. And if you know someone who needs a food intervention, then share this blog with them.
Call us at (925) 280-4442 or email info@cambiati.com to learn more.