Tag: Opioid receptors

Research using positron emission tomography has shown that consuming both palatable and non-palatable food consistently triggers the release of endogenous opioids in the brain. This demonstrates a clear scientific basis for how and why food affects opioid receptors, influencing appetite, reward, and potentially leading to compulsive eating patterns.

New research suggests that cheese triggers the same part of the brain as many drugs due to a chemical called casein. While not a true opioid addiction, this effect helps explain the powerful cravings some people experience for cheese.

It takes approximately ten pounds of milk to produce one pound of cheese, concentrating the milk protein casein. This process has led to a widely discussed online claim: is cheese like opiates? The short answer involves a molecule called casomorphin, which acts on the brain's reward centers, but the comparison to opioid addiction is highly exaggerated.

According to a 2015 University of Michigan study, foods that are highly processed and high in fat, including cheese, were linked to more addictive eating behaviors. This mild addiction is primarily driven by the milk protein casein, which releases opioid-like compounds during digestion that trigger the brain's reward system. While not a true 'high' like from illicit drugs, this pleasure-inducing effect can make cheese hard to resist.

According to a study conducted by the University of Michigan using the Yale Food Addiction Scale, foods containing cheese, such as pizza, ranked among the most problematic for problematic eating behaviors. This finding prompts the question: is cheese like an opioid due to its unique chemical properties?

According to a study published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine, processed and high-fat foods like pizza—topped with cheese—are linked to addictive-like eating behaviors. The compelling desire for another slice is often attributed to specific compounds in cheese, primarily the milk protein casein, which breaks down into mildly addictive substances.

Did you know it takes about 10 pounds of milk to make just one pound of cheese, concentrating its proteins significantly? This concentration is a key reason for the mild neurochemical effect that explains **what does cheese trigger in your brain** and why it's so craveable, a phenomenon driven by the dairy protein casein.