Posted on 06/06/2003 7:15:46 AM PDT by Ethan Clive Osgoode
WASHINGTON (Wireless Flash) -- Here's food for thought: A physician claims cheese is as addictive as morphine.
Dr. Neal Barnard is the author of "Breaking the Food Seduction: The Hidden Reasons Behind Food Cravings and Seven Steps to End them Naturally" (St. Martin's Press) which explains why people are addicted to cheese, meat, sugar and chocolate.
Cheese is particularly addictive because it contains small amounts of morphine made in the cow's liver. When the dairy protein breaks apart in the stomach, it releases the opiate molecules.
Some of the foods have about one-tenth the strength of morphine, and while that may not sound like much, Dr. Barnard says because the foods are so available it's easy to satisfy a fix.
He also says this research could help those fat souls currently suing fast food restaurants by proving the food is addictive like tobacco.
But don't expect to see rehab centers for meat eaters. Dr. Barnard says folks will have to break the addiction by changing their diet, exercising and getting enough sleep.
Chocolate? Watch the women scream!
Watch ME scream!
For ICE cream!
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