Food Addictions

[Jezebel]

I'm convinced that I'm addicted to cheese. No, I don't mean I "really like it", but a real addiction. I tried to go on "no cheese diets" several times this year and failed every time. When I go a few days without eating it, I get intense obsessive cravings for cheese products. Once I start eating it again, I find it hard not to overeat.

I really do want to cut way back on eating cheese but am surprised at how difficult this has been. I'm not overweight, but my cholesterol is a lot higher than it should be. I believe cheese is the main culprit since my diet is otherwise fairly healthy.

I was wondering if this was just a psychological addiction or there were actually chemicals in it involved, so I looked it up. It looks like cheese does contain trace amounts of naturally occurring opiates/morphine. But would it really be enough to give me a true chemical addiction?

Have any of you ever been addicted (beyond just really liking) to cheese or any other foods, and do you think it's possible to become addicted?

[biased]

I believe there are casomorphines within cheese which are chemicals that act in a manner similar to opiates (they act on the opiod receptors).


Hope that shed some light on it.

[Jezebel]

I was wondering if this was just a psychological addiction or there were actually chemicals in it involved, so I looked it up. It looks like cheese does contain trace amounts of naturally occurring opiates/morphine.


I believe there are casomorphines within cheese which are chemicals that act in a manner similar to opiates (they act on the opiod receptors).


Yeah... found that already...

[biased]

My mistake, I must have glanced over it.

But I've never become "addicted" to cheese but as a vegetarian I generally eat a decent amount of dairy to make up for protein.

[OneBadMother]

Hmm, a good way to tell if it's a psychological thing is to see if there's a particular trigger for when you eat it, like depression. It could even just be a compulsive behavior.

I don't have a food addiction per se, I'm just relatively low on restraint. I never feel sick after a large amount of sugar or chocolate, so I have nothing to dissuade me from eating the whole house's worth of it. Once it's all gone I don't feel too much compulsion to go out and get more, though.

[justmeiguess]

I know that this is no help whatsoever (and may even be considered insensitive, but I'm an INTJ so completely used to that) but you just reminded me of this advert:

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To answer your question...

I wouldn't call it addiction (but then addicts never do ;)) but back in school I was infamous among my friends for bringing the same packed lunch every day: ham sandwiches, a packet of hula hoops and two twixes. As I say it's not addiction, it was just easier to have the same everyday than try to think of something else to have.

Anyway, good luck with yor research. Sorry to have been no help whatsoever!

[deicruxified]

milk... milk and more milk... i even eat powdered milk and my boss caught me doing it and he said "wtf!!" ;D

[thegnat]

milk... milk and more milk... i even eat powdered milk and my boss caught me doing it and he said "wtf!!" ;D

Ah yes I'm a milk person too! I go through it quickly.....

@ justmeiguess: I used to do that too....It was a lot easier. And I'm not picky about what I eat....

[rwyatt365]

OK, this may sound weird but several years ago I was eating peppermints like...candy! It was the Brach Starlight mints. I mean I went through a big bag of them every day. This went on for about a year and then just as suddenly as the craving started, it stopped.

[thegnat]

I think the following is a fitting link:

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[Jezebel]

Hmm, a good way to tell if it's a psychological thing is to see if there's a particular trigger for when you eat it, like depression. It could even just be a compulsive behavior.
I think when I'm under stress my willpower to resist any kind of addiction I'm trying to quit is weakened, be it chemical or psychological. But no, I don't notice any patterns of craving it more when I'm down. It seems to be more affected by length of time between consumption.

I know that this is no help whatsoever (and may even be considered insensitive, but I'm an INTJ so completely used to that) but you just reminded me of this advert:

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
How dare you trivialize my addiction!

No really, I can relate to that woman. Except my devotion goes far beyond one kind of cheese. I love them all: brie, feta, provolone, ricotta, asiago, cheddar, bleu, colby... cow cheese, goat cheese, sheep cheese, bison cheese... okay I'll stop. I know nobody wants to read a long list of cheeses.


I think the following is a fitting link:

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Except processed cheese. Awful stuff!

[Stopharian]

I have a Grandfather who is 76, strong as a bull, sexually active, Still runs a large company, and lives almost entirely on a diet of cheese and esspreso. He is definitely addicted to both, however it has done well for him.

[Stopharian]

No really, I can relate to that woman. Except my devotion goes far beyond one kind of cheese. I love them all: brie, feta, provolone, ricotta, asiago, cheddar, bleu, colby... cow cheese, goat cheese, sheep cheese, bison cheese... okay I'll stop. I know nobody wants to read a long list of cheeses.



Manchego? tete de moine? Jarlsberg? Stilton? Jack? Water Mozzarella?


YOu really should try St. Andre Brie. It is a level of magnitude better and different than normal bree

[OneBadMother]

No really, I can relate to that woman. Except my devotion goes far beyond one kind of cheese. I love them all: brie, feta, provolone, ricotta, asiago, cheddar, bleu, colby... cow cheese, goat cheese, sheep cheese, bison cheese... okay I'll stop. I know nobody wants to read a long list of cheeses.

! I do! :D I was a huge food aficionado back in the day. Here is a huge list of cheeses if you'd like to find some more to try. (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)

See, now this is getting into INTP territory. <_<

[Jezebel]

Okay. You guys are not helping. I didn't start this thread to get recommendations for more cheese to try! Bastards. :P

[OneBadMother]

Ha, the truth is that this compulsion to try all these cheeses is no problem at all. It's called being a connoisseur. Welcome to the club! :D

[Stopharian]

:-[


Okay

In many naturopathic medicines, feelings of compulsion or addiction to a certain food can often mean that you might actually be allergic to that food. As far as allergies go, cheese and dairy are quite different subjects.

You might want to look into your addiction by visiting a Natureopath or Homeopath. Perhaps they can Identify why you feel this addiction and help moderate it.

[Jezebel]

In many naturopathic medicines, feelings of compulsion or addiction to a certain food can often mean that you might actually be allergic to that food. As far as allergies go, cheese and dairy are quite different subjects.
That's interesting. Why would people crave something they're allergic to and how do you know when that's the case?

[Stopharian]

Im not sure why it would be the case, but After a quick google, It seems that it is a commonly accepted medical symptom of food allergies.

One site said this which might offer an indication:

"Many people who have problems with the digestive process can end up craving certain foods. When the digestive system fails to convert food proteins into amino acids, symptoms and cravings occur. Improperly digested food particles are left out of the blood stream and can cause not only cravings, but addiction. This may be a problem for some people at the beginning of a diet, when certain allergens are removed from their food intake."---From To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


Also these two sites seemed to concur

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. -- Read this one, it indicates overweight in the title of the article but it goes on to stipulate that this is only connected some of the time.

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Anyway a quick google of "Craving food allergic" , brought back tons of info. Im kind of glad you mentioned this as I kind of think that I might want to look into some of this info for myself.

[Jezebel]

Wow, thanks for that Stopharian. Long articles but I read all of the first one and will read the other one soon. Looks like I should probably give up my addiction so I can at the very least rule it out. So if I get all emotional in the coming weeks and go around looking for sympathy and hugs, you know why. This is so depressing. :'(

I really want to try this part to see if it works:
Vitamin C and mineral bicarbonates are used extensively in allergy clinics throughout the country. The mineral buffers should not include sodium, which is a hypertensive agent and can make a person more prone to edema, but instead the minerals calcium, magnesium and potassium. These buffers will neutralize the acidity caused by the allergic reaction and alleviate stress, thereby inducing symptomatic relief.

As little as one teaspoon of this combination of nutrients can totally knock out hunger cravings caused by food allergies as well as eliminate the withdrawal symptoms caused by exclusion of the addictive foods.

This is symptomatic relief, but works dramatically and also gives a clear indication that the symptoms were caused by allergic phenomenon. If the nutrient combination eliminates your hunger then you can be sure that your hunger was induced by some aspect of the allergy-addiction syndrome.

[OneBadMother]

Hmm, that's really interesting. :o Maybe you should get it tested, then. Do you have the same sort of addiction to other dairy?

[Stopharian]

Yeah I just noticed that part......


Where do I get a non sodium, bicarbonate?

[Jezebel]

Hmm, that's really interesting. :o Maybe you should get it tested, then. Do you have the same sort of addiction to other dairy?
I don't drink straight milk, but I'm quite fond of most dairy products, yes.

[Stopharian]

Hmm, that's really interesting. :o Maybe you should get it tested, then. Do you have the same sort of addiction to other dairy?



I know that food allergies can change over time. As a kid I was allergic to milk, but not cheese.(tested)

[wolf]

I am addicted to methyl salicylate, and I have been for over 10 years (since I was 15 or 16 it has been pretty obvious). I go through massive quantities of anything that contains the stuff. Sometimes, when I'm jonesing for it and I can't find the kind I want, I'll start sniffing things to find the strongest available.

It's a constant effort to avoid eating sugar along with it, so I'm a big fan of altoid smalls. They're the only ones to ever really consider for those of us with this addiction and give us plenty without all the sugar.

[Firelie]

Methyl salicylate = mint?

You know, I used to joke that I was addicted to mint because I'd go through so much gum that I started to develop TMJ problems...I had to switch to altoids, but those seem to be even worse. I mean, they're fine if I haven't put one in my mouth for a while, but the second I eat one, I find myself having another, and another, and another...

[thegnat]

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here's its MSDS. (Material Safety Data Sheet)

It's apparently "oil of wintergreen"

It must smell good too because it's an ester (esters generally smell good). I wonder if it smells minty, too. hmm....ah the MSDS says "an odour of wintergreen"

[wolf]

Methyl salicylate = mint?
Most call it "wintergreen", which is a naturally-occurring substance that they usually produce artificially now.

You know, I used to joke that I was addicted to mint because I'd go through so much gum that I started to develop TMJ problems...I had to switch to altoids, but those seem to be even worse. I mean, they're fine if I haven't put one in my mouth for a while, but the second I eat one, I find myself having another, and another, and another...
I am quite fond of spearmint and peppermint, but I am effectively addicted to methyl salicylate... I can go through a couple tins (or more) of the wintergreen ones a day... I am literally surrounded by wintergreen altoids and altoids smalls tins.

[Natrushka]

I really do want to cut way back on eating cheese but am surprised at how difficult this has been. I'm not overweight, but my cholesterol is a lot higher than it should be. I believe cheese is the main culprit since my diet is otherwise fairly healthy.



I'm probably going to regret this but here goes. If you're interested in diet / health / living longer and being happy - get a copy of "Good Calories, Bad Calories (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)" by Gary Taubes.

I should state that I haven't read the full thread, just your initial post about cheese, food addiction and cholesterol.

p.s. Hi wolf!

[rwyatt365]

Methyl salicylate = mint?
Most call it "wintergreen", which is a naturally-occurring substance that they usually produce artificially now.

You know, I used to joke that I was addicted to mint because I'd go through so much gum that I started to develop TMJ problems...I had to switch to altoids, but those seem to be even worse. *I mean, they're fine if I haven't put one in my mouth for a while, but the second I eat one, I find myself having another, and another, and another...
I am quite fond of spearmint and peppermint, but I am effectively addicted to methyl salicylate... *I can go through a couple tins (or more) of the wintergreen ones a day... *I am literally surrounded by wintergreen altoids and altoids smalls tins.
OMG! So this is the stuff in the green Starlite Mints? Those are the ones that i was eating all the time!

Now I eat the Altoids, but I've cut WAY back (I can keep a tin for a week now)

[wolf]

p.s. Hi wolf!
Hey there, Natrushka.

OMG! So this is the stuff in the green Starlite Mints? Those are the ones that i was eating all the time!

Now I eat the Altoids, but I've cut WAY back (I can keep a tin for a week now)
That or spearmint...

[Jezebel]

I'm probably going to regret this but here goes. If you're interested in diet / health / living longer and being happy - get a copy of "Good Calories, Bad Calories (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)" by Gary Taubes.

I should state that I haven't read the full thread, just your initial post about cheese, food addiction and cholesterol.
Hmm...why would you regret that? I actually do like food/nutrition books quite a bit and have several in my personal collection (not the one you recommended though). I might check it out.

I'm a glutton and have a tendency to eat foods I like regardless of being aware of the negative effects. I do eat fairly healthy though, considering I came from a family that couldn't care less (I was one of those kids that ate fast food several times every week and sustained on 'snack' foods for extended periods of time).

[logan235711]

When I go a few days without eating it, I get intense obsessive cravings for cheese products. Once I start eating it again, I find it hard not to overeat.
This is a good sign the best sign NOT to eat. This is your body say "I am starting to change from this cheese diet to a non-cheese diet" and your body is going through a slight withdrawal so it is giving you these cravings to signal that there is a shortage. Once your body realizes that yo' cheeze ain't cumin' back then it will slowly start shutting off those alarms and you won't feel the urge anymore. However, there will be a psychological memory ingrained on how the food made you feel, so once you eat it again after a long period of not doing so it will trigger these memories that will then trigger certain desires. This is why once you have been addicted it's best to just not do it at all because for many many years the memory of the addiction is a latent memory in your brain and needs time to slowly dissolve those 'unhealthy' connections that were built. In any case, every time you get this feeling and succumb to it, it will make it that much harder to change each time you attempt. You should try to nip it in the bud the first or second time around and suck it up. Best of luck.

[Natrushka]

Hmm...why would you regret that? I actually do like food/nutrition books quite a bit and have several in my personal collection (not the one you recommended though). I might check it out.


Because 95% of the nutrition / food / health / fitness books (or information, including government and 'scientific') out there are bunk. Bad ideas based on bad (or nonexistent) science. Taubes' book is an investigation into what we've been told, how it came about and just why and how we've been mislead. Ideas like eating fat makes you fat, exercise makes you lose weight, cholesterol causes CVD, being fat causes diabetes.

[Chainsaw Dundee]

Hmm...why would you regret that? I actually do like food/nutrition books quite a bit and have several in my personal collection (not the one you recommended though). I might check it out.


Because 95% of the nutrition / food / health / fitness books (or information, including government and 'scientific') out there are bunk. Bad ideas based on bad (or nonexistent) science. Taubes' book is an investigation into what we've been told, how it came about and just why and how we've been mislead. Ideas like eating fat makes you fat, exercise makes you lose weight, cholesterol causes CVD, being fat causes diabetes.

I'd have to agree with this. There are so many inconsistent and conflicting opinions in nutritional science(if you can call it that). Take coffee for example. One minute, people are saying coffee is terrible for you, next minute, people are giving themselves coffee enemas. Same goes for all this carbohydrate nonsense. Carbohydrates are energy, and if you don't eat enough of them, you will probably feel lethargic in both mind and body.

Basically all you need to know about eating to stay healthy is:
If you are getting fat, eat less/exercise more
Get a good amount of nutrients and proteins
Fat is generally not good for you. Same goes for soda and alcohol.
Fish is generally healthy
Eating human brains can kill you

I had to take a nutrition class to get into cooking class. There isn't much a need to make it more complex than this. :yuck:

[Natrushka]

Hmm...why would you regret that? I actually do like food/nutrition books quite a bit and have several in my personal collection (not the one you recommended though). I might check it out.


Because 95% of the nutrition / food / health / fitness books (or information, including government and 'scientific') out there are bunk. Bad ideas based on bad (or nonexistent) science. Taubes' book is an investigation into what we've been told, how it came about and just why and how we've been mislead. Ideas like eating fat makes you fat, exercise makes you lose weight, cholesterol causes CVD, being fat causes diabetes.

I'd have to agree with this. There are so many inconsistent and conflicting opinions in nutritional science(if you can call it that). Take coffee for example. One minute, people are saying coffee is terrible for you, next minute, people are giving themselves coffee enemas. Same goes for all this carbohydrate nonsense. Carbohydrates are energy, and if you don't eat enough of them, you will probably feel lethargic in both mind and body.

Basically all you need to know about eating to stay healthy is:
If you are getting fat, eat less/exercise more
Get a good amount of nutrients and proteins
Fat is generally not good for you. Same goes for soda and alcohol.
Fish is generally healthy
Eating human brains can kill you

I had to take a nutrition class to get into cooking class. There isn't much a need to make it more complex than this. :yuck:

How could you agree with me if you're saying the opposite of what I wrote? <confused>

This would be why I'll probably regret commenting in here ;)

Fat isn't bad with the exception of trans fats. Fats are essential. Fat was a primary food group for us not that long ago, relatively speaking.
Exercise doesn't make you lose weight; it makes you hungrier.
If you are getting fat chances are you've been 'getting' fat for years on the inside - too many of the wrong carbohydrates. Close to 75% of the US population is suffering from insulin resistance to a degree.
Eating cholesterol doesn't raise cholesterol.
Cholesterol isn't a cause or risk for CVD. Oxidized LDL is likely a bad thing; oxidization is the result of inflammation.

Seriously, pick up a copy of "Good Calories, Bad Calories" - just browse through one at the book store. Or read this review of the book (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. ecentReview#R1C5WPQJYZHUS8) by a scientist guy (I should add, I don't know if this really is Jeremy Stone)

[cncracer]

I'm convinced that I'm addicted to cheese. No, I don't mean I "really like it", but a real addiction. I tried to go on "no cheese diets" several times this year and failed every time. When I go a few days without eating it, I get intense obsessive cravings for cheese products. Once I start eating it again, I find it hard not to overeat.

I really do want to cut way back on eating cheese but am surprised at how difficult this has been. I'm not overweight, but my cholesterol is a lot higher than it should be. I believe cheese is the main culprit since my diet is otherwise fairly healthy.

I was wondering if this was just a psychological addiction or there were actually chemicals in it involved, so I looked it up. It looks like cheese does contain trace amounts of naturally occurring opiates/morphine. But would it really be enough to give me a true chemical addiction?

Have any of you ever been addicted (beyond just really liking) to cheese or any other foods, and do you think it's possible to become addicted?


Hi “I am CNCRACER and I am a cheese addict”! I don’t have the slightest desire to stop eating cheese, as I have convinced myself it is a cure for everything. I have always thought the cravings were related to the fats they contain, and our mind’s reward center craving those fats. I don’t question its addictive qualities, and am willing to do the extra workout or run the extra mile to avoid any negative side effects. I think the Cholesterol is more genetic than what we eat, and I already take Crestor to in adjust that problem so for me it is open season on any and all cheese.

[Deliberator]

I'm convinced that I'm addicted to cheese. No, I don't mean I "really like it", but a real addiction. I tried to go on "no cheese diets" several times this year and failed every time. When I go a few days without eating it, I get intense obsessive cravings for cheese products. Once I start eating it again, I find it hard not to overeat.

I really do want to cut way back on eating cheese but am surprised at how difficult this has been. I'm not overweight, but my cholesterol is a lot higher than it should be. I believe cheese is the main culprit since my diet is otherwise fairly healthy.

I was wondering if this was just a psychological addiction or there were actually chemicals in it involved, so I looked it up. It looks like cheese does contain trace amounts of naturally occurring opiates/morphine. But would it really be enough to give me a true chemical addiction?

Have any of you ever been addicted (beyond just really liking) to cheese or any other foods, and do you think it's possible to become addicted?

If you don't mind me asking, what are your cholesterol levels? Is your HDL good?

I eat a ton of cheese as well, and although my cholesterol is borderline high I am at low risk of heart disease. High cholesterol isn't necessarily a causative risk factor for heart disease, it's more of a screening method.





Deliberator added to this post, 6 minutes and 9 seconds later...


Fat is generally not good for you.

That's the stupidest most nonsensical piece of tripe that still plagues our nutritionally narrow-minded society today. Do some research, please.

Eating human brains can kill you.

On the contrary, human brains are quite high in Omega-3 fatty acids. It might kill you if the person happened to have Mad Cow.





Deliberator added to this post, 2 minutes and 46 seconds later...

Exercise doesn't make you lose weight; it makes you hungrier.

That is also a very ridiculous statement. Exercising helps regulate your appetite, improves hormones that prevent emotional eating, and raises metabolic rate. With the right diet it's a very effective weight-loss tool.
Even if it doesn't help you lose weight you're still a zillion times less likely to die an early death.

[TheLastMohican]

That's the stupidest most nonsensical piece of tripe that still plagues our nutritionally narrow-minded society today.

Ironically, it could persist in (small) part because of children being put on low-fat diets that hinder brain development.

[Muse]

I'm addicted to capsaicin, but I don't really care because it's very good for me.

I can't stand cheese though.

[Nikita]

Basically all you need to know about eating to stay healthy is:
If you are getting fat, eat less/exercise more

The bare bones of this is don't consume more calories than you use. Eating fewer calories than you use in a day will cause you to lose weight, eating more than you use will cause you to gain weight. To maintain weight, find the balance. You can ask a doctor or nutritionist how many calories you should consume daily in relation to your level of physical activity depending on your goals. Also, you can do a BMI calculation to get an idea of healthy vs. unhealthy weights for your height, but body type can factor into how accurate that number is.


Fat is generally not good for you.


Like Natrushka said, trans fats are bad for you, as are saturated fats. Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated are good for you. Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are likewise healthy. Fat is necessary for proper functioning.


Fish is generally healthy


As long as you watch the mercury intake. Some nutritionists recommend not eating more than 2 servings of fish per week due to the high mercury content found in many commercially sold fish.


Carbohydrates are not bad, they're necessary, but there's a difference between simple and complex carbohydrates and how they work in your body. Also, the source is important. Eating processed foods for carbs is unhealthy, eating whole grain breads, etc. is generally healthy. Anything processed is probably bad for you in some way (only saying "probably" to leave room for exceptions I don't know of yet), and ideally we would all eat only whole foods (i.e. an orange instead of a glass of orange juice, nuts instead of peanut butter, and just generally whole fruits and veggies, meats, etc...even with pureeing fruit and veggies the chemical composition changes - some people advocate eating raw, and there may be health benefits to that, but some foods are more healthful when cooked such as tomatoes which have increased lycopene as a result of cooking, lycopene is thought to aid prevention of some cancers).


As an aside, I am addicted to Diet Coke. When I try to break that habit and have passed the point where I no longer crave the soda, I get addicted to ice water to the point where I get headaches, the shakes, and quite irritable if I can't have it when I want it how I want it. It's horrible. I think I have an addictive personality, if there is such a thing, so it's a good thing I've never even tried cigarettes or drugs of any kind.

[cncracer]

If you don't mind me asking, what are your cholesterol levels? Is your HDL good?

I was on Crestor for almost two years till last month, came off due to leg cramps and was put on Lipitor this month. My Cholesterol has never been high with totals always under 100, but my good Cholesterol has always been low. That is why they put me on the Crestor. The last test I had was while on Crestor and I had a total cholesterol of 86, with the good HDL being 28. With out the Drugs my HDL seems to remain under 10 mg/dl. With my diet I am sure the numbers are all genetic for me.
On the Cheese issue, I go to Sam’s and buy the five pound blocks of Cheddar cheese, I will also go to Whole Foods about once every two weeks and get small blocks of aged cheddar. I don’t have a sweet tooth, had rather have cheese than ice cream. Just lucky they don’t have cheese ice cream I guess. I do not see too many side effects from my diet. I stay very active and that may be due to the realization that my diet is not what most would post as a healthy diet. Try to run or work off the extra calories or plaque I may have eaten and it seems to be working so far.
I also have the advantage of a family history with a low occurrence rate for heart problems, and I fall into that “safe zone” when given stress tests.

[TheLastMohican]

I'm addicted to capsaicin, but I don't really care because it's very good for me.

I can't stand cheese though.

But they go together wonderfully! You're missing out.

[jikin]

When I first saw the title of the thread the first word that came to mind was cheese. After reading through, I was looking it up elsewhere and it is stated, in more than one place, that cheese is considered even more addictive than chocolate, which is usually the most joked about addiction.

I do admit to sharing the cheese problem, though I don't have a cholesterol problem. I go through about 1 to 1 1/2 pounds of it a week. If I have to go an entire day without it I feel like I'm going to jump out of my skin in anticipation of getting to the store. It's nothing new, it's been an addiction since I was a little girl, but I do need to stop it. I've tried going cold turkey before, but I always cave. (I'm considering trying it again)

So, Jezebel, it's been a year since you originally posted this thread. Have you found a way to stop the need?

[Muse]

But they go together wonderfully! You're missing out.

I can't. I've rejected cheese since I was a baby; apparently used to throw it off my high-chair to the dog.

Ironically I loved the hot sensation of capsaicin back then as well. One day I said some 'bad words' and my mom washed my mouth out with soap. I mockingly smiled back and said it tasted good--so she goes and gets a bottle of Tobasco sauce and uses that instead. I loved it!

[dogwoodlover]

I wouldn't call it addiction (but then addicts never do ;)) but back in school I was infamous among my friends for bringing the same packed lunch every day: ham sandwiches, a packet of hula hoops and two twixes. As I say it's not addiction, it was just easier to have the same everyday than try to think of something else to have.


That's just called consistency. I'm notorious for it. I get the same things at lunch every single day at school. When I go to UCLA with my girlfriend and eat in the dining halls I get the same thing every time (cheese pizza [usually 5-7 slices] with diet pepsi).



Anyway, back onto the thread... I have serious doubts that there is anything truly "chemical" going on here. I'd imagine you'd have to eat massive amounts of cheese every day for extended lengths of time for that to occur if it is at all possible.

If you associate cheese psychologically with certain desirable events/feelings/sensations then that could certainly explain a "psychological" addiction to cheese, which can nonetheless be very powerful. As an example, I know quite a few friends who are "addicted" to marijuana (they can't function without it) despite there being a lack of chemical addiction to it.

If you're bent on stopping this "cheese habit," I would recommend trying to find something to substitute in for cheese, and if there are certain events/places that trigger your "cheese impulse," try to avoid them. Avoid the cheese aisles at grocery stores, and keep it out of your house.

Perhaps if you drink enough wine with your cheese to make yourself sick and puke, you'll get over your "cheese obsession." :)