Your Brain Loves Dairy.
Your Stomach Might Disagree.
(Snack on that)
Some people can drink milk without a second thought. Others know exactly what consequences are coming their way. This difference comes down a few genetic variations affecting a singular enzyme.
We’ve all met That Person.
Who…
Gets extra cheese on their already extra-cheese-pizza
Drinks milkshakes at
alarming speeds
Has declared every hour ice cream o’clock
(Shout out to my dad for these professional illustrations yet again!)
They know exactly what is about to happen next.
Yet they do it anyway.
Why?
The brain loves dairy
Casein, the main protein in dairy products, is broken down into casomorphins during digestion. Casomorphins attach to opioid receptors, which can trigger the release of dopamine and create a sense of reward every time dairy is consumed. So in short, dairy can activate the brain’s reward systems, making it seem extra appealing.
But the stomach has other opinions.
Lactose, the sugar found in dairy products, must be broken down by the enzyme lactase in order to be digested. So some humans, like That Person, don’t produce enough lactase to digest dairy products. This typically occurs because lactase production decreases after childhood, and the speed of this decline depends heavily on the genetic makeup of the individual.
Why this matters
This intolerance to lactose is a great reminder as to why there is no “normal” human body. One food could work perfectly for someone and cause problems for another, and these small genetic differences impact how our bodies interact with different foods, explaining why nutrition is so much more personal than most people realize.
Snack-sized takeaway
Snack-sized takeaway
Never assume someone else’s digestive system came with the same instruction manual as yours.
Sources: Healthline | MedlinePlus | Delish | Texas Health