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Quick Summary tl;dr
A1 casein from cows can be converted into an opioid in the body that can cause inflammation and gastrointestinal distress.
Non-cow dairy sources (sheep, goat, buffalo) don’t have A1 casein (they have A2 casein) and, therefore, may be safer to consume for people with troubled tummies.
For more information about dairy, also see:
If you love dairy but have a temperamental stomach, you’ll want to read this one. If you have an iron gut… well… actually… with a title like "Cheese, Mutant Cows, Opioids & Constipation," I bet you’ll probably find this interesting as well.
What Is The Difference Between A1 and A2 Dairy?
You may or may not know that much of the protein in cheese is a protein called "casein."
While most mammals make a particular type of casein called "A2" casein, many domesticated cattle also evolved a genetic mutation that allow them to make a second type of casein called "A1 casein" (sorry for the confusing nomenclature; the mutant second casein is the A1).
The difference between A2 and A1 caseins is that A1 casein protein differs in a single building block. (For those of you with some biochemistry background, A1 casein includes a Pro67His ( 1) point mutation. Non-nerds can feel free to ignore this parenthetical.)
Dairy from sources other than cows, such as from goats, sheep, and buffalo, doesn't contain A1 casein, only A2 casein.
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A1 Dairy May Be More Addictive and Cause Constipation
The consequence of this change in structure is that A1 casein, but not A2 casein, is broken down in our guts to make a chemical called β casomorphin 7, which, as its name suggests is a morphine-like opioid!
Now, as a scientist, I don’t feel qualified to comment further on the potential addictive properties of cheese opioids. But, as a recovering cheese addict, I can’t help but smile and sympathize with the hypothesis. Roquefort is my favorite. What’s yours?
But even if it isn’t strongly physiologically addictive, β casomorphin 7 has been shown to bind to receptors in the gut and cause constipation and other unpleasant gut symptoms.
A1 casein from cows can be converted into an opioid in the body that can cause inflammation and gastrointestinal distress.
So, if you’re like me and love cheese (and may even be addicted) but also have a temperamental stomach, what are you to do!?
Well, remember I said that only cattle evolved the genetic mutation to make A1 casein, and that only A1 casein can be broken down into β casomorphin 7?
This implies that if you consume dairy sourced from other animals, your stomach won’t make β casomorphin 7 and you may experience less tummy trouble. There is even research to support this hypothesis ( 2).
So, next time cheese upsets your stomach, don’t despair, just try to eat goat, sheep, or buffalo milk cheese instead.
Non-cow dairy sources (sheep, goat, buffalo) don’t have A1 casein (they have A2 casein) and, therefore, may be safer to consume for people with troubled tummies.
Easy A1 to A2 Dairy Swaps
Now, here's what you really came for, the practical tips!
Try substituting Parmesan with Pecorino Romano. They taste highly similar, but Pecorino is from sheep, is A2, and is far less inflammatory.
When you get mozzarella get Buffalo Mozzarella! It's not only A2, but richer and tastier than mozzarella from cows.
Other great cheeses that are probably easy to find and are made from sheep or goat dairy include Feta, Manchego, Halloumi (great for pan-frying), and Roquefort.
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Trialed and Tested Recipes
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Net vs Total Carbs
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