Kamil Perry
Cheese sweats are real! While it's not entirely clear why cheese induces sweating, it's worth noting that it isn't the only food that does so. Spicy curries and red meats are also common culprits, and some people experience sweating simply from talking or thinking about food. The phenomenon is known as gustatory sweating and is caused by volatile organic compounds in the food. In rare cases, cheese sweats can be linked to nerve damage in the face or diabetes. However, for most people, it's just a slightly unpleasant side effect of enjoying their favourite dairy product.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is it? | Excess facial perspiration that occurs after consuming cheese |
| What causes it? | Volatile organic compounds in the food, high tyramine content, and casomorphins (fragments of protein) |
| Severity | Dictated by factors such as amount of cheese consumed, inherited genes, and enzyme effectiveness in saliva |
| Other causes | Spicy food or ingredients added to cheese, high protein content, nerve damage in the face, or diabetes |
| Prevention | Choose low-tyramine cheeses like cottage, ricotta, or cream cheese; avoid dairy for a few weeks to test for intolerance |
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What You'll Learn
High tyramine content in aged cheese
Cheese sweats, or gustatory sweating, can be caused by a range of foods, including spicy curries and red meat, but cheese is the most common trigger. This is because cheese contains substances called casomorphins, which can have an opioid effect on the body, as well as volatile organic compounds that are released as the body digests cheese.
Cheese sweats can also be linked to nerve damage in the face or diabetes, although this is uncommon. Some people may also experience facial flushing and a tingling sensation.
Cheese sweats may be caused by the high tyramine content in aged cheese. Tyramine is a natural compound found in plants and animals, and it is produced by the breakdown of tyrosine, an amino acid. It is considered a "false neurotransmitter" as it enters noradrenergic nerve terminals and releases norepinephrine, a hormone that increases blood pressure and heart rate.
Aged cheeses such as cheddar, Swiss, Parmesan, Stilton, Gorgonzola, blue cheese, Camembert, feta, and Muenster are high in tyramine. The longer a food is aged, the higher the tyramine levels. Cheese made from pasteurized milk has lower levels of tyramine, and American cheese, cottage cheese, ricotta, and cream cheese are safer alternatives.
High levels of tyramine in the body can cause several health problems, the most common being migraine headaches. Tyramine can also cause high blood pressure and, in severe cases, adrenergic crisis or even stroke. People who suffer from migraines or have high blood pressure are often advised to follow a low-tyramine diet.
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Gustatory sweating
The phenomenon of "cheese sweats" is real and is known as gustatory sweating. Gustatory sweating is the occurrence of sweating on the forehead, scalp, neck, and upper lip during or after meals. It is caused by nerve damage in or around the parotid gland, which is the gland in the cheek that produces saliva. This condition is known as Frey's syndrome, named after Lucja Frey, a Polish neurologist who identified it in 1923.
Frey's syndrome typically develops within the first year after surgery in the area near the parotid gland. It can also be caused by other factors such as injury, inflammation, infection, mumps, tumors, or surgery, such as a facelift. The condition is characterised by excessive sweating and flushing, which can range from mild to severe.
There are treatments available for gustatory sweating, including Botox injections, topical anticholinergics, and topical antiperspirants. These treatments can provide significant relief and improve quality of life. However, it is important to consult a healthcare professional to determine the underlying cause and the most appropriate treatment option.
While the exact prevalence of Frey's syndrome is unknown due to inconsistencies in reporting, some studies suggest that 30% to 50% of people develop the syndrome after a parotidectomy (surgical removal of a parotid gland). It is important to note that gustatory sweating can have extensive social, economic, and emotional implications, and seeking medical advice is recommended.
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Cheese intolerance
Cheese sweats are a real phenomenon, but they are not limited to cheese. They can be caused by a wide range of foods, from spicy curries to red meat. This phenomenon is known as gustatory sweating, which is caused by volatile organic compounds in the food that are released as your body digests it. The severity of the cheese sweats depends on factors such as the amount of cheese consumed, inherited genes, and the effectiveness of enzymes in your saliva that break down food. In rare cases, cheese sweats can be linked to nerve damage in the face or diabetes.
Cheese contains substances called casomorphins, which are fragments of protein and can have an opioid effect on the body over long periods, leading to cravings and addiction. However, this would require consuming extremely large quantities of cheese. Additionally, cheese contains tyromine, which acts like adrenaline and stimulates the nervous system, potentially causing sweating.
While cheese sweats can be a harmless and temporary inconvenience, they may also indicate an underlying condition such as lactose intolerance or, in rare cases, nerve damage or diabetes. Lactose intolerance is characterized by the body's inability to fully digest lactose, a sugar found in dairy products, due to a deficiency of the enzyme lactase in the small intestine. Symptoms of lactose intolerance typically include diarrhea, gas, bloating, abdominal pain, flatulence, and nausea, and usually occur within 30 minutes to 2 hours of consuming lactose-containing foods.
If you suspect you may have lactose intolerance or another condition causing your cheese sweats, it is recommended to consult a doctor. They may advise dietary modifications, such as reducing dairy intake or choosing dairy products with lower lactose content, like hard cheeses (Swiss or cheddar) or cultured milk products like yogurt. Over-the-counter lactase enzyme supplements may also help with lactose digestion. In some cases, treating an underlying condition, such as an intestinal infection or celiac disease, may improve lactose intolerance symptoms.
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High protein content
Cheese sweats, or gustatory sweating, can be caused by a wide range of foods, from spicy curries to red meat. However, cheese tends to cause the most powerful reaction. This is because cheese is a food high in protein. In one cup of cottage cheese, there is 28g of protein, which is almost the same as 100g of chicken.
When you consume a large amount of cheese (more than 200-250g), your body needs to work harder to digest the extra protein. This increases your body temperature, which often leads to sweating so that your body can cool down. While this is a common symptom when consuming red meat, it can also happen after eating large amounts of any high-protein product, including cheese.
The severity of cheese sweats is dictated by several factors, including how much cheese you've eaten, your inherited genes, and the effectiveness of the enzymes in your saliva at breaking down food. In rare cases, cheese sweats can be linked to nerve damage in the face or diabetes. However, this is uncommon, and not every instance of sweating after eating cheese is cause for concern.
To prevent cheese sweats, it is recommended to choose cheeses low in tyramine, such as cottage cheese, ricotta, and cream cheese. Aged cheeses, such as Gruyere, Cheddar, Swiss, Blue, Edam, and Parmesan, are very high in tyramine and should be avoided. Additionally, considering a dairy-free diet for a few weeks may help determine if the sweating is due to a food intolerance.
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Nerve damage or diabetes
Cheese sweats, or gustatory sweating, can be caused by nerve damage or diabetes. In the case of nerve damage, the condition is known as Frey's syndrome, which is caused by damage to the parotid gland, the gland in the cheek that produces saliva. This damage can be caused by surgery, injury, or infection, and results in the body producing sweat instead of saliva. Frey's syndrome typically occurs on just one side of the face, but in rare cases of diabetes mellitus, bilateral gustatory sweating can occur, causing sweating on both sides of the face.
Diabetic gustatory sweating has been observed in people with long-standing diabetes and associated neuropathy. The exact cause of this phenomenon is unknown, but it has been linked to nerve damage, kidney damage, and poorly controlled blood sugar. In a "Diabetic Medicine" study, 36% of diabetics who reported gustatory sweating had neuropathy or nerve damage. Chewing activates the sweating, and people with this condition may experience profuse, inappropriate, or unexpected sweating about the face, scalp, and neck.
Treatment for gustatory sweating due to nerve damage or diabetes may include oral medications, topical ointments, or botulinum toxin type A (Botox). In one case study, a topical ointment called glycopyrrolate successfully stopped gustatory sweating in a person with diabetes. A Dutch study also found that oxybutynin, a pill, provided "striking" relief from gustatory sweating. Additionally, adequate management of diabetes may help prevent unwanted symptoms such as sweating during meals.
It is important to note that gustatory sweating is not limited to cheese and can be caused by a wide range of foods, including spicy curry, red meat, chocolate, pickles, vinegar, fresh fruit, salty foods, and alcohol. If you are experiencing excessive sweating after eating, it is recommended to consult a doctor to determine the underlying cause and discuss treatment options.
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Frequently asked questions
Cheese sweats, or gustatory sweating, can be caused by a range of foods, from spicy curries to red meat, but cheese is the most common culprit. This is because cheese contains tyramine, a substance that acts like adrenaline, stimulating the nervous system and causing sweating.
Aged cheeses are most likely to cause cheese sweats as they are high in tyramine. Examples include Gruyere, Cheddar, Swiss, Blue, Edam, and Parmesan.
Yes, cheese is also high in protein, so eating a lot of cheese could cause "meat sweats". This is because your body needs to work harder to digest the extra protein, increasing your body temperature and leading to sweating.
Yes, if you are concerned about cheese sweats, you can try picking cheeses that are low in tyramine, such as cottage cheese, ricotta, and cream cheese. You could also consider avoiding dairy for a few weeks to see if you have a food intolerance that is causing your sweating.
