The Real Reason You're Craving Cheese All The Time

Cheese. Cheese, cheese, cheese. If you think sweet dreams are made of cheese, what might this cheese fixation mean? Well, there are several possible explanations. Perhaps you are actually a mouse? Or maybe you're from Wisconsin. If neither of the above applies, though, it's possible you're craving it for a good reason.

One reason you may be dreaming in cheese is because that stuff's just plain delicious, but it's also comforting, familiar, and fills the need for something soothing. Lisa Young, Ph.D., R.D., adjunct professor of nutrition at New York University, tells Shape that there's even a biochemical reason why cheese makes you feel better. She says it's just loaded with l-tryptophan, an amino acid that gives a boost to your brain's serotonin production. Serotonin, as you may recall, is the "happy hormone" — when levels are low, you feel down and depressed. If eating cheese helps to lift your mood, go right ahead and nibble, nibble, nibble.

While cheese does tend to be high in fat, it's actually a good fat, and no, you shouldn't be settling for low-fat cheese since the full-fat kind is the least processed, most natural, and therefore healthiest variety, per Healthline. Plus, weird though it may seem, there's a possibility your body isn't getting enough fat, and some fat is necessary. And speaking of weird, Cosmopolitan says that a cheese craving could just be another kind of sugar craving since cheese contains natural milk sugars. (Bonus: unlike candy, Portman Dental Care says cheese is actually great for your teeth!)

Insider adds that cheese is also an excellent source of vitamin D, which is something you're probably low on in wintertime when days get shorter. Plus, during this dark and chilly season, you're probably spending a lot less time outdoors in the sunshine if you live anywhere other than Hawaii, Florida, or southern California. If wintertime blues have got you down, it's ok — in fact, downright therapeutic — to indulge in a tasty grilled cheese sandwich, Philly cheesesteak, homemade pizza, cheese fondue ... Go ahead and cheese it up, since this is one indulgence that may do more good than harm.