Have you ever found yourself suddenly yearning for a juicy steak or a tender piece of chicken, even if it’s not your usual go-to? These unexpected cravings for meat can feel perplexing, leaving you to wonder what’s really going on inside your body.
In this blog post, we’re going to explore eight surprising reasons why you might be craving meat, and what these cravings could be trying to tell you about your health.
Whether it’s your body signaling a need for certain nutrients or an emotional response, understanding the root cause can empower you to make more informed choices for your well-being.
To support you on this journey, the Eating Enlightenment Food Journal App is an excellent resource. It’s designed to help you track your cravings, manage emotional eating, and reduce binge eating episodes, all while guiding you towards a healthier, more balanced relationship with food.
By using this app, you’ll gain deeper insights into your eating habits and take meaningful steps toward a nourished, fulfilling life.
1 – Lack Protein
The protein hypothesis, developed by Australian researchers, hypothesizes that animals strive to get a specific average amount of protein in their diet.
Specifically, scientists noted that various groups of animals all get around 15% of calories from protein.
When their average protein levels dropped from 15%, the animals would regulate their protein intake by eating more until they averaged 15% again.
Therefore, you could quickly start craving more red meat if you lack protein.
When you crave meat, you are most likely longing for something packed with protein that will give your body the nutrients it needs to function properly.
Meat is an excellent source of protein and provides the body with all the essential amino acids needed to build muscle tissue.
A hearty steak or burger will do just that! Oh, and chicken is excellent for cravings too!
2 – Meat Deprived
Of course, another reason I craved meat was because I wasn’t eating any meat!
Many studies show that avoiding or not eating a particular food leads to more significant cravings.
For example, a 2017 article in Obesity looked at what happens if you restrict different types of food.
The scientists found that people on a high-carb diet who restrict meat (and other protein sources) are more likely to crave meat.
While there are plenty of people who can eat Vegan or Vegetarian and avoid meat altogether, not everyone can avoid meat without cravings.
If you are craving meat, it could be because you are starting a new meat-free diet and your body feels restricted.
3 – Low In Vitamin B12
You may crave meat because you are low in vitamin B12.
Good news, though. It’s pretty easy to boost your vitamin B12 levels.
Vitamin B12 is found naturally in high amounts in animal products such as meats, fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy. However, foods that lack animal products do not contain Vitamin B12.
This means that even if you eat those dark green leafy vegetables we discussed earlier for iron, you could still be deficient in Vitamin B12!
This is important to know because Vitamin B12 plays a significant role in the production of your red blood cells and regulation of blood sugar, as well as the proper functioning of your nervous system health.
Unfortunately, many vegans and vegetarians may not be getting enough Vitamin B12 because this vitamin is found in animal products.
This is why a lack of vitamin B12 could explain your cravings for eggs or meat, especially if you are vegetarian or vegan.
4 – Low In Iron
Back in college, I had meat cravings, but I was vegetarian, so I didn’t eat any meat.
As a vegetarian, I thought I was supposed to be healthy, but I felt very sleepy.
It turned out that I had anemia, a blood condition when you lack proper amounts of iron in your blood.
My doctor told me to eat more meat and take some iron supplements.
I started eating meat and taking iron supplements. About a month later, my iron levels returned to normal, and my meat cravings went down, too.
After my craving went down, I stopped the iron supplements, and they haven’t returned since!
Meat contains a lot of iron, so it makes sense that if you have low iron in your blood, you’ll crave meat.
And if you are vegetarian, you can also get iron quickly from plant sources. For example, dark leafy greens like kale and spinach are high in iron.
5 – Culture Factors Behind Craving Meat
So far, we have primarily talked about meat cravings from a nutritional perspective:
- Low iron
- Not enough B12
- Low protein
We also discussed ‘meat restriction,’ which is harder to measure than nutrition and is more of a mental deprivation factor.
Even more difficult to measure are various cultural factors that may affect someone.
For example, in North America, chocolate is widely reported as people’s one food craving.
However, a study showed that only 6% of young women and only 1% of men reported craving chocolate in Egypt.
This means that one may crave meat, perhaps not because of nutritional factors!
Simply put, the culture one is a part of can impact different cravings for foods.
6 – Flavor
Another reason people crave meat is because of the delicious flavors.
There are so many different flavors of meat to choose from it’s hard to resist! From the savory taste of steak to the sweet taste of pork, there’s a flavor for everyone. Whether you’re in the mood for something spicy or something mild, there’s a meat flavor out there that will satisfy your craving.
So next time you’re feeling a craving for meat, remember that it’s not just about the protein—it’s also about the delicious flavors that come with it! So go ahead and indulge yourself in a nice juicy steak or some succulent pork chops. Your taste buds will thank you!
7 – Texture
Meat’s texture is unique. It can be cooked in many ways, including boiled, fried, and even baked. Each method of cooking gives the meat a different texture. The most important thing to remember about beef is that it should be cooked properly to avoid becoming inflexible.
Have you ever been to a restaurant and been asked if you want your meat cooked medium, well, etc.?
They ask because all the different meat textures vary from person to person!
Side note: Please know that veggie meat is getting a way better taste and texture!
8 – Childhood memories
Do you remember your parents grilling for you on holidays like the 4th of July?
Maybe you recall picnics where the rest of the extended family came over, and your father cooked everyone up a burger and hot dog.
Good times!
We often subconsciously crave memories of our childhood, and if you had positive memories of meat growing up, this could impact your cravings today.
Of course, memories alone don’t explain food cravings.
But memories, combined with a lack of protein, can help explain why you’re craving meat!
Is craving meat a sign of pregnancy?
Interestingly, this means meat cravings may be a sign of pregnancy, but perhaps not as well.
When pregnant, a woman essentially eats for herself and the growing newborn.
This means she needs to eat more protein, iron, and B12.
If her blood levels lack these nutrients, she could develop meat cravings. She may also develop cravings because her blood sugar levels are low, and she needs more calories, too!
However, point five above shows how her craving could be culturally induced:
A pregnant woman might expect from a cultural perspective that she should crave meat and other foods like chocolate, and therefore, she “thinks” her way into craving more meat and/or chocolate!
Craving Meat Meaning – Summary
Craving meat could be a sign of anemia, a lack of iron in the blood. It could also be a sign of protein deficiency or simply a result of cultural factors.
If you’re hungry for meat and you’re vegetarian, you may be low in vitamin B12, or you may be deprived of meat (like you secretly want it but feel you can’t). Either way, it’s essential to understand the meanings behind your meat cravings.
Most likely, there are several factors at play.
Cooked meat tastes excellent, and that could be why you crave it. Maybe you need some protein in your diet, too. Throw in a love for a specific texture of meat, plus a fondness for beef from your childhood memories, and bam!
That’s why you’re craving meat!
With some cheese on top, even lactose-free cheese, and some pickles … yum yum!
When something tastes good and gives you a nice, satisfied feeling, it makes sense why you’re craving meat.
