Why Do I Crave Red Meat?

What is Red Meat?

Red meat typically refers to the meat of lamb, beef, and most curiously pork! When you are in a nutritional deficit, your body craves red meat. For example, vegans fresh off the “vegetable only” band wagon usually crave beef, and lamb dishes. Red meat is generally considered unhealthy, and if you are lucky enough to get “nutritional advice” from your doctor at your yearly checkup, you will most likely be told to avoid red meat at all cost if you want to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Benefits of Red Meat

So, why do you crave red meat? Turns out, red meat nourishes our bodies with a plethora of vitamins, minerals, and protein. When you are in a nutritional deficit, or are exhausted, your body often tells you what it needs, and that is when we get the red meat craving. Red meats, such as, lamb and beef is abundant in vitamin B12, the energy vitamin, which is why our bodies are letting us know what it needs. A serving of quality beef, or lamb, will not only re-energize your body, but also outweighs stimulants such as caffeine, in terms of nutrients, satiation, and slow burning fuel.

Which Red Meat Are You Craving?

When we think of red meat in the US, our minds instantly pictures juicy stacked burgers, or hot hogs, or something equally processed. That is where the warnings against eating red meat stems from. Many of the studies that were conducted on red meat for health, failed to actually separate processed meats versus quality pastured grass-fed meats. Processed meats in the standard American diet should not be considered healthy by any standard, however, discouraging everyone from consuming high quality grass fed, pastured red meats is ill advised, and deprives our bodies of deeply healing, nutrient dense foods.

When Do You Crave Red Meat?

Our body is deeply intelligent and intuitive, and sometimes all we need to do to feel better is to listen to our body! Many of us do not take the time to observe our thoughts, our feelings, let alone our cravings. When we take the time to evaluate when we crave red meat, we may observe that they fall within certain highly stressful situations in life.

During Your Period

For a woman, she may crave red meat during her period, why? Because her body is losing iron during that time, and her craving for red meat is her body’s way of letting her replenish the lost iron. Sometimes the communication stemming from our bodies are as straight forward as that.

During/After Pregnancy

It is widely believed that when a women craves red meat during pregnancy it is indicative of a deficiency in nutrients. Whereas, when the craving shows up after childbirth, it is her body’s way of letting her know that she should be replenishing nutrients that were used up during the childbirth.

Extreme Diets

We are not all built the same! For some an extreme diet such as a Vegan Diet meshes well with your genes, but for most people such diets, over a long period of time, leads to nutritional deficiencies. If you have ever had experiences with Vegan Diets, for example, when your body uses up all the stored B12, etc. you start craving red meat. Why? Because red meat is nutrient dense, and provides those missing nutrients such as B12, and Iron. Once again, you just need to “listen” for the signals from your “intelligent” body.

Highly Stressful Situations

When you are highly stressed at work, or exhausted, you often crave red meat. That craving may be visualized as a burger, or a hotdog, which may be your “normal” way of consuming red meat. The craving isn’t necessary a craving for “junk” food. Your body is just communicating that it needs “energy”, and it knows that red meat will replenish and restore. Just try consuming a healthier red meat dish.

Nutritional Benefits of Eating Red Meat

Nutrients found in red meat, includes:

• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin B6
• Zinc
• Iron
• Protein
• Niacin
• Some Vitamin D
• Long Chain Omega 3 Polyunsaturated Fats
• Riboflavin
• Endogenous Antioxidants
• Creatine
• Carnitine
• Glutathione

Red meat also includes thiamin, Vitamin A, trace amounts of beta-carotene, and numerous other trace elements, minerals, and bioactive substances.

Tips to Satisfy Your Craving for Red Meat

How can you satisfy your craving for red meat and still be “healthy” given all of the conflicting information on the consumption of red meat?

1. Eat pastured, grass-fed meats that naturally eliminates contaminants and growth hormones.
2. Consume your delicious steak, or lamb chops as a side dish rather than a main course.
3. Try pairing your red meats with organic salads, or steamed vegetables.
4. Limit your consumption of junk foods, so your body fully absorbs all the nutrients found in red meats.
5. Try Intermittent Fasting to give your body enough time to digest red meats.