Is there such a thing as meat addiction?

Question

I'm just wondering, I've been vegan since birth.

Answer 1

There are always addictions to pleasure. I do not beleive there is a physiologigal addiction however. This does not discount the theory held by many that possibly the additives that are placed in the meat (by the processors) are addictive

Answer 2

No there is no such thing as a meat addiction ... You're a vegan from birth because your parents are vegans ... It is natural to be an omnivore .. but you certainly can eat whatever makes you happy.

Answer 3

No. Unlike alcohol or heroine or cigarettes, there is nothing addictive in meat. People may have a hard time giving it up, but in purely medical terms, one cannot be addicted to meat.

Answer 4

Meat Addiction?? I don't think thats a medical term or anything but me personally, I wouldn't be able to be a Vegan since almost every meal I eat has meat in it.  Plus, I would miss the taste of nice New York Steak :)

Answer 5

Scientifically speaking, no.

There is nothing in meat that makes it addictive. Meth, cocaine, alcohol...those have addictive properties.

If anything, a meat addiction would be a mental/psychological issue and not a physical one.

Answer 6

Oh I suppose there could be; psychology is a big part of addiction and if meat makes you feel good, you may end up eating it more often. Most people that like meat though, like the smell, taste, texture and full feeling it gives.

Edit: I enjoy meat and would miss it if I had to give it up but not in the way a smoker misses his cigarettes.

Answer 7

im sure there is just like there is junk food addiction, but like any addiction you can always kick the habit.

Answer 8

there is such a thing as food addiction, but probably not specifically meat.  I have been a food addict my whole life but I can go just fine woithout meat (and have) and not give it a second thought. I don't have nagging meat cravings taunting me if I don't eat it.

the only thing I consume that I feel I am addicted to is coffee

Answer 9

of course not.  I eat meat, but also have several vegetarian dinners each week..... meat is a part of a healthy diet (when eaten in moderation and cooked properly), just as vegetables/fruits are........  Would you say that YOU are "addicted" to vegetables?  Or is it just the food that you need to eat in order to survive? ....  Food is necessary for survival, and different people chose different diets

Answer 10

Hindus believe that meat eaters are spiritually addicted to meat because of all the bad karma they have accumulated after thousands of lives.

They say that meateating causes spritual ignorance and makes a soul blind to the horrors of animal killing, and makes their heart less compassionate.

They also say that if you eat meat you will spend a life as an animal who gets eaten alive.

.....but hey, who knows if thats true.  

haha

Answer 11

There is no such thing as a meat addiction. Some individuals will argue that if you get pleasure from anything (eating, s*x, cutting, etc.) it can become an addiction. The only eating disorders currently officially recognized by the mental health community are bulimia and anorexia. Binge eating will probably be recognized soon, but anyone, omnivore or vegetarian, can become a binge eater. Every individual is addicted to eating in some sense, as in if we don't eat, we die, but what you eat is a choice. As an omnivore, I will eat vegetarian meals sometimes and meals that include animal products at other times. I get to enjoy a wide variety of tastes and I am only limited by personal choices (I don't consume caffeine, etc.) Labeling someone as an addict is not something to be done lightly or with prejudice, so I advise caution in this area.

Answer 12

No there isn't a physical addiction to meat, but there is some psychological addiction that could be involved.   Also many people just have no idea what to eat, which is strange because meat isn't the only thing on the planet.

There are no withdrawal symptoms from stopping eating meat like there are with narcotics and other things that produce a physical addiction.

great links, fabulous in indy!!

Answer 13

found it!!

actually, there are many studies that claim that meat has addictive qualities. there are also claims for the addictive qualities of cheese and other foods. one of the articles listed below (by the BBC) is about a study that showed that fast food can be as addictive as heroin!! here are links to a few articles about food addiction:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/270714...

what i'm trying to say is that it may be more of a physical reaction than you think. of course, our minds can play tricks on us....but out bodies certainly can, too!!

as far as willpower techniques, i use photos and quotes that remind me of why i went veg. i even keep a printout of a quote in my wallet so that i'll see it when i go to pay for food. it's been very helpful for me.

EDIT:  these two are working links....i deleted the others because they are now archived at each site and some require fees to view.  the two listed above are free and VERY informative, interesting reads.