Psychological meat dependancy?

Question

i have sworn off beef, i cant bear to give up dairy so i am treating my bit of cheese as my 'naughty non-eco food' ration.

the other day i had (due to a communication breakdown) to eat a roast beef dinner without the meat, and without any substitute protein. through the whole meal i had that crampy stomach feeling smokers and chocoholics will recognise.

i am sure this is a psychological reaction rather than a physical one, because i never get it when absorbed, only when thinking about smoking, and this backs that theory up really, as i cant possibly be addicted to protein in every meal!

so, what i could do with are some willpower techniques, so i can sit down happily to dinner with my folks even if theres no protein for me in it.

Answer 1

talk to your doctor, you might have a protein deficency. So talk to him on a healthy solution to how to be meatless with that type of condition.

Answer 2

This is really interesting. If you are trying to reduce your meat consumption, yet crave meat, why not try a meat substitute?

There are some very convincing (and tasty) meat alternatives out there, like the 'Linda McCartney' range. I've never heard of protein cravings. However I would recommend that you increase your protein intake by eating beans with your meal. Beans are nutritious, high in protein, and they fill you up. Beans also encourage faster digestive transit due to their high fibre content.There's protein in practically everything, so you don't need to worry about any protein deficiencies. Ensure your diet is varied, and enjoy your food. =)

Answer 3

Control your thoughts and try to think some other things.

Answer 4

just eat and enjoy the food... im'sorry but that's all i can say to you right now... and also you're right it was just you're mind saying you need to eat those but deep in your inner mind says no...

Answer 5

Personally I am a meat eater and often feel like you did when for some reason or other I had to go without protein at a meal.

I don't think it's a psychological thing more of a fact that we do need protein and some protein espec meat is very filling so it's hard to feel satisfied without it.

My advice to you is to fill up before you go out to eat this type of meal again or to eat plenty pulses with your meal for protein.

Answer 6

I have read that if someone becomes deficient in a nutrient - protein or other minerals contained in meat, they will begin craving. The article that claimed this was written by someone who was vegan for 2 years. His suggestion was to eat free ranged eggs a few times a year. So I guess the craving can be physical too.

From the information you gave, maybe it is psychological. People who recently stop eating meat will crave it while vegetarians who haven't eaten meat in a LONG time think meat smells/taste horrible.

Answer 7

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://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007...

http://www.pcrm.org/magazine/gm03summer/...

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

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/539976...

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.

Answer 8

that's interesting. I'm a soy & chocoholic, but i've never thought about protien dependancy. Maybe your body simply needs more protien. If it's healthy veg friendly sources of protien, I don't see a problem with satisfying your protien cravings. It's not like your binging on protien, your simply eating it as part of your meal. I think it sounds ok to me.

Answer 9

just eat what you fancy eating and not what you feel you should be eating

Answer 10

I can't do it.  I'd have to eat the beef (sorry, I know to much is bad for you and slaughter houses are not nice places to spend your last few days).

I have reduced my beef intake, and I slaughter my own meat as humanely as possible.  The steer never has any fear; never leaves the field he knows; doesn't have strange smells noises or people to frighten them; and never even hears the shot.  But I do eat him.  It is a strange concept to "humanely" slaughter something.

Answer 11

Seems more anxiety induced stomach acid, you know that hot churning in your stomach when you get in stress situations. Funny thing about meat too is that it requires more acid to digest it. If your body is use to a certain level of acid response when you eat and your diet changes rapidly, your body has not caught up yet to the diet change. I found at first i had some general weakness and an almost out of body like feeling when I had an immediate rapid diet change. If you get in that situation again, have a glass of milk with your meal. It will do until you get your diet connections together and find a source of quality dairy from a "happy" farm with cared for animals that use no chemicals. Relax on the too rapid a change a bit and those cravings for take out burgers will go away. Now, ask me how I knew!

PS The reason our tastes change when we age has a lot to do with it!