Why do i crave raw meat

There is one thing that many animals ... have in common -- and that thing is an innate craving for protein.

If you feed rats a very low protein diet (with only 2 percent of protein in it), they will start overeating as they try to satisfy their need for the nutrient. Similar thing happens with humans. In early 2000s, Simpson and Raubenheimer have done an experiment: They closed off ten volunteers for six days in a chalet in the Swiss Alps, were they could choose their breakfasts, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner from a buffet (admittedly, not a bad deal). But the foods some of the volunteers could eat were all low in protein but high in fat and carbohydrates, while a second group was fed a high-protein diet (low in fat and carbohydrates). The results were clear: people on a low-protein diet kept overeating as they tried to satisfy their need for protein.

Later, other studies followed, involving larger groups of people, yet the results remained similar: give humans foods with little protein in them, and we start eating more and more in an attempt to satisfy our protein cravings.

All we need, though, is if about 15 percent of calories in the diet come from protein. When Margriet Westerterp-Plantenga of Maastricht University, the Netherlands, compared the proportion of protein in the diet of people living in the in 50s and 60s in seven different countries, as diverse as Nigeria, Czechoslovakia and the United States, she discovered that it always hovered somewhere around that 15 percent.

Yet craving protein doesn't have to mean craving meat. It could mean craving peanut butter sandwiches. Although meat is a good source of the nutrient, so is peanut butter on bread, buckwheat, tofu and potatoes, which are as complete in protein as is beef or pork.

Admittedly, protein in many plant foods is not completely balanced in essential amino acids, but as long as your diet is reasonably varied, your body is perfectly capable of getting all the amino acids it needs -- it combines them itself, just as it gets different vitamins from different sources (vitamin C from your morning OJ, vitamin A from the carrots you ate at dinner). Some plants, though, are particularly low in protein -- and here lies the key to the meat hunger puzzle. In some parts of Africa, for example, everyday diets contain a lot of foods such as cassava and plantains, which are protein-poor. And if you eat nothing but cassava, your protein cravings will kick in. An adult man weighing 165 pounds would need to chew through about ten pounds of the plant a day to get the required protein -- versus about a meager 7 oz of chicken. No wonder he may get pangs of ekbelu, the meat hunger.

Does that mean we in the West need meat for our protein? Not at all. According to the American Heart Association, "most Americans consume more protein than their bodies need." That's bad news. Studies show that excess protein is detrimental for kidneys, and that too much animal protein may even increase your risk of cancer.

Peanut butter sandwiches are plenty enough.

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Last Updated on April 14, 2022

Sinking your teeth into a nice steak (or a juicy burger, if that is more your speed) comes with its own set of considerations during pregnancy- but many pregnant women find themselves with just as many questions about what it means to crave meat. 

There is nothing out of the ordinary when it comes to craving meats during pregnancy- even for vegan or vegetarian mothers. And though there is not one single reason why cravings happen, cravings for meat could be signs of potential iron deficiency, amongst other reasons. 

I’ll break down the potential reasons behind cravings for all types of meats, as well as ways to get your fix even if you stick to a plant-based healthy diet during pregnancy. 

Craving Meat (Including Red Meat) During Pregnancy: What Does it Mean? 

Though the most common cravings during pregnancy include fresh fruit and sweet treats, cravings for meat are also not uncommon (source: Doylestown Women’s Health). 

While there likely is no single reason that pregnancy food cravings happen, scientists do have several ideas. When it comes to craving meat, there are two that stick out.

First, meats- particularly red meats- are very good sources of iron. Not only do these foods have a lot of iron, but they contain the type known as heme iron, which is better absorbed and used by the body (source: American Red Cross).

Amounts of iron need to increase up to 27 mg daily during pregnancy, which goes to help keep up circulation between mom and her growing baby (source: Mayo Clinic). 

With the increase in iron needs, some women may find themselves falling short of their daily goal. This is one potential reason for meat cravings, where the body is trying to encourage you to eat healthy foods high in the nutrients you need most. 

Second, meats come with a number of safety considerations throughout pregnancy, and many women may incidentally wind up eating less of them for fear of accidentally contracting foodborne illness. Feeling like you can’t have a particular food and avoiding it entirely is one way to give yourself strong cravings (source: BBC). 

Since well-cooked and steaming hot meats are still safe to enjoy while pregnant, go ahead and satisfy your common pregnancy craving.

What if I’m Craving a Particular Meat, like Steak?

As I mentioned above, red meat is a rich source of iron, which is needed in greater amounts during pregnancy. If you tend to fall behind on your daily iron needs or have been told by your medical provider that your bloodwork shows low iron levels, craving red meat may be your body’s way of helping keep your iron levels up.

Additionally, steak is often thought of being a more indulgent red meat, which can be more appealing if your body is in need of extra calories. 

Craving Raw Meat When Pregnant

Some women may crave raw meat in particular. While raw meat dishes like steak tartare and raw beef and onions are eaten across the world, this is not a safe style of food to eat during pregnancy.

Without thorough cooking, you and your baby are at high risk of getting food poisoning from eating undercooked meat, so these should be avoided when pregnant.

Craving non-Red Meat When Pregnant

Red meat is not the only meat craving during pregnancy, as some women specifically crave pork or chicken.

Though light and white meats are not quite as high in iron as red meats, they do still contain some heme-iron. Chicken, pork, and other meats are also common stars of cultural dishes and can be craved as comfort food. 

I’m Vegan and Craving Meat During Pregnancy – Is This Normal?

Many vegan and vegetarian mothers are surprised when they start craving meat during pregnancy, especially if it is something that is used to make their stomachs turn. Though surprising, cravings for meat during pregnancy can definitely be normal, even for vegan or vegetarian mothers. 

Similar to omnivorous mothers craving red meat, low iron is certainly a possible reason behind this craving. While there are wonderful sources of plant-based iron, this iron is not as easily used by the body and typically found in smaller amounts in foods. 

Of course, eating meats is one way to satisfy your common food craving and load up on essential nutrients, but for many vegan and vegetarian mothers, this simply isn’t the right choice for them.

Enriched grains, beans and lentils, tofu, nuts, molasses, and dark greens are all good sources of plant-based iron. If you are a vegetarian who eats eggs, these are another good source (source: Cleveland Clinic). 

Be sure to check with your medical provider before starting an iron supplement, as most prenatal vitamins already contain some supplemental iron. 

Vegan mothers may also be craving meats as a source of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is only found naturally in animal products, but is especially essential during pregnancy to develop a baby’s central nervous system and spinal cord (source: American Pregnancy Association).

Fortified soy products such as tofu and tempeh, fortified breakfast cereals, nutritional yeast, marmite, and seaweeds are vegan sources of vitamin B12 (source: NHS). 

Finally, the mysterious meat craving might not be related to nutrients at all. Rather, you might find the smell, texture, or flavor combination appealing. If you choose to eat them, vegan meat alternatives often have similar flavors and mouthfeels minus the meat. 

Does Craving Meat When Pregnant Mean a Boy or a Girl? 

If you are/have been pregnant then there is a good chance you’ve heard the old adage that cravings for sweet foods means you’re having a girl and cravings for savory/salty foods means you’re having a boy. Since meats are typically served in a savory style, does craving meat mean you are carrying a baby boy?

Unfortunately, there is no scientific proof that checking in with your food cravings accurately predicts your baby’s gender. If you are craving meat during your pregnancy there is still an equal chance of having a girl- though it’s always fun to take a guess!

Out-of-the-blue cravings of any kind can be confusing, but especially when it’s food-like meat that you are not used to craving! Hopefully, you can now rest assured knowing a few reasons why meat cravings can be a normal part of pregnancy.