Does the following statement about meat and vegetarianism make sense?

No, that statement does not make sense.

It does, at least to me.

Remember, there is more to meat than just protein. You can eat all the nuts and eggs you want, but if, for instance, you aren’t getting enough iron, your body will crave a natural source of it; red meat.

If you find your body works better when you eat a certain food than when you do not eat it, it’s telling you that you need that food.

That’s how I discovered that my body uses magnesium to the point that I must have supplements. If I don’t take it I get muscle cramps.

@jerv, cravings don’t really reflect nutrient deficiencies:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443995604578002253859884598.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/08/food-cravings_n_1940299.html

Okay, my question is not quite worded right. Forget the word “protein”. Vegans make sure they get everything incuding iron that is supposed to be in meat , so one can’t say “my body told me I need meat”.

@snowberry re. the magnesium, whether it comes from one source or another source, it is the same thing. The body can’t claim it needs to come from a particular source or else right?

Vegans take B12 supplements, due to not eating meat.

I think some people simply have a tremendous craving for meat. They like the taste and the texture and the mouth feel. I’ve been lucky and have been able to satisfy my need for those tastes and textures with other things, and therefore, I never crave meat, although I do have fond memories of certain things like carnitas, roast turkey and fried chicken, but I don’t crave them.

No one really needs to eat meat, to get all of the protein and vitamins and minerals, but you do have to be diligent about actually eating those things (and knowing where to find them, and having them readily available). Most people are not willing, nor do they have the time (and definitely not the interest) to become a vegetarian. And I pity the picky people of this world, because it’s very hard for them too, especially if they don’t like the taste of vegetables or have never heard of cardamom hee hee.

Some people, like my cousin who has celiac disease, and is a really picky eater, simply wouldn’t survive (at least not happily) without eating meat. She eats meat instead of vegetables and grains.

Also, in our society, being a vegetarian is still looked upon with a certain disdain. Our society is set up to cater to meat eaters, so even if one wanted to become a vegetarian, unless they have the mental stamina to put up with all of the negativity, and difficulty of finding healthy vegetarian options (Cheetos and Mountain Dew don’t count) it’s not likely that most people would do that, even if they knew that it was better for them in the long run.

So I guess need is a relative term.

Anyway it was a person who was big, I guess in the pro-vegan or vegeterian world, and she is the one who came out of secrecy and announced that she’s been eating meat. That is why I posted the question, how can someone who should know better say something like that?

@flo Actually some sources of magnesium are absorbed better than others. I take magnesium citrate for that reason.

@snowberry but I’m referring to the source not the type. And the fact that the body is blind when it comes to the source.

I guess she feels better when she eats meat. The actress who was on Murphy Brown. The other blond, not Candice, tall and thin. I remember once seeing her on an interview talking about her problems concerning her Graves Disease, and one thing she said was for a while she tried to be vegetarian, but eating meat suits her much better, she feels much better.

My experience is when I eat meat as my main source of protein I crave it, and feel weak without it. If I change over to plenty of fruits, veggies and legumes, I don’t miss the meat. But if my vegetarian diet is lacking and has a lot of starches I crave meat. Meat delivers more protein in fewer bites, so I think the body sees it as a quick fix, kind of like a candy bar will give you a sudden burst of sugars if you are very hungry. But, the veggies and fruits give the same or more protein per calorie as most meat, so if you fill you plate with those things you get the protein, but it takes more bites of food and more time.

Also, maybe it has something to do with iron for her. Depending on her veg diet she might be lacking in iron. I am low in iron no matter what I eat. But, currently I am trying a change to see if I can get it up better through foods.

@flo Maybe they had their mind changed by reading other information (I’m curious to know what that info might be) but it’s most likely that the person simply craved meat and didn’t want to look like a hypocrite. Maintaining a vegetarian diet is a full-time job and not for the faint of heart. I don’t blame anyone for not going down Vegetarian Road.

@flo as in brand? I don’t get it. The body doesn’t understand either I think. It’s about what sources of nutrition is best absorbed. For example, the best way to get iron from spinach is to eat it raw. The iron in spinach is unavailable to the body if you cook it before you eat it.

Protein is protein. Vegetarian and carnivore diets are not “better” or “best”. There’s an infinite number of different ways to feed yourself.

Unfortunately, here is a typical [Internet] conversation about vegetarianism.

Vegetarian: “I am a vegetarian”

Somebody else: “WHY ARE YOU SHOVING YOUR LIFESTYLE DOWN MY THROAT!!1!!”

@Kardamom “but it’s most likely that the person simply craved meat and didn’t want to look like a hypocrite.”
But is it better to discredit oneself by misinforming the public? Why couldn’t she just say I couldn’t take the craving. By the way she said she is still 85%? or so vegetarian.

@snowberry I mean whether whatever you need comes from this vegtetable or that meat it (edit to add: the body) can’t tell.

@flo I say I am 90% vegan at home.

@gailcalled scary, what some call communication.

If it was me, I would hope that I would tell the truth, but because this person is a big-wig (whoever it is) looking like a hypocrite is probably worse for someone who is known by millions, rather than just by their own family and friends. And, like I said, if he/she has some information that changed their mind (even if it’s true, or not true, or not known absolutely) they may have just changed their mind.

@Kardamom she did change her mind, of that there is no doubt.

Always listen to the organism

@josie The one with the fork, or the one on the plate? ;)

@flo You said but I’m referring to the source not the type. And the fact that the body is blind when it comes to the source.

That’s not actually true. The body breaks things down and processes them differently if they come from true food sources.. And the protein from meat is complete, while proteins from vegetable sources are not complete by themselves, but need to be eaten so that one source complements another.

So admire the person for her honesty in admitting it and her willingness to re-evaluate her thinking in public. By admitting what was going on, she actually avoids being a hypocrite.

I was a vegetarian for most of my teens and then for most of my 20s I ate a predominantly vegetarian diet, but started to eat fish/poultry/meat once a week or so. I have never particularly liked meat and I do love animals, so naturally I gave it up.
For the last 6 years or so, my PMS craving was not for chocolate or comfort foods, but for ridiculous amounts of meat. It got to the point where I felt out of control, and I could eat red meat for breakfast, lunch and dinner and still want it the next day. (Again, this is coming from someone that has never cared for the taste or texture of most meats, but especially not beef.)

When I started incorporating more lean animal protein into my daily diet and beef once or twice a week my hormonal cravings went away. I felt better when I started eating meat again in the first place, but I feel a million times better now that I’m eating it regularly. Now, I have made a handful of dietary changes over the years and also recently, so I can’t chalk it up to being only about the meat – but it does seem like the most logical explanation for the craving shift. I wouldn’t call it science, but I definitely think the statement makes sense.

My acupuncturist says that some people just need meat. My yoga instructor is Scandinavian and would love to be vegetarian but gets mad cravings for meat. The acupuncturist told her that she evolved from a people who didn’t have as much access to vegetables and adapted to needing more meat.

There are 12 amino acids that, in different combinations, make up the necessary proteins to maintain human health. The nearest vegetarian dish to meat protein is a combination of unprocessed rices and some kinds of beans. If you’re craving meat, you might be actually craving that specific amino acid combination, or something else meat provides. Meat is also an excellent source of iron. You may be craving iron. I crave meat because I’m an unapologetic meat eater and I haven’t had red meat since before thanksgiving. It’s way too expensive down here and the quality is usually quite inferior, not worth the price.

“The body breaks things down and processes them differently if they come from true food sources..”
“And the protein from meat is complete, while proteins from vegetable sources are not complete by themselves, but need to be eaten so that one source complements another.”

Either the compound is x or it is not x. So, if the substitute or combo of substitutes provide the compound x there you have it. The body gets what it needs so it can’t complain, I don’t believe. It is not racist or whatever it can be called.

So, if the body craves meat that means nothing it seems to me, since we crave for all kinds of bad things, we fall off the wagon. How do we know that this is not about just plain falling of the wagon talk instead of fact?

Is this a credible site? I have no idea.