Strange Beef Cravings

[SkinniMinni]

I've been primarily raw for about 7 months now (mostly about 80-90% raw) with my un-raw items being primarily drinks like coffee and occassionaly some vegan food when I am out with friends.

In the last few weeks I've had these crazy beef cravings, as specifically it's just beef (not chicken or other meats). Now, I don't want to eat it - but even seeing beef makes me salivate (which I find horrible as a vegan). Do you think this could mean I am perhaps lacking something (iron, b12 etc.)? I do lots of green smoothies (with tons of greens), salads, and the good fats like avacado, nuts etc., fruit.

Has anyone else experienced this and found a raw solution? I don't honestly think it's the 'burger' type experience I want, it seems to be really something in it that I am craving.

[justinesmith]

I've had the same experience. And I am horrified by it. When I was little (and didn't know better, obviously) I used to love eating steak. I also loved eating raw hamburger. What I realize now is that I am not actually craving a cow but the seasonings. If you just threw a side of steak on the grill with no season or tenderizing, it would taste like cardboard. I don't trust my body yet to tell me what I "need", my body is still fixated on what I want. I still salivate when someone even mentions crispy bacon.... here I go, I can't even type it. It doesn't mean that I need it, it's just old habits. We are still fighting 100's of years of our ancestors eating cooked as well....no wonder it's so hard to resist!! Take care and remember cows are friends, not food :D

[Veganforlife]

Take a portabello mushroom, season as you would a steak (however THAT is), and eat that. See if that doesn't satisfy that bizarre craving.

[GoingtoRAW]

Before going raw I had been following a vegetarian diet for years. I had not craved meat, had not thought about meat, in fact even the smell of meat or chicken would make me feel like I could vomit. When I went through my first detox class last year I started getting these strange, strong cravings for meat. Steak in particular. It lasted for several days during my first week of the detox class. I forgot what the reason that was given for why I was having that particular craving - but thankfully it passed. So I guess those cravings aren't unusual when you are relatively new to raw.;)

[GoingtoRAW]

I've had the same experience. And I am horrified by it. When I was little (and didn't know better, obviously) I used to love eating steak. I also loved eating raw hamburger. What I realize now is that I am not actually craving a cow but the seasonings. If you just threw a side of steak on the grill with no season or tenderizing, it would taste like cardboard. I don't trust my body yet to tell me what I "need", my body is still fixated on what I want. I still salivate when someone even mentions crispy bacon.... here I go, I can't even type it. It doesn't mean that I need it, it's just old habits. We are still fighting 100's of years of our ancestors eating cooked as well....no wonder it's so hard to resist!! Take care and remember cows are friends, not food :D

OhmyGOD Justinesmith....why did you mention the CRISPY BACON?!:p

[Veganforlife]

Read Eric Schlosser's "Fast Food Nation".
Watch "Meet your Meat".
Watch "The Future of our Food".

[GHOST27M]

Read Eric Schlosser's "Fast Food Nation".
Watch "Meet your Meat".
Watch "The Future of our Food".

hey are those movies kinda like the one I posted that got that whole Other (Health Related)
section deleted.

I am afraid to say the name. do you remember ?

[tinystrawberry]

I also loved eating raw hamburger.

my moms exboyfriend did this all the time...yuck, sry

[Veganforlife]

hey are those movies kinda like the one I posted that got that whole Other (Health Related)
section deleted.

I am afraid to say the name. do you remember ?

Yep. I 'member! So, um, it was YOUR fault the entire section got deleted? Now I know!!! LOL!!!
::sheepish grin::
Hopefully it won't be deleted. BUT, everyone should see/read these...!

[ferg]

R.U. eating enough greens? Make sure you are eating a ton of greens everyday... I drink about 5 cups of green smoothie and atleast one huge salad a day. That should help. If all else fails, there are many raw foodists out there that occassionally eat raw/lightly seared meat... I do believe it is necessary to eat some animal products; ensure they are organic. After being 100% raw for about 6 months, I started to consume raw cheese and raw egg yolks occassionaly, they really help with my energy level. I've been raw a year and a half now and I think you'll find after being on this journey for so long, its really hard to keep 100% at all times. Don't beat yourself up over it. You are eating 100% healthier than the general population. Remember, you need to be getting your B-12 from some source.

[virginia]

Algae is an excellent vegan source of vitamin B-12.

[lafsalot]

Old post of mine from another thread - might explain some of the reasons behind some cravings ~ Cathy

Here is an interesting article you might want to check out -
www.spiritouch.com/en/pdfs/FastFoodNation.pdf

It explains how "flavor" is primarily the smell of gases being released by the chemicals (of processed foods) that you put in your mouth, "that aroma of food can be responsible for 90% of its flavor" - something the flavor industry has been taking advantage of. For instance, ever wonder what is in that BK burger or in barbeque sauces and other processed meats? "Red Arrow manufactures natural smoke flavor by charring sawdust and capturing the aroma chemicals relased into the air and bottling it with water, then selling it to companies who want their foods to taste as though it has been cooked over an open fire".

It also goes on to discuss how food preferences are formed during the early years, and that the flavors of childhood seem to leave an indeliable mark, and as adults, we often return to them without knowing why. "Old habits die hard, and I imagine it is hard for some people to walk away from the unhealthy comfort foods that they once depended on.

[StarFire]

hey are those movies kinda like the one I posted that got that whole Other (Health Related)
section deleted.

I am afraid to say the name. do you remember ?


Ahhhh haaaa..... :cool: .... so it wuz ... you ????

hmmmmm..... http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/W.gif ... so tell me ... what made you post that.... how was your relationship with your father????

heheheeee!!! I'M KIDDING!!! http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/tomato.gif OOPS!! Sorry... did I do thaaaat??? Sorry -- my bad ... didn't mean to let that slip!!


IM KIDDING!! IM KIDDING!! ..... http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/laugh.gif .... AHAHHAHAAAA!!
SORRY!! YOU KNOW ME... ALWAYS GOTTA KID!!

anywayz... not to be a thread hijacker....

this beef craving thing ... you guyz got me spooked here. I haven't wanted beef in sooo long - and it sounds like some of you have been rawbies for a loong time and then you wake up one morning and you've got this craving for beef.... AHHHHHH!!! YUUCK!! please say it aint so....

I'm hoping that one passes me by!

[NetKaPet]

I've been primarily raw for about 7 months now (mostly about 80-90% raw) with my un-raw items being primarily drinks like coffee and occassionaly some vegan food when I am out with friends.

In the last few weeks I've had these crazy beef cravings, as specifically it's just beef (not chicken or other meats). Now, I don't want to eat it - but even seeing beef makes me salivate (which I find horrible as a vegan). Do you think this could mean I am perhaps lacking something (iron, b12 etc.)? I do lots of green smoothies (with tons of greens), salads, and the good fats like avacado, nuts etc., fruit.

Has anyone else experienced this and found a raw solution? I don't honestly think it's the 'burger' type experience I want, it seems to be really something in it that I am craving.


SkinniMinni, I think you possibly answered your own question in that you might be lacking in iron and b12. I've been on the raw food diet for almost five weeks and a couple days ago my heart started palpitating. It was very slight at first, but then became heavier. I searched and searched today for information and found that when someone is deficient in calcium, palpitations can occur. So I went to the health food store and picked up a liquid calcium/magnesium supplement. That was several hours ago and the palpitations have all but ceased. I also picked up some organic ground beef as I thought if I was deficient in calcium, maybe I wasn't getting iron either. And I certainly wasn't getting B12 because I hadn't started on any supplement. Anyway, I know you're not a meat-eater, but maybe you can get some supplements and see if the cravings go away.

[dreamrawalwz]

I think I've had one tiny piece of stake in my entire life and a bite of hamburger. I know I didn't like the flavor at all (nor do I remember the flavor now) so I don't know what you're craving, but I think if you give in to the craving that it'll just keep that cycle going. You could be right that you need more greens or fats or something. It could be the seasoning. Let's face it, not many eat plain chicken/beef/turkey/pork/etc. without any seasoning. It could be your body just detoxing the beef out of your cells finally and if you put it back in you may have to just go through the cravings again during the next detox period.