The Truth About Meat Sweats: Myth or Reality?

Whether after eating a protein-rich meal or shortly after starting the caveman diet, people may notice that they experience a weird reaction in the form of excessive sweating. It doesn’t seem to be serious. However, it sure does seem like a weird response. You eat meat again, and you might notice the same reaction. What’s going on here? It sounds like meat sweats.

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So, now we’re here to help you figure out, are meat sweats actually a thing? And if they are, why do they happen?

Read on to learn more about these supposed meat sweats you might be experiencing.

Meat Sweats are… Real?

While thousands of people around the world will tell you that they, for certain, have dealt with dreaded meat sweats, on an expert level, this so-called reaction is either believed to be truthful or debunked- there’s no in-between.

Until more research comes out and actual evidence can be used to make a claim in either direction, the answer to your question is: we don’t really know if meat sweats are real. So, take what you hear and read with a grain of salt, but feel free to form your own opinions.

Meat Sweats Aren’t Recognized as a Medical Condition

Many professionals are still under the impression that meat sweats aren’t an actual thing. What an expert can tell you, though, is that meat sweats aren’t recognized as a medical condition nor are they coined as a medical term at all. They just don’t exist in the medical field. They may even not be taught at all to pre-med students.

That said, if you go to the doctor for meat sweats, they will probably tell you it’s not real or not a danger and, therefore, no medical attention will be necessary.

Why Meat Sweats Happen

According to Integris Health, there are some dietary and medical professionals out there who consider meat sweats a very real response due to a thermic effect. Their theory is that eating a large amount of meat in one sitting can raise one’s body temperature due to how enzymes break down food in the body. In response to the rising temperature, they may begin to sweat.

Apart from the latter thermogenesis theory, there are other hypotheses to consider regarding the cause of supposed meat sweats.

Another theory is that heavily salted or processed proteins increase cortisol in the blood. In turn, the high concentration of cortisol can increase your body temperature and induce the sweating.

Other theories for meat sweats are much more simple. Some say that people who claim to have meat sweats might be overanalyzing the situation and actually be sweating due to the summer heat, standing over a hot barbecue, or due to the spiciness of the meat (or other components of the meal), thus, making wrongful associations between meat itself and sweating.

It’s also possible that there could be genetic variables as to why meat sweats happen in some people more than others.

Does Everyone Get Meat Sweats?

Not everyone gets so-called meat sweats. To test that theory, ask your friends and family members! Many of them are bound to tell you no. A lot of folks have no idea what meat sweats even are.

Let’s be real, though: if everyone experienced meat sweats, then medical professionals wouldn’t be denying its existence, and studies would be done to prove it’s real and show exactly why it happens.

Then again, everyone experiences different reactions to food regardless. Some people cry when they chop onions while others notice no physiological changes. Some folks can barely handle a jalapeno while others say it tastes as mild as a bell pepper. And there are people whose body has a negative reaction to lactose or gluten. Meanwhile, others can consume them just fine.

How to Avoid Meat Sweats

Whether meat sweats are genuinely real or not, one thing is true: you know your body better than anybody else. So, if you are certain that you sweat after eating large quantities of protein, then by all means, you’re more than welcome to try to eliminate the reaction if it happens to be bothersome or humiliating for you.

If you’re a meat sweat sufferer, one of the most obvious ways to avoid this reaction is by limiting the amount of meat you consume. For the purpose of avoiding sweating after eating protein, it’s suggested to eat no more than 3 oz of meat per meal.

For those of you who are less convinced that meat sweats are caused by protein itself, then you may consider looking at the quality of the meat itself. Going for lightly seasoned meat and avoiding heavily processed protein choices might be worth giving a go if you’re wanting to avoid meat sweats.

If All Fails, Tackle the Sweat Directly

So, you tried eating less protein, and you tried consuming protein that was less processed and contained fewer seasonings, specifically, salt and any spicy ingredients. However, you still find yourself breaking out in a sweat after eating meat.

The next best thing would be to tackle the sweating problem directly. Firstly, ask yourself: do you normally have problems with sweating, or does it only happen when you consume meat? Are you on a medication or have a medical condition that causes extra sweating? Either way, sometimes dealing with the sweat itself is your only, or at least the easiest, option.

Eliminating excess sweat involves keeping well-hydrated, wearing loose-fitted clothing made of breathable material, wearing antiperspirants, and avoiding alcohol. It may also help to take a cold shower or bath before going outside if it happens to be a warm, sunny day. If going out in public, perhaps bring a change of clothes just in case the situation gets out of hand.

In cases of excessive sweating, also known as hyperhidrosis, it might be best to reach out to a medical professional as there may be an underlying medical cause. There are medications and treatment options out there for excessive sweating, including Botox injections.

Conclusion

Meat sweats might sound like a complete hoax. However, there may be some truth to it. While this psychological reaction isn’t recognized as a medical condition, it certainly is something many people have claimed to have. The good news is, there are ways to avoid getting meat sweats or at least dealing with it in a way that makes it less inconvenient and embarrassing.