Q. Hi Lynn, some years ago I discovered that I could no longer eat lamb. I could not stand the smell of it or the taste of it. Then I met another older lady, and the same thing happened to her. I thought it was just me. What is the reason behind this when other meats don't have the same affect? Is it a spiritual thing that happens as we age?
This is a great question and I've actually experienced this myself.
A little backstory... I've tried many different diets over the years to see the pros and cons of each. I've done vegan, vegetarian, Adkins, Paleo, calorie restriction among many others. I am have a lot of knowledge when it comes to food and the way it works in the body, and each body can be different.
Several years ago I was a full on carbovore (yes I made that word up), and one day I woke up with MS symptoms in my left leg. Not wanting to run to the ER on a Saturday and end up on a steroid for 3 days, I decided in that moment I would stop the carbs and sugar. I'd wanted to quit carbs for a while as an experiment, but I enjoyed them so much I needed a push- and that is what I got. If my leg got better GREAT, and if not I'd head in to the doctor Monday morning.
By Monday my symptoms were much better, and by Tuesday they were gone. No doctor, no steroids and no carbs.. It was a bittersweet moment saying goodbye to the occasional cinnamon roll, but the health benefits were too great to deny. The current way I'm choosing to live is keto, and have done this for years now. Folks, if you ever want to change how you eat, you can with a little willpower. The foods I used to eat don't even sound good. Trust me, your brain rewires itself to what you need versus what you want if you allow it.
Back to the question... so yes, I eat all types of meat. I see it as a healthy source of protein and fat when done right. I like bacon, but at times when I cook it (same brand, cut, etc) it makes me sick. My family eats it just fine, but I find myself passing. I've had the same experience with sausage, hamburger, chicken, even our very own chicken eggs. Some food that I eat frequently will occasionally trigger something and I cannot eat it for a particular meal. Weird, I know.
Several reasons can cause this reaction. In most people I find viral activity, namely caused by the beer bug or more recently being bit by a certain breed of tick, can affect how you sense food. It can alter perceptions of the taste and the smell to make you experience it in ways that others do not. This could be permanent or temporary depending on what caused it to happen, and how bad of a viral infection you had.
Have you been sick, have chronic allergies or sinus issues? This is pretty straightforward, but can impact how you taste food. Sore throats, clogged sinuses or congestion can alter taste. If any of our senses are impaired we cannot fully taste food.
Are you on any medications or changed medications? Some can change your tasters and some can make you have an after taste (like metal) that makes food taste weird. Think about anything you have changed or added to your daily routine.
Are you deficient in certain vitamins or minerals? If you are you may crave certain things you would not normally crave while common things in your diet taste bad to you. For example, if that liver and onions is calling you, and you don't like liver and onions, you might be really low in iron or in need of B12. If you take liquid zinc as a supplement and it tastes good, you need it, if not, you are most likely balanced. Our bodies are smart and tell you what you need (and what you don't).
Hormone changes due to aging or pregnancy can change the way food tastes. This can impact people suddenly (especially with pregnancy), or slowly through the aging process. Ladies, if you have an onset of a food aversion, and none of the above apply, you might get a pregnancy test.
Blessings,
Lynn
[And as a side note I'm happy to help anyone on their health journey. It truly starts with education. We all have different reasons and different goals. My neighbor had gastric bypass, lost 40 pounds, ate the way she always ate and gained it all back. I worked with her, coached her, taught her how to read labels and she is now down 35 pounds. She isn't hungry because her body is getting what it needs. No gimmicks, no pills, no shots, just the right balance of food and a healthy lifestyle shift. If you always do what you've always done, you'll always have what you always had. -Henry Ford]
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