What Causes Meat Sweats?

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photo: fancycwabs on Flickr

Does this pulled pork sandwich make you sweat?

 

What are the meat sweats?

Though they’re said to be real, the meat sweats are more of an old wives’ tale than they are a medical malady. Regardless, it is hypothesized that the combination of increasing amounts of adrenaline and protein cause the body to increase in temperature and subsequently cause an eater to sweat... profusely. The meat sweat rumors are kept alive mostly by competitive eaters. Pat "Deep Dish" Bertoletti recently told Food Republic, "When you’re really packing down ribs or wings you just start sweating. It’s a scientific thing." What is likely happening to Bertoletti and others who are wolfing down meat is that the combined adrenaline and protein consumption are causing a surge that leads to perspiration. But the scientific evidence does not show that meat sweats are a real thing.

Previously from the Food Scientist:

• What is a Food Coma (and does it exist)?
• What causes brain freeze?
• The Science of Hot Food

Have other questions for the food scientist? Ask them in the comments.