Half of Doncaster men suffer ‘Lack Of Meat’ syndrome

That’s the verdict of a new study that reveals that Doncaster men suffering from symptoms including lack of energy, sadness, mood swings and even anger, could be suffering from LMS – Lack of Meat Syndrome.

The Flying Childers on Nostell Place, part of the Sizzling Pubs chain, recently worked with dietitian Dr Carrie Ruxton and conducted research into men’s eating habits to identify why meat makes men tick.

According to the recent poll, 49% of the region’s men suffer from LMS.

With sirloin steak most hitting men’s “meat-spot”, one in every five local men also admit they would rather go shoe shopping with their other half than miss out on meat.

The survey revealed that men in Yorkshire are particularly affected as almost a quarter of local men (23%) felt unsatisfied after not eating meat, 13% lacked energy and 10% said they felt irritable. 3% even said they had feelings of anger when going without meat.

Almost half of men polled in Yorkshire (44%) felt that they weren’t sitting down to a proper meal unless it contained meat.

Steak most hits local men’s “meat-spot”, with a third of those polled naming steak as their all-time favourite meat. Sirloin is the most-preferred cut, with 31% of the vote.

Dr Ruxton said: “Current national trends show that fewer than 3% of men report opting for a meat-free diet, and this dietary preference can be traced right back through human evolution.

“Men have eaten meat from caveman times when game provided up to two thirds of daily calories as part of an omnivorous (mixed) diet. However, no-one ever painted a carrot on a cave wall so meat has always had a special role in most men’s diets.

“Men are probably attracted to meat because it’s high in protein which, in the past, would have helped them build muscle for regular hunting duties. Nowadays, men are more likely to hunt for beer or the latest technology but the built-in desire for protein is hard to shake off.

“Meat is rich in B vitamins for energy, zinc for sperm production and, in the case of red meat, iron for mental function and blood oxygen transport. This makes meat, particularly lean meat such as steak, a nourishing food for men.”

The survey also revealed the lengths to which Yorkshire men would go to avoid going meat-free.

Over a third of those surveyed would prefer to be on washing up duty for a year or read War and Peace than go without meat, and one in six men would rather watch their sports team lose.

Charlotte Grieveson, manager of Sizzling Pub the Flying Childers on Nostell Place said: “We’ve long suspected that men don’t just love meat – they actually need it, and struggle when they go without for long periods of time. We’re determined to do all we can to help prevent LMS from striking, by making sure that men are never far away from our quality, pang-quenching steak.

“LMS can strike at any time of the day, so a few simple measures like packing emergency meat snacks to get you through until meal times can make all the difference.

“Our message to men is that LMS doesn’t have to ruin your day – your local Sizzling pub can come to the rescue.

Sizzling Pubs has over 320 pubs nationwide, including the Flying Childers on Nostell Place and the Three Horse Shoes on Doncaster Road.