Think you’re overcooking because of a beefy meal? Well, guess what, you're not just being melodramatic. There's a whole biochemical shindig taking place within you, making you sweat more than a pig on a summer's day.

As your body labors to break down that juicy steak into its basic biochemical components, your core body temperature has no choice but to rise. Much like your reliable laptop that heats up after an hours-long binge-watching session, your body’s reactions to food – especially protein-heavy eats – are super real.

Your body has to burn about a tenth of its energy reserves daily to break down, digest, and assimilate food. Meats, in particular, are like stubborn gym rats, demanding more energy to be broken down than their food counterparts.

Of course, the intensity of this protein-induced heater effect varies with age, muscle tone, how active you are, the stuff running in your DNA, and a gazillion other factors.

Research has found some interesting trends: younger individuals, those with toned bodies and active lifestyles, tend to have stronger reactions. In contrast, the phenomenon might be less noticeable in, say, your retired Uncle Joe with a beer belly who considers his lounger to be a piece of exercise equipment.

Now, not all meats induce the same level of internal roasting. Your choice of meat, the style of cooking, and your go-to spices and seasonings all play a role in this meaty drama. Chicken and lamb, for instance, have been crowned as having the highest thermogenic effects. If you delight in turning up the heat on your meals, congratulations, you've just won a free ticket to sweatville.

Oddly enough, raw foods may have an even higher energy demand for digestion, which inadvertently revs up your internal thermostat even more.

Oh, and by the way, meat sweats could sometimes be more than just post-barbecue discomfort. You could be dealing with underlying health issues that trigger excessive sweating following meals. So, if you find yourself drenched after a burger, ditch WebMD and consult a real healthcare provider.