Beef liver is one of the most nutritious foods in the world. Yet most people can't access it or think it's "too weird to eat"
This is why beef liver supplements can be a great alternative.
Most supplements are BS and loaded with fillers. But animal product supplements are different. The best part of animal products is that they have nutrients in the form your body is meant to absorb.
Animal food in general is very nutritious. But beef liver is like all others on steroids.
This is why beef liver supplements are my go to. Here are 6 reasons why.
The nutritional benefits of beef liver
There’s a common misconception that you need to eat a ton of fruit and vegetables to get your recommended intake of essential vitamins and minerals.
The truth is beef liver is loaded with even more nutritional value::
Eating beef liver regularly provides a number of vital health benefits, it can:
- boost your daily energy,
- accelerate muscle growth,
- quell your digestion issues,
- revitalize your skin, and
- improve your mental health.
It’s no surprise our carnivore ancestors went straight for the liver of animals, over muscle meat that’s become more popular today.
If you struggle to imagine eating organ meat, you’re not alone. You’re probably picturing your grandparents or great-grandparents eating bland kidney pies or liver and onions. These dishes are less than appetizing and it can be a pain to source quality liver, not to mention what it takes to properly prepare.
Btw, if you're interested in my favorite liver recipes, sign up below.
Cue beef liver supplements. An easier and effective way to gain the nutritional benefits of liver in your diet. As is the case with all supplements, they are only as beneficial as the other vital nutrients you are getting to help you properly absorb them - known as nutrient synergy. A whole foods diet is a better approach.
What are beef liver supplements?
Beef liver supplements entered the mainstream through the 1960s bodybuilding world. ‘Liver tabs’ came with promises of vast amounts of protein, iron and Vitamin B12.
Today, desiccated beef liver pills are still kicking about. But what other key vitamins and minerals do pills provide you with, besides iron and B12? And how do liver pills compare with other nutrients foods known for their vitamin and mineral properties?
While liver pills DO offer key minerals including folate, potassium, iron, zinc along with Vitamins A and D, nothing beats eating actual beef liver.
Here’s 6 reasons why you should consider beef liver or beef liver supplements today:
6 reasons you should try beef liver supplements
#1 You want healthier, better looking skin
The high amount of retinol - the active form of Vitamin A - found in beef liver is widely known for supporting skin health.
Vitamin A does this through its antioxidant properties, protecting your skin cells from oxidative stress like UV ray ramage.
Retinol has also been found to:
- slow the signs of aging,
- encourage healthy skin cell production,
- even skin tone,
- clear, soothe and heal acne, and
- smooth wrinkles.
Want to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles?
The copper and glycine found in liver contributes to the maintenance of collagen under your skin, helping to plump and firm the tissue beneath the skin.
#2 You want the cleanest source of protein available
If you know anything about muscle growth, you’ll know you need protein.
Want one of the most clean and easy-to-digest proteins on the planet? Try beef liver. This powerhouse organ meat has a whopping 20.4g of protein per 100g serving. Plus, it’s extremely low in carbs and bad fats.
Other protein supplements can be filled with unnecessary carbs - not the case with liver.
#3 All day energy appeals to you
Do you suffer from the late-afternoon energy crash? Taking beef liver regularly could give you an easy energy boost and help you sustain that energy ALL DAY.
How does it work? Well, beef liver is full of B Vitamins. This vitamin family converts food energy into chemical energy for your body's cells. The result? Your food can fuel you better and for longer.
From Riboflavin (B2) to Folate (B9), see what 100g of beef liver offers in terms of energy production:
In this one study on rats, they were placed into three groups to test the effects of beef liver.
As the Weston T. Price Foundation describes it, “The first ate a basic diet, fortified with 11 vitamins. The second ate the same diet, along with an additional supply of vitamin B complex. The third ate the original diet, but instead of vitamin B complex received 10 percent of rations as powdered liver.”
Then, all the rodents were placed into a drum of cold water and forced to sink or swim (literally.)
The first group swam for 13.3 minutes before tiring out. The second threw in the towel not much later: 13.4 minutes.
The third group — the one that ate liver — swam for between one and two hours.
Now get this: those endurance gains came from mere powdered liver.
Imagine what’s possible when you eat real, actual, grass-fed beef liver (like mine) as part of your daily carnivore diet.
#4 Your mental health & cognitive function matters to you
The most important nutrient associated with cognitive health is Choline.
Choline is a vitamin-like essential nutrient that is naturally present in beef liver. Our cells need choline to maintain their structural integrity.
Your body uses Choline to produce acetylcholine, an important neurotransmitter essential for brain and nervous system functions including memory, mood and muscle control.
Further, choline acts to protect the brain from Alzeimers disease, in at least 2 ways, as studied by Arizona State University. First, choline reduces levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that can act as a potent neurotoxin and second, choline supplementation reduces the activation of microglia - cells responsible for clearing away debris in the brain.
For your brain to function at its best, you need copper, selenium and iron. All three of these brain-boosting nutrients are naturally found in beef liver.
#5 You want to support the health of your heart
Liver is an excellent source of vitamin K2 - which helps with calcium balance.
While many people are quick to take a calcium supplement, a high intake of calcium supplements has been associated with calcification of the arterial walls.
K2 helps direct calcium into the bones and keep it out of the arterial walls. Calcium in your arterial walls can lead to heart disease; ensure your heart is fighting fit by getting Vitamin K2 naturally from liver.
#6 You want a natural way to detox
Put down the juice and don’t spend another cent on expensive treatments to remove harmful toxins from your body.
Liver is loaded with molybdenum - a trace essential mineral. Molybdenum acts as a coenzyme supporting the conversion of sulfites to sulfates and supporting the metabolism of medications and alcohol.
Eating beef liver on a regular basis means you can detox your body, naturally.
The easiest way to incorporate beef liver into your daily diet
I spent a year researching the best way to eat beef liver. Using a special hydration process, we’ve managed to create the perfect, ‘chip-like’ crunch with our beef liver crisps made from high-quality, grass-fed beef liver.
Liver + sea salt. That’s it. Well, and the long list of macronutrients, vitamins and minerals found naturally in beef liver.
By getting 400g of beef liver a week, you’re close to hitting the recommended amounts of every essential vitamin and mineral, without any other supplements.