There's been a lot of interest lately on Instagram over what I refer to as my "Magic Liver Pills".
So what are they?
Why am I eating them?
How do I make them?
Yes, I know what you're thinking. Organ meat? Really?!
Yes. Really. I am proud to say that I now eat organ meat (aka offal)-- note that is singular since I haven't explored anything beyond liver. While I was hesitant at first, I can honestly say that the process is actually very painless and I should have picked up the habit long ago.
So what are they?
Why am I eating them?
How do I make them?
Yes, I know what you're thinking. Organ meat? Really?!
Yes. Really. I am proud to say that I now eat organ meat (aka offal)-- note that is singular since I haven't explored anything beyond liver. While I was hesitant at first, I can honestly say that the process is actually very painless and I should have picked up the habit long ago.
However, my intention of this blog post isn't to convince you that it's delicious or that you must also consume them daily. There are just several people who are interested in gaining the most amount of health that real food can offer. This blog post is intended to show you how I've done just that with this unpopular part of the animal.
What are magic liver pills?
Magic Liver Pills were inspired by a blog post I came across, written by Steph over at Stupid Easy Paleo. It was short and sweet, funny and honest about the fact that while liver might be a superfood, it also isn't so appetizing to the palate. It offered a solution that she found on another bloggers site about chopping up the liver into small cubes and freezing them to be consumed later as "pills".
I initially tried the method she recommended. But being that I rarely follow directions the way they are written out, I ended up with a slightly different way of making these.
I initially tried the method she recommended. But being that I rarely follow directions the way they are written out, I ended up with a slightly different way of making these.
Why am I eating them?
Contrary to very popular belief, while liver does serve as the filter to many toxins in the body, it does not store them. In fact, liver is often said to be one of the most nutritious foods available on earth. Current day consensus might turn their nose at the idea of eating what other cultures consider to be a delicacy, but think for a moment about the foods we do and don't eat today and the current state of our health as a nation vs what it was just 100 years ago.
Historically, the organ meats were the prized possession of any kill in the time of the hunter/gatherer era and it is often said that muscle meat was eaten last or left for the dogs. Many cultures consider utilizing the entire animal as the only way to pay respect for the life it sacrificed to feed them. Waste not, what not, eh?
The nutritional profile of this food is outstanding. It holds the record for nature's most concentrated form of Vitamin A, as well an abundance of all the B vitamins and folic acid. It also includes a generous helping of Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Potassium, Iron (anyone here anemic?), Zinc, Copper, Vitamin’s A, D, E & K, Vitamin C, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin and (and?! Yes, and!) a hearty dose of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are needed for the body to absorb many of these nutrients.
Hmmmm... Kinda sounds like a prenatal vitamin, no? Yet pregnant women are told to avoid liver due to it's dense vitamin A content. Read more about that topic here, and if you're worried about the safety of vitamin A during your pregnancy, make sure to research this topic thoroughly and speak with a specialist (i.e. not me) regarding that decision.
Also, if you want to see a really neat interactive comparison of 100g liver vs 100g of apple, check that out here.
Ok, ok, so you get it-- liver is healthy for you! But why now? Why now am I choosing to make such a deliberate effort to build the habit of consuming liver daily?
Well, part of my Ketogenic experiment (you know, that I've been sharing about on Instagram-- seriously, have you joined me there yet?) is to ensure that I consume as many nutrient dense foods, that are also naturally low in carbs, as possible. A common argument against Ketogenic diets is that they are void in nutrients, which I'll agree that they can be. But so can your basic Paleo diet if all you're eating is bacon and almond flour baked goods.
Another reason is that a few months ago I put my health first and my weight loss endeavors completely on hold. Now that I am better, and wanting to finish losing the excess weight I carry, I want to make sure that I don't lose sight of keeping my health at the top of my list of priorities. Building and practicing habits, like taking Magic Liver Pills daily, will ensure that it does.
Historically, the organ meats were the prized possession of any kill in the time of the hunter/gatherer era and it is often said that muscle meat was eaten last or left for the dogs. Many cultures consider utilizing the entire animal as the only way to pay respect for the life it sacrificed to feed them. Waste not, what not, eh?
The nutritional profile of this food is outstanding. It holds the record for nature's most concentrated form of Vitamin A, as well an abundance of all the B vitamins and folic acid. It also includes a generous helping of Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Potassium, Iron (anyone here anemic?), Zinc, Copper, Vitamin’s A, D, E & K, Vitamin C, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin and (and?! Yes, and!) a hearty dose of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are needed for the body to absorb many of these nutrients.
Hmmmm... Kinda sounds like a prenatal vitamin, no? Yet pregnant women are told to avoid liver due to it's dense vitamin A content. Read more about that topic here, and if you're worried about the safety of vitamin A during your pregnancy, make sure to research this topic thoroughly and speak with a specialist (i.e. not me) regarding that decision.
Also, if you want to see a really neat interactive comparison of 100g liver vs 100g of apple, check that out here.
Ok, ok, so you get it-- liver is healthy for you! But why now? Why now am I choosing to make such a deliberate effort to build the habit of consuming liver daily?
Well, part of my Ketogenic experiment (you know, that I've been sharing about on Instagram-- seriously, have you joined me there yet?) is to ensure that I consume as many nutrient dense foods, that are also naturally low in carbs, as possible. A common argument against Ketogenic diets is that they are void in nutrients, which I'll agree that they can be. But so can your basic Paleo diet if all you're eating is bacon and almond flour baked goods.
Another reason is that a few months ago I put my health first and my weight loss endeavors completely on hold. Now that I am better, and wanting to finish losing the excess weight I carry, I want to make sure that I don't lose sight of keeping my health at the top of my list of priorities. Building and practicing habits, like taking Magic Liver Pills daily, will ensure that it does.
How do I make them?
So after all the questions I received on ig, I decided to throw together a step-by-step tutorial of how to make Magic Liver Pills.
I hope you enjoy the high-tech, iPhone photog skills in this post. I was feeling fancy that day.
I hope you enjoy the high-tech, iPhone photog skills in this post. I was feeling fancy that day.
First off, start with organic and grass fed beef liver. You don't want to skimp on quality when it comes to organ meats. They are more nutritious when grass fed and dirt cheap compared to grass fed/organic muscle meat.
This was $5.49/lb but can even be found for $3.99/lb at Whole Paycheck. Score!
This was $5.49/lb but can even be found for $3.99/lb at Whole Paycheck. Score!
Taking it out of its package is the ickiest step-- not going to lie. But you'll be fine.
Lay them out on a cutting board and cut any of the larger pieces in half, like I did to the severed guy in the upper left corner.
Lay them out on a cutting board and cut any of the larger pieces in half, like I did to the severed guy in the upper left corner.
Place each piece in it's own individual plastic baggy.
Flatten them out, relieve any excess air and push the liver towards the top/opening before sealing.
Flatten them out, relieve any excess air and push the liver towards the top/opening before sealing.
After liver has been individually sealed, place in the freezer laying flat until frozen. Freeze for 14 days to eliminate the risk of parasites, though unlikely, especially if the liver was purchases frozen.
{I spy yummy Kerrygold}
{I spy yummy Kerrygold}
After the liver has frozen flat, I like to store them in one big freezer bag.
This liver will last you a long time, so you'll want to take the time to store it properly.
This liver will last you a long time, so you'll want to take the time to store it properly.
When you're ready to take your pills, just grab one of the little baggies out of the larger bag.
Open it up and peel back the plastic (hence the reason you should freeze the liver close to the opening) and cut off a sliver of liver (hey, that rhymed!).
Open it up and peel back the plastic (hence the reason you should freeze the liver close to the opening) and cut off a sliver of liver (hey, that rhymed!).
Lastly, cut them into smaller pieces. I get asked a lot about the size it should be. Answer is, no bigger than your personal ability to swallow it.
I can get about 2-3 down at a time now, but not at first. So play around with what works for you.
I can get about 2-3 down at a time now, but not at first. So play around with what works for you.
Most importantly....
While I'm thrilled about the abundance of nutrients found in Mother Nature's multi-vitamin, I'm really looking forward to the energy surges everyone reports on after regularly consuming liver.
There is an anti-fatigue factor that comes with adding liver to your diet. A study was once conducted where they took 3 groups of rats (one of which was fed liver) and placed them in a drum of water where they were forced to sink or swim. Two of the groups sank after about 13 minutes (yes, its cruel but stay with me here), while the third, liver eating group swam for up to 1 to 2 hours!
To this day, scientists simply refer to this phenomenon as the "anti-fatigue factor", unsure what exactly causes this to occur.
Hence what makes them so magical.
For myself, I don't think it matters what it is. It's not going anywhere far from my daily routine from now on.
There is an anti-fatigue factor that comes with adding liver to your diet. A study was once conducted where they took 3 groups of rats (one of which was fed liver) and placed them in a drum of water where they were forced to sink or swim. Two of the groups sank after about 13 minutes (yes, its cruel but stay with me here), while the third, liver eating group swam for up to 1 to 2 hours!
To this day, scientists simply refer to this phenomenon as the "anti-fatigue factor", unsure what exactly causes this to occur.
Hence what makes them so magical.
For myself, I don't think it matters what it is. It's not going anywhere far from my daily routine from now on.
How about you? Have you been offal curious about organ meat??? If so, what have you tried and what are your preparation tips to make the consumption of these superfoods more enjoyable? Let me know in the comments below!
References:
http://chriskresser.com/natures-most-potent-superfood
http://www.thepaleomom.com/2012/04/why-everyone-should-be-eating-organ.html
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/12/30/eating-organ-meats.aspx
http://chriskresser.com/separating-fact-from-fiction-on-cod-liver-oil
http://wellnessmama.com/12579/organ-meats-healthy/
http://www.foodrenegade.com/whats-more-health-apple-or-liver/
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/does-the-liver-store-toxins/#axzz3CrjNW4ek
