Every culture has their own opinion of organ meat and each view it slightly different than the next. In some, organs are consumed daily while in others certain organs are illegal to eat. One thing that rings a resounding truth for all cultures is that consumption of organ meats has changed and evolved over the years and its importance is again being celebrated in our era!

Centuries ago, not only were organ meats just consumed for sustenance, they were also praised and revered. A lot of effort was put into supplying it for families and tribes. Hunters didn’t just walk to the local supermarket to buy meat, they had to fight for it. And when you’re putting that much effort into hunting food for your family, you use every morsel that you can. Not only was it eaten just so it wouldn’t go to waste, the organ meat was reserved for the respected society members. Whether it was kings and leaders, the hunters, or the elders; the organ meats were regarded as the best and saved for the best.

In today’s world, organ meats are eaten by all. In some countries, organ meats are served as common street food and others as entrees in top notch restaurants. No matter how common throughout the world though, eating organ meats isn’t a widely loved idea here in the western world, yet.

Why People Avoid Organ Meats

Are organ meats beneficial for humans? I will admit that the taste of organ meats can take some getting used to, but they provide far too many benefits to avoid it. Another reason that organ meats invoke apprehension is the rumours of toxins. The misconception in specifically our western society is that the animals’ toxins are stored in their organs; and when consumed, the toxins now are dumped into our bodies. This would make sense, however the toxins are not actually stored in an animal’s organs. The organs, the liver in particular, are where the toxins move to get filtered out. Once there, the liver doesn’t store it, but rather sends it off where it should be moved to. Most times, the liver moves any toxins to the kidneys where it is then excreted through urine. The toxins are removed from the animal’s organs and bodies before it has the chance to enter ours.  So, you can enjoy those organ meats peacefully with the knowledge that they are not in fact toxic.

Benefits of organ meats

The benefits of eating organ meats are extensive. Each one acts as a superfood that provides many more nutrients to our bodies than the animal muscle meat that we normally eat.

1. CoQ10

One of the main nutrients that organ meats offer is the Coenzyme Q10, otherwise known as CoQ10. This coenzyme is found in the largest amounts in animal hearts. Like all coenzymes, our bodies naturally produce this nutrient, but only in small amounts and not enough that we need. That’s where organ meat comes in.

CoQ10 is also designed to help other enzymes digest and break down food. When it comes to energy, it isn’t always the same and instead comes in many different forms. The form that our cells use is called adenosine triphosphate, or ATP. But when our energy comes in the form of fat or carbohydrates that we eat, how does our body make that change to supply energy to our cells? CoQ10 is crucial for the body to begin and sustain the ATP synthesis process to continually supply our cells with energy each day.

Our brain and cardiovascular systems are also impacted by this coenzyme due to its antioxidant features and its effect on oxidative stress.

When it comes to our brain, it has been shown that those with cognitive disorders have lower levels of CoQ10 that contribute to the issue. As potential agents are looked for to combat the cognitive decline we see on a daily basis, research suggests that CoQ10 has potential to be used medically to fight the decline.

2. Vitamin A

Organ meats also offer one of the largest amounts of the antioxidant Vitamin A. When taken in supplement form Vitamin A in mass amounts can result in toxicity; but, Vitamin A present in food does not lead to any toxic results even in large amounts. When the body breaks down nutrients from food sources it can access how much our individual bodies need and expel any surplus, avoiding any issues.

There are two types of Vitamin A: retinol, or active Vitamin A, and beta-carotene. Active Vitamin A is present in organ meats and other animal meat in smaller quantities. This type can be broken down and used by the body right away, making it a perfect source to get this nutrient from. Beta-carotene, found in many vegetables, cannot be used by the body unless broken down and changed. Even though vegetables are great for you, they are an inefficient source of Vitamin A because of the work and stress it has on our bodies just to use it.

Vitamin A can also do a lot of good when it comes to the immune system. When Vitamin A is present, the mucosal barriers that become damaged by infection can regenerate and repair themselves to provide immune protection. If your body is lacking this immune-boosting vitamin, then regeneration does not occur and infections become more prevalent and can spread faster.

One of the most noticeable benefits of Vitamin A is the glowing and clear skin it can lead to. Its support of cell regeneration keeps wrinkles away while the anti-inflammatory properties protect against acne and skin irritations.

3. B Vitamins

Organ meats also supply us with important B Vitamins. All of the B Vitamins that are present in organ meats offer some kind of help to our cardiovascular systems. These vitamins can maintain healthy levels of cholesterol, blood pressure, blood triglycerides, and homocysteine. When all of these are at healthy levels, the risk of developing a heart or cardiovascular issue is greatly diminished.

Vitamin B7, also referred to as biotin, is known for its ability to enhance beauty through the positive effects it has on hair, skin, and nails.

Biotin deficiency and thyroid problems can both lead to thinning hair and hair loss. This can be reversed and restored through incorporating more biotin into your diet. The same is true for restoring weak and thinning nails back to full health. However, biotin is not as effective when use topically compared to when it is when ingested.

The B Vitamins in organ meats also aid in hormonal health and pregnancies. Folate, otherwise known as B9, is one of the most needed vitamins for mothers and babies for a healthy pregnancy. Folate supplements are often recommended by doctors, but I truly believe that when available, food medicines are the best way to get your daily dose of vitamins. Vitamin B6 can also decrease the risk of erectile dysfunction, reduce nausea related to pregnancy, and calm menstrual cycle cramps.

Best organ meats for your diet:

Heart

Hearts are the best source of CoQ10 out there, which as mentioned above is extremely beneficial to energy levels, stress relief, food digestion, brain health, and cardiovascular function. Hearts are also rich in iron, zinc, selenium, and B vitamins.

Liver

What is the best organ meat to eat? This one, hands down. Liver’s nutrient levels cannot be trumped. Rich in retinol/vitamin A, the liver is very helpful for those with skin problems. It is also a great source of folate and choline, and vitamin B12 levels that are unmatched. This can be especially beneficial to those on a paleo diet as these nutrients aren’t provided as richly in regular muscle meats.

While other animal livers aren’t very high in copper, beef liver will give quite a boost to those who are copper deficient. Copper toxicity isn’t a huge worry in this case, as the other nutrients in the liver reduce that risk.

In an ideal world, we would all be eating liver twice a week, but most of the time liver is not always an easily acquired taste, within budget, or easy to find. If you relate to these hesitations, your best alternative is Heart of Cultures’ Beef Liver.

Kidney

Kidneys are actually very beneficial to the kidney health of those who partake of it. They are a great source of copper, iron, selenium, zinc, and vitamin B12. The thing that makes kidneys special is their rare amino acids, which is where the kidney benefits kick in. The icing on top? Through those fats and amino acids, kidneys help manage body fat and contains DAO (Diamine Oxidase), is an enzyme that plays an essential role in the degradation of histamine, a biogenic amine and neurotransmitter, involved in various physiological and pathological processes in the human body. It is synthesized in the small intestine, where it breaks down histamine from ingested food, preventing absorption in the bloodstream. DAO also plays a critical role in maintaining gut health. Research suggests that DAO can protect the gut lining from damage by reducing inflammation, oxidative stress and immune dysfunction, at the same time promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, enhancing nutrient absorption and overall gut health. Inflammation is a crucial component of the body’s immune response, but excessive inflammation can lead to chronic diseases such as arthritis, diabetes and cancer. DAO possesses anti-inflammatory properties by reducing the production of inflammatory cytokines and increasing the activity of anti-inflammatory enzymes. It protects against oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain, which can lead to neurodegenerative diseases.

When it comes to supplying our bodies with nutrients to work optimally, incorporating organ meats is an easy and efficient way to get these nutrients. It is important to find organ meats from good sources where they can be expected to have the richest nutritional value possible. This is where Heart of Cultures excels and heralds our flagship product: our Organ Meat range. Sourced ethically from hormone free pasture fed and finished beef, sustainably farmed, and humanely slaughtered. We make fuelling your body with only the very best Nature gifts, providing you with all the essential tools in your journey in OWNING YOUR HEALTH!