Can’t make up your mind about including liver in your diet? These facts and health benefits can help you decide.
No matter what your meat of choice- chicken, duck, cow or lamb- its liver is the most nutritious part. Some people (if not most!), discard this organ because of misconceptions and hearsay around its taste and appearance.
Some facts about liver and offal (common name for organ meats) that you probably did not know-
- In some cultures, muscle meats that we regularly buy and eat today were discarded and ONLY the organ meats were consumed
- Nutrition in offal is 10-100 times higher than that in muscle meats
- Of all the meat from organs, the liver has the highest nutrient density!
If these facts have intrigued your attention, read on to find out more about this unsung hero of super foods- the liver.
Wants to know some popular meat myths we all believe one or another point in life? Checkout this awesome article and you will be surprised!!
Buying liver
A word of caution- It is extremely important to source fresh meats and offals from reliable sources who raise healthy high quality animals. With livers, make sure you select dark red meat (almost purple) offal, as this is a sign that the animal was healthy.
NB: Learn some of the pro tips to choose healthy and high quality meat
And if you live in Ontario, you can forget the hassle and get premium quality fresh halal meat and seafood delivered right to your doorstep with just a few clicks from ND fresh!
Nutritional Benefits Galore!
Liver is inexpensive compared to other meat and its nutritional benefits outweigh that of any other meats or offal available in the market. Its nutrient density is also higher than plant and vegetable - based super foods including apples, blueberries and even kale.
Ample Nutrition
A single serving of liver is known to reduce the risk of nutrient deficiency. Just 100 g of beef liver can give you all your Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) of Vitamin B12, Vitamin A, Riboflavin, copper and many other nutrients like iron, folate and choline.
Energy boosters
Liver contains Vitamin B12, Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Niacin (Vitamin B3), Vitamin C, Iron and Magnesium which boost your energy. The B vitamins and iron improves oxygen supply to organs and muscles. This increase in oxygenation thwarts weakness, lack of energy, fatigue and poor concentration which are symptoms characteristic of conditions like anemia.
Healthy skin
Micronutrients like Vitamins A, C and E along with Zinc keeps the wrinkles away, making your skin glow and look younger. The presence of Vitamins A, B12, Selenium, Zinc and Folate (Vitamin B9) also boosts fertility and improves the ability to conceive in women.
Strong bones
The presence of Vitamin D, Magnesium and Calcium in the liver contributes to building strong bones. Being a great source of Magnesium, it is a boon for athletes, helping them build strength and endurance.
Weight loss
The high protein content helps in muscle gain and weight loss. It has low calories and satisfies hunger better than fats or carbohydrates making it a favourite amongst weight watchers.
Other benefits
Liver’s numerous nutritional qualities also include decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases, increased cognitive performance, elevated mood, better eyesight, and stronger immune system. Studies even show the presence of an anti-fatigue factor in the liver.
Although the specific nutritional values are subject to the source of liver, all livers are nutritional power banks. It is advisable for children to have at most one serving of liver a week and adults can have it more often.
Now that you know the benefits of eating liver, click here to know some great ways to cook it!
Buy premium quality fresh halal meat and seafood from our online store, ND fresh you can forget the hassle and get delivered right to your doorstep with just a few clicks.