Eating Liver One Of The Best Things You Can Do

Just the mention of eating liver is enough to make most people want to gag. Liver has gotten a bad rap over the years, but actually it’s one of the most nutritious things that you can eat, as a matter of fact, to many nutritionist’s liver is considered a superfood because liver is a nutritional powerhouse. It’s rich in protein, low in calories and packed with essential vitamins and minerals.

Just 3.5 Oz. of beef liver provides you with:

• Vitamin B12: 3,460% of the RDI. Vitamin B12 helps the formation of red blood cells and DNA. It is also involved in healthy brain function 
• Vitamin A: 860–1,100% of the RDI. Vitamin A is important for normal vision, immune function and reproduction. It also helps organs like the heart and kidneys function properly 
• Riboflavin (B2): 210–260% of the RDI. Riboflavin is important for cellular development and function. It also helps turn food into energy 
• Folate (B9): 65% of the RDI. Folate is an essential nutrient that plays a role in cell growth and the formation of DNA 
• Iron: 80% of the RDI, or 35% for women of menstruating age. Iron is another essential nutrient that helps carry oxygen around the body. The iron in liver is heme iron, the kind most easily absorbed by the body 
• Copper: 1,620% of the RDI. Copper acts like a key to activate a number of enzymes, which then help regulate energy production, iron metabolism, and brain function 
• Choline: Liver provides all of the Adequate Intake (AI) for women and nearly all of it for men (AI is used because there is insufficient evidence to set an RDI). Choline is important for brain development and liver function.

Let’s not forget that beef liver is extremely rich in proteins, one single portion of beef liver may provide a person with a day’s protein demand.

Like most people I have always heard to stay away from liver because it is high in cholesterol, which is true for most organ meats.

But more recent research has shown that this isn’t true for the majority of people. Most heart disease-related cholesterol is actually produced in the body. And when you eat foods high in cholesterol, your body produces less to keep the balance. But if you have a problem with high cholesterol already, it’s best you stay away from liver or any other high cholesterol foods.  

Your liver, other organs, and other cells in your body produce about 75 percent of the cholesterol in your blood.

The other 25 percent of the cholesterol in your body is affected by the foods you eat. As you take in more cholesterol, your liver compensates by reducing its own production of cholesterol and removing excess cholesterol.

I myself have been enjoying liver & onions since I was a kid. When I eat it now I always eat the calves liver over the beef liver. The calves’ liver is a bit more tender than the beef and it has a sweeter taste. Since calves liver is more tender and better tasting, it costs more than the beef, but to me, it’s worth it.

We have a little tradition in our family, whose ever birthday it is they can request anything for their birthday dinner. My daughter, ever since I can remember has always asked for liver & onions, which my wife prepares and we all enjoy.

Ounce for ounce, liver may be one of the most nutritious foods you can eat.