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"headline":"Organ Meats: Are They Healthy To Eat?",
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<article>
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="#section1">What are Organ Meats?</a></li>
<li><a href="#section2">Benefits of Organ Meats</a></li>
<li><a href="#section3">What are Examples of Organ Meats?</a></li>
<li><a href="#section4">Are There Downsides to Eating Organ Meats?</a></li>
<li><a href="#section5">How Do I Add Organ Meats into My Diet?</a></li>
<li><a href="#section6">Organ Meats: Wrapping Up</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<section>
<p>Organ meats, also known as “offal,” used to be a standard part of our diet. </p>
<p>While that’s no longer the case, there are many benefits to eating them. Most of us get our protein from a few common sources―for example, chicken, beef, pork, seafood, and eggs. </p>
<p>While these are not the protein options we’re used to seeing line the shelves at grocery stores and as menu options at restaurants, organ meats like liver, kidney, tongue, and heart are nutritious, packed with micronutrients, cheap, and easier to prepare than you might think. </p>
<p>And besides their ability to impact your health positively, organ meats come with other benefits, too.</p>
<p>Read on for a compelling case for adding organ meats to your diet.</p>
<p>We’re not saying you have to eat them every night, but we are saying that ancient health wisdom has proven their benefit over centuries. You might just want to consider making a subtle addition to your taco Tuesdays.</p>
</section>
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<section id="section1">
<h2>What are Organ Meats?</h2>
<p>Organ meats, also referred to as “offal” by some butchers, are cuts of meat that fall outside of the category of “muscle meats” (tenderloin, thigh, brisket, filet, etc).</p>
<p>Some of the most popular organ meats are liver, kidney, heart, sweetbreads (made from the pancreas and thymus of an animal), brain, tongue, and tripe (intestines).</p>
<p>The best way to go with any animal product is ensuring it’s organic and grass-fed. This definitely goes for organ meats as well.</p>
<p>While muscle meats are more popular in America, animal organs are cheap and incredibly nutritious.</p>
<p>In both the medical and health community, some experts tout these cuts as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.warriormade.com/content/diet/what-are-superfoods-top-7-for-your-keto-diet/" rel="noreferrer">superfoods</a> because they are dense sources of vitamins and minerals.</p>
</section>
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<section id="section2">
<h2>Benefits of Organ Meats</h2>
<p>Our ancestors didn’t waste food.</p>
<p>We’ll dive into the specifics on different organ meats in the next section. For now, check out some of the benefits of adding grass-fed offal to your diet.</p>
<h3>Vitamins and Minerals</h3>
<p>Organ meats offer many nutritional benefits that traditional muscle meats may not. Some of the nutritional benefits are:</p>
<ul>
<li>B-complex vitamins</li>
<li>Iron </li>
<li>Copper</li>
<li>Zinc</li>
<li>Potassium</li>
<li>Magnesium</li>
<li>Vitamin A </li>
<li>Vitamin D</li>
<li>Vitamin E</li>
<li>Vitamin K</li>
</ul>
<p>These are plentiful in the majority of organ meats.<sup><a target="_blank" href="https://www.nutritionadvance.com/organ-meats/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">1</a></sup></p>
<h3>Lots of Protein and Quality Fats</h3>
<p>The most popular offal is packed with protein, good fats, and even omega-3 fatty acids in some cases.<sup><a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16500874" rel="nofollow noreferrer">2</a></sup></p>
<p>Whether your goal is to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.warriormade.com/content/exercise/" rel="noreferrer">gain muscle</a>, hit your <a target="_blank" href="https://www.warriormade.com/content/diet/what-are-macros/" rel="noreferrer">macros</a>, or just beef up your nutrition, organ meats can help you get there.</p>
<h3>Easier to Cook Than You Think</h3>
<p>If you’ve never tried or cooked organ meats before, you may not know where to start in terms of preparation.</p>
<p>The good news is that organ meats are a lot easier to cook than you may think. In fact, if you know how to cook muscle meats, you probably don’t need to know much else. </p>
<p>For how to cook liver, heart, and tongue, for example, you can read <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ethicalfarmingfund.org/single-post/2016/01/25/Three-Organ-Meats-You-Should-Be-Cooking-at-Home" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>.</p>
<h3>Low Cost</h3>
<p>Here’s your chance to capitalize on something other people are missing out on. Because foods like liver, kidney, and heart are not as popular to the general public, they are usually sold for pennies on the dollar compared to more expensive cuts of meat.</p>
<p>For example, a pound of beef liver will cost around $2.50 at your typical grocery store<sup><a target="_blank" href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Tender-Year-Brand-Sliced-Beef-Liver-1-lb/10534061" rel="nofollow noreferrer">3</a></sup>. Compare that to a pound of ribeye steak, which will cost anywhere from $9.00 to $11.00 dollars per pound.</p>
<p>If you’re trying to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.warriormade.com/content/diet/keto-on-a-budget/" rel="noreferrer">eat healthy on a budget</a>, organ meats may be one of the keys to helping you reach your goals. You can eat them liberally without breaking the bank.</p>
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<section id="section3">
<h2>What are Examples of Organ Meats?</h2>
<p>“Organ meats” describe several different cuts that you can find at many grocery stores. Liver, tongue, heart and kidney are all examples of organ meats. </p>
<p>Here are the nutritional and health benefits of the most popular cuts.</p>
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<h3>Liver</h3>
<p>Not too long ago, liver was as likely to be the main feature of a dish as a cut of beef or chicken. A simple dish like liver and onions was a staple menu item at many restaurants. </p>
<p>This is no longer the case, but liver is perhaps the most micronutrient-dense animal cut you can get your hands on. Of all the organ meats available, it is the most likely to be considered a superfood.<sup><a target="_blank" href="https://www.thehealthyrd.com/single-post-is-liver-superfood-for-your-health/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">4</a></sup></p>
<p>Liver is packed with micronutrients like vitamin B, vitamin A, riboflavin, and iron<sup><a target="_blank" href="https://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/beef-products/3470/2" rel="nofollow noreferrer">5</a></sup>. It is also full of protein, which is necessary for any healthy, active lifestyle.</p>
<p>Liver does have a relatively lower fat content (25 percent), but that shouldn’t stop you from combining it with some green veggies cooked with olive oil or coconut oil.</p>
<p>Because liver has a stronger flavor, it pairs well with simpler recipes. Salt, pepper, a little oil, and some vegetables make up a simple and healthy meal.</p>
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<h3>Tongue</h3>
<p>Tongue is full of fatty acids and minerals like zinc, iron, choline, folate, and vitamin B12<sup><a target="_blank" href="https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/337433/nutrients" rel="nofollow noreferrer">6</a></sup>. </p>
<p>Because it’s rich in folate and other essential vitamins, it’s especially beneficial during pregnancy since folate is needed for the development of the fetus.<sup><a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3218540/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">7</a></sup></p>
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<h3>Heart</h3>
<p>Heart meat is full of folate, zinc, iron, and selenium as well as several of the B vitamins.<sup><a target="_blank" href="https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/168625/nutrients" rel="nofollow noreferrer">8</a></sup></p>
<p>As you’re seeing, there is a connection between organ meats and many of the key vitamins and minerals that keep our bodies healthy.</p>
<p>Heart meat, interestingly enough, can be linked to decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease due to its rich folate and vitamin content. <sup><a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3178961/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">9</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29766349" rel="nofollow noreferrer">10</a></sup></p>
<p>B vitamin complex (found in heart meat) has been shown as preventative and helpful with diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia as well as depression and anxiety. <sup><a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3428233/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">11</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23738221" rel="nofollow noreferrer">12</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3046018/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">13</a></sup></p>
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<h3>Kidney</h3>
<p>When you make a list in your head of the proteins that are full of omega-3 fatty acids, kidney is probably not the first one to come to mind. You may think of eggs or salmon. But believe it or not, kidneys are packed with omega-3s, which help keep our brains healthy and functioning properly. <sup><a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5579686/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">14</a></sup></p>
<p>Grass-fed kidney meat boasts a host of vital micronutrients, such as vitamin A, Vitamin B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, B12, Copper, Phosphorus, Iron and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.warriormade.com/content/diet/zinc-facts-everyone-should-know/" rel="noreferrer">Zinc</a>. <sup><a target="_blank" href="https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/169449/nutrients" rel="nofollow noreferrer">15</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/174354/nutrients" rel="nofollow noreferrer">16</a></sup></p>
<p>Kidney meat also contains a large amount of selenium which plays significant roles in reproduction, thyroid health, and protecting from infection. <sup><a target="_blank" href="https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/174354/nutrients" rel="nofollow noreferrer">16</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Selenium-HealthProfessional/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">17</a></sup></p>
</section>
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<section id="section4">
<h2>Are There Downsides to Eating Organ Meats?</h2>
<p>While there are no negatives to including these new cuts into your diet, there are a few things to consider.</p>
<p>For one, keep in mind that eating offal may take some getting used to.</p>
<p>The flavor and texture are different from that of the muscle meats you’re likely consuming now. Perhaps add small amounts to dishes or combine them with your favorite protein options as a way of ‘sneaking them in’ as your taste buds adjust. Adding them ground to meatballs or meatloaf is an easy way to start.</p>
<p>And as with any type of meat you buy, it’s always better to buy local, grass-fed, or organic when possible. Not only is grass-fed healthier for you, it’s also better for the environment and the animals. <sup><a target="_blank" href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/grass-fed-vs-organic-meat-whats-the-difference/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">18</a></sup></p>
</section>
<hr class="divider-50 divider-medium mx-auto">
<section id="section5">
<h2>How Do I Add Organ Meats into My Diet?</h2>
<p>The key to adding organ meats to your diet is just like any other health-related advice: figure out what works for you. </p>
<p>If you’ve never tried organ meats before, you may be hesitant. Don’t feel like you have to start cooking liver once a week in order to benefit.</p>
<p>Simply find it at the store, pick a recipe you think you’ll like, and give it a go.</p>
<p>The worst thing that can happen is you decide you don’t like it―then your diet stays like it is. On the other hand, you might find a cheap, nutritious, tasty hunk of protein you can add into your rotation of recipes.</p>
</section>
<hr class="divider-50 divider-medium mx-auto">
<section id="section6">
<h2>Organ Meats: Wrapping Up</h2>
<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.warriormade.com" rel="noreferrer">Body transformations</a> and improvements to your health can be directly influenced by the foods you put on your plate. </p>
<p>Organ meats, also known as offal, are low-cost, protein-packed nutritional powerhouses that can help you achieve your health and fitness goals. You can’t really ask for much more, especially from something many doctors and health experts call a superfood.</p>
<p>Whether you’re on a budget, looking to add new meals to your repertoire, or just up for trying something new, organ meats might be the answer for you.</p>
</section>
</article>
