It's not easy to love is it? The big red blob frying in the pan, well that could make even the toughest cook a touch queasy. The distinct strong flavor? Only the BEST tasting pâté can cover it, and I have had some, but it's not easy to find or make. I've gotten it by our own kids (see I ate liver and loved it, I even got it by our teenager!), but it still hasn't become part of our daily or even weekly routine. You also may wonder, is it even safe to eat liver? Doesn't it filter out toxins? Click that link for the answer.
Or maybe you just really hate liver…
What if you hate liver? I love that we have OPTIONS!
Vital Proteins has a new option for those of you, like us, who just don't get enough liver into our diets for one reason or another: Beef Liver Capsules!
Here's more about their beef liver capsules:
- Sourced from pasture-raised beef!
- Liver is one of the if not THE most nutrient-dense superfood, loaded with vitamin A, B-12, Folate, Copper, Choline, and Riboflavin.
- The B-12 specifically boosts energy, promotes nervous and digestive system health, strengthens and nourishes skin, hair and nails.
- It's an excellent protein source with a highly usable form of iron.
- It contains CoQ10, a nutrient that is especially important for cardio-vascular function.
- Liver is a good source of purines, nitrogen-containing compounds that serve as precursors for DNA and RNA.
Click here to get beef liver capsules
Read more from “The Liver Files” about the ‘anti-fatigue factor'.
Liver’s as-yet-unidentified anti-fatigue factor makes it a favorite with athletes and bodybuilders. The factor was described by Benjamin K. Ershoff, PhD, in a July 1951 article published in the Proceedings for the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine.
Ershoff divided laboratory rats into three groups. The first ate a basic diet, fortified with 11 vitamins. The second ate the same diet, along with an additional supply of vitamin B complex. The third ate the original diet, but instead of vitamin B complex received 10 percent of rations as powdered liver.
A 1975 article published in Prevention magazine described the experiment as follows: “After several weeks, the animals were placed one by one into a drum of cold water from which they could not climb out. They literally were forced to sink or swim. Rats in the first group swam for an average 13.3 minutes before giving up. The second group, which had the added fortifications of B vitamins, swam for an average of 13.4 minutes. Of the last group of rats, the ones receiving liver, three swam for 63, 83 and 87 minutes. The other nine rats in this group were still swimming vigorously at the end of two hours when the test was terminated. Something in the liver had prevented them from becoming exhausted. To this day scientists have not been able to pin a label on this anti-fatigue factor.”
More:
- We take cod liver oil (read how it’s my “all natural chill pill“), but this has different nutrients than liver from pastured animals.
- I ate liver and loved it, I even got it by our teenager
- Is it even safe to eat liver? Doesn't it filter out toxins?
- Beef liver pâté recipe with shallots and bacon
- How to sneak liver onto your dinner table
This post was originally paid for by Vital Proteins, but you all know I'm a sucker for superfoods. 🙂
Kathryn Hicks says
September 6, 2016 at 12:46 AMProperly cooked, liver is delicious. I use it in casseroles with other stewing cuts, usually in a 2:1 ratio (2parts lamb or beef and 1 part liver) and also in the traditional Liver and Bacon with Onions – for which I use lamb liver. I don’t ‘hide’ it, I make a dish and tell people what is in it, then give them the opportunity to try a morsel. You’d be surprised how many people like it once they try it. I also use brains, kidneys, heart, tripe – but I’ve never tried sweetbreads!
Rhiannon F S Lynn says
September 6, 2016 at 9:47 AMSweetbreads…whenever I mention them, my father covers his wedding tackle and says “You’re not having mine!”. 😀
Kathryn Hicks says
September 6, 2016 at 1:38 PMLOL! He’s a bit low down: sweetbreads are the pancreas and the thymus, so you can tell your dad he is safe! 😉
Katherine Vaporis Herron says
September 5, 2016 at 7:19 PMI can’t do it, I have to take the freeze dried liver pills
Allen Cooke says
September 5, 2016 at 7:12 PMI make a delicious liver mousse sandwich for lunch almost everyday. The mousse has truffles in it!
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
September 5, 2016 at 8:59 PMOoh, I’d love to see your recipe!
Allen Cooke says
September 5, 2016 at 9:03 PMKelly the Kitchen Kop I buy it at The Fresh Market, although I was in Pittsfield, Mass. last summer at Berkshire Organics, and tried some of their liver pate, which was quite good, and that got me started on the liver mousse which I found in Charlotte, since I was unable to find liver pate made fresh at a local store.
Terry Monk says
May 21, 2016 at 4:41 PMI had read a book in the past…..” ‘When a cow is killed the illumination process stops at that point. The liver which is a filtering organ, stops at time of death. When you eat the liver, your body now has also taken on all the impurities trapped/ stored in the liver. Your body will now be taxed with having to eliminate your own chemical build up and what the cow had taken on over its life.’
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
May 21, 2016 at 7:13 PMHere’s more on that Terry Monk: https://kellythekitchenkop.com/is-it-safe-to-eat-liver-doesnt-it-filter-out-the-toxins-plus-favorite-blogger-liver-recipes/
Jean Price says
May 21, 2016 at 1:39 AMGuess I’m weird, but I love liver:)
Scott says
August 26, 2015 at 11:05 AMI am only seeing a 10% discount, not 20%.
KitchenKop says
August 26, 2015 at 11:42 AMHi Scott, I’ll shoot them an email and get back with you.
Kelly
Scott says
August 26, 2015 at 7:34 PMThank you so much. Vital Proteins was very helpful in solving the issue. The 20% code works
Vital Proteins Customer Service says
August 13, 2015 at 11:28 AMHi Karas, thank you for your question. In short, sourcing, nutrient density, transparency and overall quality are key differentiators when comparing our beef liver capsules to the brand you referenced.
For starters, our beef liver is single-sourced from New Zealand, and is encapsulated in a gelatin capsule. The brand you reference is sourced from Argentina, where unfortunately the beef industry is not what it used to be (see: https://beefmagazine.com/beef-exports/argentina-provides-lesson-how-ruin-beef-industry).
Our capsules also include an abundance of additional micro-nutrients the other brand does not. This includes Vitamin A, B12, Copper, Folate, Choline, and Hyaluronic Acid. Each plays a vital role in the body, ensuring healthy skin and hair, strong bones, collagen synthesis, and a healthy immune function.
From a transparency perspective, when you compare the two labels side-by-side, you can see we provide a clear breakdown of the nutrients and their respective values, which is an important distinction. Here too, the other brand does not.
With regards to shipping, it is also important to note we offer FREE shipping on all U.S. orders, regardless of order size. This is key when someone may not be able to afford a minimum order of $99.
We hope this helped provide clarity!
Susan says
September 3, 2015 at 9:42 AMBoth look like great brands – love they are both made from 100% pure pasture raised cattle. Vital seems to be pointing out where they have better numbers, like Vitamin A and B12. Perfect could point out they have over 4x the Iron of Vital Proteins. Probably just a difference in the grass in New Zealand versus grass in Argentina 🙂 In any case, just happy to have more whole food choices…because I just can’t eat liver as a meal!
Karas says
August 13, 2015 at 9:54 AMCan you tell me why I should spend 36.00 for 120 capsules of grass-fed beef liver from vital proteins (or 28.80 with the coupon code, this time) instead of 19.95 for 120 capsules of grass-fed beef liver from perfect supplements? I am all for spending more money for better quality food and supplements but I am also frugal and look for the best deal. Seems to me that perfect supplements has the better deal. Also, you can get free shipping from them if you spend 99.00, which is easy to do if you a stocking up on liver pills and cod liver oil, like I do. Any thoughts?
KitchenKop says
August 13, 2015 at 4:39 PMKaras,
Yes, different companies obviously have different pricing and comparison points, and as a real foodie blogger I just want to share all the options out there with you. I think it’s great that we HAVE options these days since real food is catching on! If you don’t end up getting the liver caps here, be sure and check out their gelatin/collagen products, they are from pastured animals and a really good superfood to get into your diet. I really trust and respect BOTH these companies. 🙂
Kelly
Jen says
August 21, 2015 at 11:45 AMIn comparing the info available on both websites it appears that Vital Protein’s liver supplements have almost 3x the amount of Vit A and B12 for the same dose (750mg or 4 capsules). That tells me right there that the liver Vital Protein’s uses is much higher quality. Unfortunately, Perfect Supplements puts the Vit A and B12 amounts only on their website and not on the actual product label which makes me a bit suspicious as well.