Both Eddie and I enjoy eating liver … especially a liver and bacon casserole see recipe here, but do you like liver?
"If you are like almost 50% of Anglo-Western populations, the answer is likely no.
In fact, surveys in some countries — UK, US, Canada — regularly find that liver is always among the top five most hated foods, often taking the #1 spot.
To me, that’s a shame because various types of liver— beef liver, lamb liver, chicken liver in particular — are an inexpensive, tasty, nutritious food that is great on the low carb / keto diet.
Many people could be missing out on a powerful addition to their LCHF way of eating because of some preconceived notions or ancient aversions.
Liver’s super powers!
It contains all the B vitamins, and is particularly rich in B12, an essential vitamin for functioning of every cell in the body — that can only be obtained naturally through animal foods. Liver has levels ten times higher or more than other common sources.
It is a terrific source of folate (Vitamin B9), which is also essential for key cellular processes – and especially essential for women in the reproductive years.
It is the highest source of Vitamin A of any food — which is needed for healthy eyes, skin, teeth, bones, immune system, cellular functions.(Too much Vitamin A can be toxic, so it means you cannot eat liver every day, if you do happen to love it).
It is a fabulous source of key minerals that are all essential to healthy body process, especially iron, selenium, chromium, phosphorus, and copper.
With all these attributes, it is no wonder that liver and other organ meats have been so prized by cultures like the Inuit of Northern Canada and Sami of Northern Scandinavia. Animals seem to naturally know its benefits. Predatory animals, like lions, wolves and other carnivores usually open’s their prey’s abdomen to eat the organs — especially liver —first."
In fact, liver is a low carb/keto super food. Gram for gram, it is one of the most nutritious foods on the planet.
Here are some of liver’s super powers:
It is a fabulous source of protein; 100 grams of chicken liver has 26 grams of protein; 100 grams of beef liver has 29 grams of protein. It contains all the B vitamins, and is particularly rich in B12, an essential vitamin for functioning of every cell in the body — that can only be obtained naturally through animal foods. Liver has levels ten times higher or more than other common sources.
It is a terrific source of folate (Vitamin B9), which is also essential for key cellular processes – and especially essential for women in the reproductive years.
It is the highest source of Vitamin A of any food — which is needed for healthy eyes, skin, teeth, bones, immune system, cellular functions.(Too much Vitamin A can be toxic, so it means you cannot eat liver every day, if you do happen to love it).
It is a fabulous source of key minerals that are all essential to healthy body process, especially iron, selenium, chromium, phosphorus, and copper.
With all these attributes, it is no wonder that liver and other organ meats have been so prized by cultures like the Inuit of Northern Canada and Sami of Northern Scandinavia. Animals seem to naturally know its benefits. Predatory animals, like lions, wolves and other carnivores usually open’s their prey’s abdomen to eat the organs — especially liver —first."
Why not read it in full, with all related links, here
All the best Jan
...my mom's favorite!
ReplyDeleteMy mum hates liver with a passion but she still regularly cooked it for the rest of the family and as a consequence I love it. We often have a liver and sausage casserole.
ReplyDeleteI will eat liver occasionally but hubby won't even consider it.
ReplyDeleteGood to know it's benefits...thank you💮
we ate liver when I was growing up, I think we had a very healthy dog because I fed mine to him beneath the table, we raised our own cattle, pigs, chickens, I never liked it then and I still have a strong dislike of it, I know its suppose to be healthy but I just can't do it,, I can still picture it in the kitchen on the counter on butchering day,, oh my I have struggles with all meat ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, lol,,
ReplyDeleteI used to eat it as a child, but certainly not something I’d choose. I knew it was rich in iron, but didn’t realise quite how many benefits it has xx
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that you stopped by the Garden Spot. Yes, I do like liver, but I never fix it. My mother always fixed liver and onions. My dad hunted deer and elk and mom always used the heart and liver. I liked it. I didn't know any better. I love you blog! I am Type II diabetic and am now struggling to keep my A!C under control. In addition, I also have gout and am trying to use diet to prevent failure ups. I'm going to be keeping up with you. I've made a new friend, I think.
ReplyDeleteI do like liver although I heard it has lots of cholesterol, being so rich.
ReplyDeleteWe do like liver here! We had a friend give us some recently. I really should be using it up. I'll check out the recipe for the liver, bacon casserole. Thank you, Jan.
ReplyDeleteHello, liver and onions is one of my favorite meals. YUM!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your day!
I still don't like it even though liver and onions look delicious. My mom would occasionally make liver, but it was the only meal we didn't have to eat because my dad didn't like it--so she always had something else to go with it.
ReplyDeleteI love fried liver , but I've stopped eating it years ago because of the calories and because the liver is after all a storage organ; until it detoxifies the things accumulated, it might do some harm to the body.
ReplyDeleteI love liver, but only eat organic liver....Much safer.
ReplyDeleteA great article - thank you for the link. I've always loved liver and onions - but have to say that I prefer it even more now that I cook it myself - soak it in milk first and then 2 minutes on each side (I now know that my mum overcooked it) and it's perfect.
ReplyDeleteI suffer from anemia so try to ensure that it's on the menu at least once a month.
I also use chicken livers and love chicken liver pate - especially from a good Deli restaurant. I have never used lambs liver but it's on my list to try. But then I'm one of those weird people that like foods like kidneys, black pudding, turnip and brussel sprouts!
Unfortunately, the perfect accompaniment to liver and onions has always been mashed potatoes! :-)
Liver and onions, yummy! Here in Germany it gets served with slices of fried apples and mashed potatoes. Hugs, Valerie
ReplyDeleteWe love liver and bacon and onions!
ReplyDeleteBecause!
My husband knows how to cook the liver, properly. :-)
We enjoy it fried with onions...lots of onions.
ReplyDeleteI love liver and onions and gravy, but only like my mother fixed it. People in our church gave my husband, the minister, because they knew I liked it. When I went to my mother's house five hours away, I wrapped the liver in newspaper so it was thawed but still cold. I carried it in the trunk where it was warm, but did not put it in a cooler. I told my mother exactly when I would arrive. When we pulled up, the liver went in first! My children loved the "steak" but husband would not taste it. He was forbidden to say he did not like it or that it was liver.
ReplyDeleteWe only ate calf liver! Since the liver is a filter, I wonder about eating it nowadays. I have never cooked it, but I should. I really hate chicken liver. My children loved all liver.
Oh dear, I know how healthy they are but am not a fan. My parents were mind you, and as far as cooking them, my mother always did a wonderful job, according to my father :)
ReplyDeleteI ate it many, many years ago when I was a carnivore..er before I became a vegetarian:)
ReplyDeleteNot for me. Not for me even before I became a vegetarian. Pork liver was served to us once - and after my mother heard us calling each other 'your pork liver' as the ultimate insult it was never served again.
ReplyDeleteNo liver here at my house, neither one of us like it.
ReplyDeleteOh, I am admittedly not a fan. Every once in awhile if my iron levels are a bit too low to donate blood, the nurses do mention how liver is good to pick that up somewhat.
ReplyDeleteHAHA....to each their own...YUCK! I hate even cooking it for the dog! That has always been my issue, I don't like stuff that is good for me.
ReplyDeleteLove liver but don't eat it anymore because of its high cholesterol ~ Another post!
ReplyDeleteHappy Day to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
How amazing....we had chicken livers last night! We love them! We tease that it's one of the things that brought us together...our love of chicken livers! hahaha!
ReplyDeleteMy Father always loved liver but it was very hard for me to eat, I just had to drown it in so much sauce to cover the taste I am sure it didn't make it good for me anymore, I have never tried it again as an adult
ReplyDeleteMy mom loves liver battered in oatmeal, fried with onions!! I'm not to sure about it! LOL! Big Hugs!
ReplyDelete