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Writer's pictureDr. Kristen Mitteness

Is Organ Meat Better Than a Multivitamin?

Possibly.

I've written my thoughts on supplements in the past and you can find that here. My main point is that you will typically benefit more from eating real, whole foods than from simply supplementing your diet with vitamins. But, we also have access to lots of poor quality food and are probably missing out on a lot of good nutrients when we choose to eat ultra processed foods over meat, fruits and vegetables, which, turns out is at least 50% of our food. That being said, there have been supplements that have made a huge difference to my health. One thing I love about vitamins is that they are accessible and the side effects and downsides are generally minimal. However, they are not regulated so you get what you pay for. If a company is not paying to ensure they are meeting GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) status or being Third Party Tested, they will be much cheaper. But, that also means they may or may not have what they say they have in the supplement. Or, they may have more than what they say.


So, what's the deal with organ meats? From a nutrient density standpoint, organ meats are one of the best. They're higher in iron, vitamins and minerals than muscle meats. Some will warn to be mindful of their vitamin A and iron content, but the chance of you eating too much organ meat is slim. Are you really going to eat an entire beef liver or cow tongue every week? I doubt it. They are part of many traditional diets and are sometimes referred to as offal. The most commonly consumed organ meats are liver, kidney, heart, thymus (sweet breads), tongue and intestines (often used for sausage casing).


And there is now a NEW way to consume organ meats. Many companies are freeze drying grass fed organ meats and putting them into capsule form so you can take them like a supplement. What a great way to eat the whole animal! Is it a supplement? I guess kind of because you are taking it like a supplement. You'll still want to ensure it comes from a good quality company and is GMP certified and third party tested. But, I would argue it's more like a whole food. I mean, it's just freeze dried organs.


I personally ditched my multivitamin and opted for freeze dried organs instead. For now, it feels like the right choice for me. Is it better? Possibly.

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