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Intro

Have you ever wondered why our ancestors thrived on diets that modern trends often labeled as 'unhealthy'? Imagine unlocking the secrets of traditional diets, where every bite of food was a step towards robust health. This isn't just a tale from the past; it's a forgotten wisdom waiting to be rediscovered in your kitchen. What if I told you that the path to vitality might just lie in the very foods we've been taught to avoid? Join me as we embark on an eye-opening journey into the world of organ meats and animal fats, uncovering the surprising truths that could revolutionize your approach to nutrition. Are you ready to challenge the status quo and rediscover a heritage of health? Let’s take a look at the second principle of traditional diets.

Principle Two

In the quest for optimal health, navigating the vast landscape of dietary choices can be overwhelming. Amidst the cacophony of food trends and nutritional do's and don'ts, one timeless principle stands out: the inclusion of animal products in our diet. Historically, traditional diets from diverse cultures have consistently harnessed the nutritional power of animal meats and fats. This article delves into the often misunderstood benefits of these vital food sources. From the nutrient-rich organ meats, affectionately known as 'offal', to the healthful embrace of animal fats, we'll explore why these elements are not just beneficial but essential for robust health. We'll debunk common misconceptions, shed light on the unique nutrients these foods offer, and even share personal culinary experiences to demonstrate how you can integrate these powerhouse foods into your modern diet. Join me on a journey of rediscovery, where we embrace the wisdom of our ancestors to nourish our bodies in the most wholesome way possible.

All traditional diets contain animal products. There are no traditional diets that do not. I do believe that some diets that are connected to religious practices may have been 100% vegan. However, I do know that even those diets, in some practices, added meat when the goal was to strengthen the body after injury or sickness. People who eat meat, heal better than vegans. They also have larger brains. I am not saying they are smarter, I am just stating a fact.

The Nutritional Power of Organ Meats

In our modern dietary practices, most meat eaters only eat muscle but traditionally people included organ meats in their diet. Organ meats, also known as Offal, are nutrient-dense. Here are some benefits of organ meat:

Nutrient Density: Organ meats like liver, kidney, and heart are among the most nutrient-dense foods available. They are rich in essential vitamins and minerals, many of which are more concentrated than in muscle meats.

Vitamins A, D, E, and K: These are fat-soluble vitamins often found in higher quantities in organ meats. Vitamin A, particularly in the liver, supports vision, immune function, and skin health. Vitamin D is crucial for bone health and immune function.

B Vitamins: Organ meats are a powerhouse of B vitamins, including B12, which is essential for red blood cell formation, neurological function, and DNA synthesis. They also contain significant amounts of riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), and folate.

Iron and Zinc: These minerals are found in highly bioavailable forms in organ meats. Iron is crucial for transporting oxygen in the blood, while zinc supports immune function and wound healing.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10): This is a vital component for energy production in cells and is abundant in organ meats like heart.

Unique Nutrients: Organ meats contain certain nutrients not found in high amounts in muscle meats, like the potent antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid and peptides that may benefit heart health.

A quick story to illustrate my point about the power of organ meats. Years ago a study was done on rats. There were three groups. The control group, we will call “A” just had, whatever diet they had them on, nothing additional. Group B, had the same diet but with all the B vitamins added, and group C which again shared the same diet but the researchers added liver.

The researchers put the rats into water and let them swim until they gave up and died. Cruel I know but I didn’t make up the study. They needed a line in the sand. Something they could measure. Group A swam for about 14-15 minutes. Group B swam for about 17 minutes. A little better. Even today people will tell you to take B vitamins or a B complex for energy. Group C did a bit better. 3 rats swam for something like 78 minutes, 90 minutes, and 100-plus minutes. The rest of the group was taken out of the water for two hours! At two hours the researchers gave up! The only addition to their diet was liver. In the 60’s if you were feeling run down, your doctor would often tell you to eat liver once per week. It’s a powerhouse of nutrition. That is truly amazing!

Along those lines, in Chinese medicine, we say that like strengthens like. Meaning, that the heart is good for the heart. Bone broth (joints) helps to strengthen joints. This makes sense because all the nutrition necessary to make that organ or joint strong should be present in that organ. This is also why it’s important where your food comes from. Animals raised on feedlots are not the same. They are often not as healthy as their grazing counterparts.

The Misunderstood Role of Animal Fats

I remember, in the 80s, the “experts” told people to stop eating saturated fats and consume vegetable oils instead. Again this was, in large part, due to the faulty research done by Ancel Keys. Most vegetable oils and seed oils are not healthy. Some are bad for your health. Saturated fats, from a healthy source, have benefits.

Essential Fatty Acids: Animal fats provide essential fatty acids, like omega-3s, which are vital for brain health, reducing inflammation, and heart health. Some research suggests animal fat from different areas of the animal, supports health differently.

Fat-Soluble Vitamins: Just like organ meats, animal fats are rich in fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. These are vital for a plethora of bodily functions, including bone health, blood clotting, and antioxidation. Butter from cows that eat grass may contain more vitamins than cows that are fed grains.

Saturated Fats and Cholesterol: Contrary to outdated beliefs, natural saturated fats and cholesterol in animal fats are crucial for cellular integrity and hormone production. Cholesterol, especially, is essential for the synthesis of steroid hormones like testosterone and estrogen.

Palmitoleic Acid: This is a monounsaturated fat found in animal fats with potential antimicrobial properties.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA): Found in the fat of grass-fed animals, CLA has been associated with reduced body fat and other health benefits. This is why it’s important to get your beef from cows that are grazed. The fat profile changes with feedlot-raised cows.

Butyric Acid: Found in butter, this short-chain fatty acid supports gut health and may have anti-inflammatory effects.

Don’t worry, you don’t have to remember all of that. The point I am trying to make is, to eat healthy saturated fats from healthy animals. Don’t be afraid of animal fats. Include them, but be mindful of their source. Don’t avoid healthy animal fat and replace it with damaged seed oils or damaged vegetable oils. Olive oil is healthy, but one of the reasons why we pay extra for “extra virgin” olive oil is because of how it’s processed. It preserves the oil’s benefits by not damaging it with chemicals, high heat, or high pressure.

The takeaway message is simple:

Don’t be afraid to include animal products in your diet. Not only is it a good idea but it’s essential for health. If you are feeling adventurous, try some Offal!

Recipes

I wanted to leave you with some recipes that I hope you will try. First I am going to share three that I use in my house and then I will share a link or two.

We eat liver in my house. Megan (my wife) has not been brave enough to cook it so it’s up to me. She knows when I am making it but pretends not to know. Her official stance on it is… “If I can smell it or taste it, I am not eating it.” so there begins the challenge:

The first one is very simple. Organic, grass-fed cow’s liver. Frozen. Use a 1-inch piece. Put it into a blender with a little water and blend it. Really blend it. Make ugly water out of it. No chunks. Ok now, build whatever kind of shake you want on top of it. I have done this with milkshakes to get my kids to eat it. I have done it with protein shakes and yesterday I did it with beet juice and pomegranate juice. The last one was not great but that was because of the beet juice. The raw method is my favorite. It’s fast, easy and you don’t taste it. Really! Be brave! Try it.

Next are liver and ground beef (grass-fed of course) meatballs. This one is also simple. Use whatever meatball recipe you like but just add liver. No more than 25% liver. I try to stay closer to 20%. I use a blender to mix up the liver and then add it to the ground beef. Mix it. Add whatever seasoning and then make it into meatballs. I bake mine. It is easy and the kids (and wife) will eat them.

The last one is heart chili. This one is tasty but I don’t think I would start with this one. It’s not the taste but cleaning the heart is a bit intimidating. There is not much for me to say about it, other than, you will see. It’s not hard, just added work. Once it’s all cleaned up, I cut into cubes. I like my chili to be meaty. I soak the cubes overnight in water and then rinse them a couple of times before use. After that, it goes into the crockpot and just make the rest of the chili however you normally would. Nobody ever guessed it was heart. The cubes are more tender than you would expect.

You can, of course, cook liver with just onions but it takes a more practiced hand. When I do it, it is hit or miss. Mostly miss. I cooked heart last night and just pan-fried it. It is more forgiving. Plus heart is only $5-$6/pound so might be worth a shot. Your heart will thank you.

Here are more recipes if you are feeling adventurous. I think I may have to give some of these a try. One more quick one. I wanted to include a recipe for bone broth but my way is not fancy, there are better ways. My way is very simple. Everybody should get some bone broth into their diet. Maybe not daily but do try and work it in. Bone broth used to be known simply as soup. However, it changed sometime around WW2. Bone broth is essential for building and maintaining healthy joints. I can’t say enough about bone broth, but didn’t want to make this too long. I doubt I will do a whole newsletter article on it, as it doesn’t pertain directly to blood sugar. However, it’s essential for keeping your joints happy and healthy.

Embrace Nutritional Wholeness: A Call to Action

As we conclude our journey through the rich world of animal-based nutrition, I invite you to consider a new, yet time-honored path in your dietary choices. Embracing the inclusion of responsibly sourced animal products—be it the nutrient-packed organ meats or the wholesome animal fats—isn't just a nod to tradition; it's a step towards holistic health. I encourage you to explore beyond the conventional, to discover the profound health benefits these foods offer. Start small if you must—perhaps with a heart chili or a liver-infused shake—and experience firsthand the vitality these foods can bring to your life. Remember, your diet is not just about sustenance; it's about thriving. Let's honor the wisdom of our ancestors and give our bodies the complete nutrition they deserve. Are you ready to make a change for the better? Are you feeling brave? Will you look for ways to add in some organ meats? Maybe? At the very least I hope you will not remove healthy animal products in place of highly processed, and less healthy alternatives.

Marketing is misleading and confusing. We all try and do our best to get the best quality of food for ourselves and our families. Look for local sources. Usually, this is easier to understand where your food comes from. You can also look in the grocery store, usually by the organic meats. While it doesn’t have to be organic they often go together. Organic and grass-fed, or organic and free-range.

Thank you for reading

Thank You for Being a Valuable Part of Our Journey

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