Like-for-Like: Eating Offal to Support the Human Organs
Revitalizing an Ancestral Tradition – Like-for-Like: Eating Offal to Support the Human Organs is an Ancestral Tradition that Provides Benefits to the Whole Body!
The ancestral diet was not just about eating meat. They used the whole animal and ate organ meat, bone marrow, and other parts that we now consider to be taboo. Our predecessors did not always have access to a variety of meats like we do today, so they had to make full use of every part of the animal they hunted or killed.
The like-for-like philosophy goes something like this: If you want to support your heart, then eat heart meat. If you want to support your liver, then you should eat liver. The same goes for brain, heart, bone, kidney, pancreas, reproductive organs, etc.
This is not a new concept in the world of food. For centuries, people have been eating like-for-like to support their health. Eating like-for-like may also be called “sympathetic eating.”
Organs are Rich in Nutrients
Organ meats are often overlooked in the kitchen. But they are an important part of a healthy diet and can provide many health benefits.
Organ meats are dense in nutrients like protein, iron, zinc, and B vitamins. Organ meats also contain other nutrients such as choline, which is important for brain function. These bioavailable nutrients are often being overlooked by people because organ meats are foreign to them, or the taste of offal is stronger to them than muscle meat.
Though we should first try to consume organ meats in their natural form, many people choose to take advantage of grass-fed organ meat supplements instead. For the squeamish person, offal capsules may be their best bet versus never eating organs at all.
A Few Examples of Like-for-Like: Eating Offal to Support the Human Organs
Brain
Eating beef brain is good for the human brain. The Omega-3 fatty acids and docosahexaenoic acid (aka DHA) it contains can help to improve our own brain functions.
Eating beef brain is a great way to boost your mental health. In fact, it may help in recovering from mental illnesses like Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Liver
Liver can be a healthy food for people who have anemia, hepatitis or vitamin A deficiency. This is because calf or beef liver has more vitamin A than anything else you can eat, and is high in iron!
Look for other liver to try if beef liver is too strong for you. Sheep, pork, lamb, and chicken livers are all great varieties as well.
Collagen or Connective Tissues
Collagen is a structural protein that is abundant in bone, skin, and muscle. It is also found in the gut where it helps to form the intestinal lining.
The benefits of collagen supplementation or consuming connective tissue of animals include supporting joint mobility, healthy skin, and improved digestion.
The amino acids contained in collagen hydrolysate can help with joint pain and mobility. Moreover, it has been shown that collagen supplementation can improve digestion by reducing inflammation and improving gut health.
Reproductive Organs
Yes, you can eat the testicles, ovaries, uterus, and other nether-region offal from animals! But why should you?
In traditional Chinese medicine, the consumption of beef reproductive organs is believed to promote hormone balance in humans.
Beef reproductive organs are a rich source of protein and vitamin D. Protein is needed for hormone production in the body, and vitamin D is essential for testosterone and estrogen levels.
Lamb fry has been found to support healthy testosterone levels in humans, which may be due to its high zinc content. Zinc plays an important role in maintaining hormone balance. It helps regulate the production of testosterone and sperm production, which are key for fertility and male health.
*Talk to your functional practitioner before consuming reproductive organs to ensure you are getting the correct balance for your gender and life phase.
In Conclusion – Like-for-Like: Eating Offal to Support the Human Organs
The modern diet rarely includes organ meat at all; in fact, offal is something modern humans generally turn their nose up to! Though we should make an effort to include organ meat in our diet like our ancestors did. Offal has many health benefits that can directly support the human organ we are wishing to enhance.
Sources
https://www.doctorkiltz.com/beef-brain/
https://heartandsoil.co/are-brains-the-greatest-brain-food/
https://drpatrickowen.com/foods-you-avoid-but-shouldnt-part-32-beef-brains/
https://www.heartstonefarm.me/blogs/farmerdanblog/why-you-should-be-eating-grass-fed-beef-liver
