Organ Meat Intake, A Boon To Your Organs-Traditional Chinese Medicine
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), each bite of food sends the nutrition to the corresponding organs: sour food enters the liver and helps stop sweating, and eases coughing; salt enters the kidneys, and can drain, purge and soften masses; bitter food enters the heart and the small intestine and helps cool heat and dry any dampness; spicy food enters the lungs and large intestine and helps stimulate appetite; sweet food enters the stomach and spleen and helps lubricate the body. TCM is said to be “fraught with pseudoscience”, with the majority of its treatments having no logical mechanism of action.
The performance or the health of animal organs is correlated with their specific counterparts in humans. It is reported humans cannot get mad cow disease found in cattle, but they can get a variant of the disease if they eat food contaminated with the diseased tissue of sick cattle. Mad cow disease is the common name for a disease affecting cattle that slowly destroys the brain and spinal cord. The human form, called variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, is a rare and fatal degenerative disorder that destroys the brain and spinal cord over time. The only common way humans contract the disease is to eat food containing contaminated tissue from cows that have the disease.
But in broad medical science, animal offal or organ meat is regarded as a nutritious ingredient and actually packed with important vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients that can have a huge impact on your health. Interestingly enough, organ meats are far higher in nutrients than the muscle meats we’re used to eating. For instance, beef liver contains 50 times as much vitamin B12 as steak and more folate and B vitamins than any other food on the planet. It’s more densely packed with vitamins and minerals than kale, spinach, and broccoli. So how can you start incorporating this superfood into your diet?
Beef liver is one of the most nutritionally dense foods on the planet. It contains significant amounts of folate, iron, vitamin B, vitamin A, and copper. Eating a single serving of liver can help you meet your daily recommended amount of all of these vitamins and minerals, reducing your risk of nutrient deficiency
Beef Kidney. Unfortunately, organ meats like Beef Kidneys have a bad reputation based on their appearance. However, we must remember not to judge a book by its cover because beef kidney meat is super tasty. Like the liver, it contains minerals that support the health of every physiological system and may help decrease your risk of several serious medical conditions.
Beef heart nutrition entails robust levels of zinc, iron, and selenium. It is also a great source of vitamin B2, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12. It is lower in fat than many other cuts of meat and is a complete protein: it contains all 9 essential amino acids.
Beef Tongue is a moderate source of calories, zinc, and other Minerals. Eating a cow’s tongue will net you a few essential nutrients, including several minerals and vitamins.
Beef Intestines. According to Dhanan Jayan, an Indian Nutritionist who served as Joint Secretary of the Indian Dietetic Association (Chennai Chapter), beef intestine is a very good source of protein and is also rich in fats (Predominantly monounsaturated fats). Similar to beef liver, the beef intestine is also an excellent source of vitamin B12 and Niacin. It is rich in a strong antioxidant mineral called manganese. Though it has all these beneficial nutrients, it is equally rich in dietary cholesterol, which might affect your blood cholesterol levels.
The tripe (towel) is rich in protein and nutrients like vitamin B12, selenium, zinc, calcium, and iron. This means it can benefit your body in the following ways: helps build muscles, supports weight management, aids red blood cell formation, helps avoid anemia, helps build and maintain strong bones, may help lower the risk of age-related cognitive changes, speeds up wound healing and supports a healthy immune response.
These said, there are risks to eating too much organ meats, and anyone considering making significant dietary changes should consult their doctor first, and ensure they have thoroughly researched the pros and cons.
It is vital to know how the animals whose organs are being eaten were raised before slaughter. Aside from the moral implications, organ meats obtained from stressed and mistreated animals can cause all sorts of problems. For example, fatty deposits can often build up, particularly around the heart and kidneys. Essentially, if the animal has led an unhealthy life, their internal organs will not be healthy either. It is recommended that organ meats should be sourced from a farm that uses organic practices and puts its animals out for pasture.