Author: Alexandra Rowles / Source: Authority Nutrition
Not many foods are worthy of the title “superfood.” However, liver is one of them.
Once a popular and treasured food source, liver has fallen out of favor.
This is unfortunate because liver is a nutritional powerhouse. It’s rich in protein, low in calories and packed with essential vitamins and minerals.
This article takes a detailed look at liver and why you should include it in your diet.
The liver is a vital organ in humans and animals. It is typically the largest internal organ and has many important functions, including:
Liver, along with other organ meats, used to be a very popular food. However, muscle meats now tend to be favored over organ meats.
Regardless of its declining popularity, liver is possibly one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet.
People often look to fruits and vegetables for vitamins and minerals, but liver far surpasses them all in terms of nutrient content.
A small amount of liver provides well over 100% of the RDI for many essential nutrients. It is also rich in high-quality protein and low in calories (1).
Liver is cheap and readily available from grocery stores and butchers. While most animal livers can be eaten, common sources are cow, chicken, duck, lamb and pig.
Summary: Liver is possibly the most nutrient-dense food in the world. It’s packed with essential nutrients, rich in protein and low in calories.
The nutritional profile of liver is exceptional.
Here are the nutrients found in a 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving of beef liver:
Summary: Liver provides more than the RDI for vitamin B12, vitamin A, riboflavin and copper. It is also rich in the essential nutrients folate, iron and choline.
Protein is vital to life and found in nearly every part of the body. It’s required to make and repair cells and turn food into energy.
Over one-quarter of beef liver is made up of protein. Moreover, it’s very high-quality protein, as it provides all of the essential amino acids.
Amino acids are the building blocks that make up proteins. Some amino acids can be made in the body, but those known as essential amino acids must come from food.
A high protein intake has been shown to help with weight loss, as it reduces hunger and appetite. Additionally, protein has been found to satisfy hunger better than fat or carbs (11).
Furthermore, a high protein intake can boost your metabolic…
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