Hi Everyone...Desiccated liver is an Old School Supplement -- I remember taking it way back in my youth in the late 60s and early 70s to aid my sporting activities. But as time went on, dessicated liver fell out of fashion, and I stopped taking it for some reason.
Ted has written much about the nutrient value of eating or juicing raw liver on this site; he regards raw liver as one of the most useful, nutrient-dense foods for your body, and is right up there with kelp, chlorella or spirulina.
Desiccated liver tablets are not generally sold in health shops anymore, but you can buy them very cheaply on the internet -- 250 large tablets for only about $7.00. Desiccated liver is also regularly sold as nutrients in bodybuilding shops.
So, I have started to take desiccated liver tabs again (two tabs, twice a day, crushed and mixed with a glass of water). And because it is so nutrient-dense, I also won't have to take so many expensive multivitamins or individual vitamins, amino acids or minerals. And I will also also be getting my nutrients from a relatively natural, bio-available source.
Here is the nutrient content in desiccated liver:
"Desiccated liver is whole beef liver that has been concentrated using a vacuum and freeze drying process, utilizing no heat in the procedure. This process concentrates the nutritional content while removing the fat, connective tissues, and water without destroying any of the healthful ingredients via heat.
Compounds in Desiccated Liver
* Protein: 60-80%.
* Vitamins: A, B-complex (B-1, B-2, B-6, B-12, choline, inositol, biotine, niacin, pantothenic acid, folic acid, PABA), C, D, E, K, lipotropics choline & inositol.
* Minerals: calcium, chromium, copper, heme iron, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, & zinc.
* Amino acids: alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, cysteine, cystine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tyrosine, tryptophan, valine
In addition to these nutrients, there are substances present in desiccated liver that have a beneficial effect on health, fitness, and endurance - such as cytochrome P-450 and others yet to be identified. Desiccated liver contains nucleic acids for proper amino acid utilization, a growth factor, and an anti-estrogen factor, which keeps testosterone levels high, and it is also a great anti-toxin."
From The Protein Review
Needless to say, the health and healing benefits of Desiccated Liver are too numerous to mention, it seems to have a positive effect in all areas of the body.
Bill,
You are 100% right ! This was highly recommended by Vince Gironda too, movie star trainer Guru . My concern is with Mad Cow disease problem, what is your opinion ? GrassFed beef is very popular in US.
Hi Peter...My own feeling is that there are perhaps even greater risks eating heavily processed food and drinking fluorinated/chlorinated water that has been recommended to us by such as the FDA and WHO.
Regarding Mad Cow disease, I remember in the UK when we had that big outbreak some years ago, the health agencies all said that there was very little risk, the most risk being if you ate, say, a steak with a bone through it. But even then, Mad Cow Disease inhabits and infects the brain mainly through the animals backbone.
As well, if you keep your body terrain healthy and continually take a preventative stance towards your own health, through the wonderful advice here on EC, there will be very little illness that will reach your body. I'm 60 now and testament to this, had a lot of things wrong with me before I came across this site. And in the last 3 or 4 years of following my own regimen, I haven't caught any bug, have no allergies, bones and heart good, no aches and pains with plenty of energy through the day.
Eventually, through my own research and decisions, I got rid of my own candida problem and all the other things wrong with me over a stretch of time. I'm very grateful for this, my own current regimen is quite disciplined though fairly flexible and is almost wholly preventative because there is absolutely no way, in my mind, that you can avoid eating heavily processed foods, fats, dairy, sweeteners, glucose etc in your diet these days.
After all, if you go out to any restaurant, do you really know what you are eating? Since I like going out and being sociable, I realize a while ago that there is no way to avoid processed and poisoned food/water completely -- and I refuse to live like a monk, not much fun that -- so I just developed my own strategies for continually purging or gently detoxing my body of dangerous toxins and chemicals, most
of which are based on the proven advice and remedies of Ted from Bangkok.
Concerning dessicated liver, I like taking it because it is so nutrient-dense -- and supplies virtually every vitamin, amino acid and mineral that your own body needs.
However, realistically, I will still have to take magnesium, iodine, sodium bicarbonate, ACV, Vitamin C and other supplements etc., on a daily or weekly basis, in order to compensate for our poor quality food and water supply. That's why I think the preventative approach is the best, simply because it always assumes the worst case scenario and is a whole body approach to health, whereas standard drugs medicine is wholly reactive -- there's something wrong with you, you go to the doc and he usually ends up prescribing several drugs that only treat your "symptoms", and the side-effects from these drugs themselves could also create a much worse situation for your body. The best way is not just to rely on doctors alone, but to take responsibility and do your own research for your own health, safest way, because I definitely trust me...!!
Hi Bill, could you tell me what brand of diseccated liver you use? I look into some, but they have steric acid and I think it has been said this ingredient can block absortion of other nutrients? or not? anyway it'll be very helpful if you can let me know. Thanks Aurora
Hi Aurora... Stearic Acid or indeed any fat or vegetable oil will hinder absorbtion of nutrients if eaten in the wrong amounts ie too much. It is mainly the bile from the liver that emulsifies (breaks up into globules) the fats and makes them ready for bodily absorbtion.
Before 1900, the majority of fats that were ever used in western diet were lard, tallow and butter, all of which contain stearic acid. And in those days, there was never the number of people who now suffer problems of obesity, heart disease, cancer, Alltzheimer's, diabetes, Parkinsons etc.
The point here is that all pre-1900 food fats were made from grass-fed animals from nutrient-dense soils that had not been exposed to intensive NKP farming fertilizers. Fats and oils in those days were also made naturally and involved no mass production or chemically processed techniques. Chemically processed and oxidized RBD fats and oils are the real enemy now.
In answer to your question, I cannot really recommend a specific dessicated liver product because the product name would not be allowed on EC, but would advise instead that de-fatted dessicated liver products can be bought without much problem these days.
Hi everybody. Great discussions! I've been a practicing acupuncturist/herbalist for 10 yrs. I prescribe whole food based nutritional supplements to many of my patients. One of my favorites is Dr. Ron's Ultra Pure dessicated Liver from New Zealand. There has never been any reported cases of mad cow disease and all the organs used in the formulations are from grass fed pastured animals. Because of this, the products are a little more expensive, but in my opinion, higher quality than most others. Check it out for a great source of dessicted organs including thyroid, brain, and adrenal. He also carries the best fermented cod liver oil from Blue Ice. Great stuff!
Hi. I was wondering if someone can recommend a good brand of desiccated liver that can be purchased in Canada. I have found several sites offering desiccated liver and it appears some of the desiccated liver have more nutrients in them than others.
Hello again. Just wondering while I am on the candida diet what other supplements I would require if taking the desiccated liver tablets. I am avoiding all dairy while on the diet so worried about calcium. I also take 1 tbsp of blackstrap molasses in AM. Do I need additional supplements such as calcium, magnesium or will I get enough daily requirements fromt the desiccated liver tablets and blackstrap molasses. Thanks for any guidance on this.
Maggie-- I think black strap molasses might not be a good idea if you have candida because it may be high in sugar. I would "google" it.
I have been taking ____ Liver tabs, but might stop because they are high in iron which feeds candida----I have heard. Anyone else hear this?
Great discussion. Does anyone know where I could get liver injectable? It has been very difficult to obtain in California over the past few years and that wasn't the case before. Compounding pharmacies used to make it. Can anyone provide some input where I could find liver injectable?
A: I would recommend first trying a supplement of Raw Bovine Concentrate or Raw Liquid Liver Extract or eating cooked chicken or calf liver regularly for a few weeks or months. The only thing that could go wrong with this is digestion problems like gallstones, intestinal or pancreatic parasites, or dirty colon (all of which eventually lowers nutritional status and blood counts causing disease & anemia). Do be sure to purchase the "concentrate" or "extract" version of the liver tablets as they are upwards of 8 x stronger than regular desiccated liver tabs.
If oral supplementation isn't correcting the problem, here is a supplier of the injectable form
The late Doctor Gerson's Therapy seems like a wonderful protocol to follow, not just for cancer but a light version for general health. The doctor's daughter Charlotte follows it and doing good at 89. The only thing I wonder is why did she lose her hair color? Is that generally a copper and B vitamins deficiency? Gerson diet is primarily fruits and vegetables which are high in vitamin C so I don't think it is a vitamin C deficiency. I know the protocol also recommended crude live oil injections but I don't think people can find that today. I remember Charlotte saying she is a vegan so I don't know if she does the liver. Liver is high in copper and B vitamins but the other high foods are foods not on the protocol. Would blackstrap molasses be enough to get the copper and B vitamins?
Is there a threat of mad cow disease in dessicated liver tablets? Liver just seems like a super health food. I don't think I can do the raw liver shakes though.
Lastly, I am amazed at how rampant acid reflux (as well as fungal problems) are these days, including in myself. Do most people here benefit from digestive and pancreatic enzymes? I find them expensive and heard some get stomach irritation so not sure if I should take the plunge and buy them yet. When I eat healthy I don't have a problem so I'm not sure if I should buy them? Maybe apple cider vinegar is enough? Any feedback on any of these questions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Liv, for iron deficiency anemia, blackstrap molasses did the trick for me and others in my family. One tablespoon a day (two for the first week or so) should do it in a short time. I take it dissolved in hot water, with added soy milk.
Hi Liv - I used to used dried liver extract tablets by Trophic but I don't think my digestion was able to break down the pills enough to do any good (maybe I should have pulverized them and added them to a drink but they are a bit "whiffy" - as in a strong odour). Anyway, I had better results from using a herbal liquid supplement called Floradix, which is quite gentle (some iron supplements can cause constipation or stomach irritation). By the way, Vitamin B complex pills can turn urine bright yellow so that might be the culprit. Also, as a vegetarian, are you getting enough B-12? Try to use a sublingual tablet or spray which enhances absorption. Hope you find something that helps! Cheers, Bess
Hi, I use pure dessicated liver by now foods from Iherb.com it's great stuff, I use about 1-3 teaspoons per day. I prefer it cooked to minimize the bacteria count and I keep it in the freezer, since it's a powder it does not freeze but keeps it fresh. It is a wonderful product, and keeps me bouncing back with energy, it also appears to help balance my blood sugar, as I don't get the spike after a large carb meal ( I make brown rice with virgin olive oil, turmeric, dill and the liver). Good luck!
-Mark
Part of the anemic problem is a vegetarian diet. Stay away from soy supplements as well.
Dessicated liver also boosts your hemoglobin due to the high iron content, allowing your blood to carry more oxygen. Between that and the amino intake one gets, highly recommend dessicated liver (Bev Int. or Uniliver).
Radiant Life sells a grass fed desiccated liver pill that is reasonably priced. I got a nice surge of energy taking this. I am awaiting my next shipment this week! I was without for 2 weeks and noticed a dip in energy level. They also carry an organic grass fed one too. These days we have an onslaught of chemicals attacking our chain of food supply so more healthier options are nice.
Karen, this sounds like a product I would like to try. Thank you.
Hello Liv,
Your post is so old, so I hope by now you are doing better. I used to be vegetarian for 19 years, now I am dealing with it... I just got Beef Liver supplement last night at our local New Seasons Market. The beef liver is from New Zealand.
I would also recommend anyone who has iron and immune deficiency problems to order Lactoferrin. Lactoferrin is not only going to support your immune function, but it helps iron absorption. You may be taking iron, but to no avail. My sister has the same problem, so I am here researching to get her the best supplements. Good luck.
Radien Life brand is one of the only liver pills that do not de-fat the liver. You need this fat. Most all other liver pills are de-fatted. I use radient life liver pills and buy the cheaper grass fed ones at a cost of about $20. theses are not officially organic but the pastures the cows eat from has no pesticides. They offer another grass fed, orgamic liver pills from the U.S. That costs almost double of the grass fed ones not from the U.S. The difference is if you want to support US grass fed farms for the higher cost difference.
Dr. Izabella Wentz pharmacist naturopath talks about different irons. Beef iron being the real deal. She suggests PE OptiFerin C ...but I wonder if dessicated liver is not better. Solgar sells it and am sure other companies also.
