Why I Take Liver Pills

3 years ago I discovered raw liver and it changed my life.

I realize that sounds incredibly crazy (and disgusting), but hear me out on this.

I started making my own homemade frozen raw liver pills after researching the benefits of raw liver. As disgusting as that sounds, I was feeling pretty miserable at the time and had nothing to lose. Sometimes when you are so sick of feeling sick and tired, you’ll try just about anything to help, you know? And that’s where I was.

My hormones were out of whack, I was moody and irritable, I had horrible PMS every month and my digestion was less than stellar.

So I did it. I made my own raw liver pills out of a local farm, grass-fed, beef liver that I bought. In full disclosure, that hunk ‘o liver sat in the back of my freezer for a good 6 months before I got the kahonies to do anything with it.

But let me tell you – wow, what a difference those liver pills make! I attribute taking those raw liver pills to healing my hormone issues, evening out my moods and boosting my athletic performance.  They give me energy like I never had before. And I have zero PMS. It’s crazy! I often tell people that taking my daily liver pills made the most dramatic difference in my health to date. 

And I’m not alone in this! Ever since I first posted about raw liver and how it’s majorly helped me, I’ve received countless emails and messages from others that decided to take the plunge and try raw liver, too. Here’s some snippets from some of the messages I’ve received:

• “I finally have a sex life again! I’m in my mid-60’s and never thought that would happen. This has changed my life.” 
• “I couldn’t do anything to get my hair to grow and now my hair and nails are growing like crazy. It’s helped my acne, too.”
• “I have anemia and raw liver has been a life saver for me.”
• “This is the best I’ve ever felt. I even broke 4 PB (personal bests) at crossfit during the last two weeks that I’ve been taking them. Coincidence? I think not!”
• I can’t believe it! My thyroid numbers are getting better and better at every doctor appointment!!! If this continues, I’ll be able to get off my thyroid medication in the near future!
• “I definitely notice a difference in energy and notice when I forget to take them.”
• “I can’t believe the difference. I have my mom taking them now.”
• “My libido is back! My husband is sold on these and won’t let me go a day without them.”
• “My moods are noticeably better, even my husband and kids have noticed a difference in me. I’ve been sleeping better, too.”
• “Is it possible that raw liver helps sleep? Because I’m finally sleeping through the night.”

I could go on and on with these emails. I’m thrilled that like me, others are experiencing such amazing benefits from consuming liver. You can read more about my story and how raw liver changed my life HERE.  

And if you’re grossed out, keep reading, because you’ll be happy to know that I discovered a great way to get all the health benefits without the ick factor of handling raw liver. 

What’s the so great about raw liver?

I call raw liver my real food multi-vitamin because it contains a rich array of vitamins, minerals and enzymes that our body easily recognizes and puts to good use. Liver provides trace minerals and vitamins not present in other foods, even if you’re eating organic due to the depletion of our soils.

In fact, liver contains more nutrients, gram for gram, than any other food! It really is a true superfood.

The abundant doses of bio-available vitamin A,D and K in liver all contribute to optimum hormone production.  Healthy hormones mean better sleep, better libido, less weight gain, better response to stress, less anxiety and better moods. 

Liver also contains all the B vitamins in abundance including the critical vitamin B12. B vitamins are crucial for optimal health, energy, handling stress, liver detoxification, heart health and mood balance.

Liver also contains something really awesome called the anti-fatigue factor and it still remains a mystery to scientists to this day. Here’s a fascinating study that I think is SO cool explaining what that means…..

The experiment divided laboratory rats into three groups. The first ate a basic diet, fortified with 11 vitamins. The second ate the same diet, along with an additional supply of vitamin B complex. The third ate the original diet, but instead of vitamin B complex received 10 percent of rations as powdered liver.

After several weeks, the animals were placed one by one into a drum of cold water from which they could not climb out. They literally were forced to sink or swim. Rats in the first group swam for an average 13.3 minutes before giving up. The second group, which had the added fortifications of B vitamins, swam for an average of 13.4 minutes. Of the last group of rats, the ones receiving liver, three swam for 63, 83 and 87 minutes. The other nine rats in this group were still swimming vigorously at the end of two hours when the test was terminated. Something in the liver had prevented them from becoming exhausted. To this day scientists have not been able to pin a label on this anti-fatigue factor.

Isn’t that amazing?! And I, too, can personally attest to this anti-fatigue factor since consuming raw liver! 

I can almost hear you saying…..

“Okay, all this is great, but raw liver grosses me out!”

I am totally with you on this. *fist bump*

Liver grosses me the heck out, too, especially raw liver. Little secret — even though it’s been 3 years since I’ve been taking raw liver, I still get a major case of the heebie geebies when I make my frozen raw liver pills.  

So I discovered a solution that I can’t wait to tell you about…..

Introducing Beef Liver Pills!

I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I was to discover these beef liver pills from Vital Proteins!!! Sorry for all the exclamation points. I usually try to lay off them the best I can, but this is amazing stuff and worth every single one.

These pills are the solution if liver grosses you out like it does me or if you don’t have the time or desire to make the liver pills yourself. It’s also the best option of you can’t source good quality liver or if you travel. You can find them HERE.

These 100% grassfed beef liver pills are sold by Vital Proteins, a great company who I’ve found to be the best at sourcing the highest quality ingredients available. I had the opportunity to personally meet with Vital Proteins a few weeks ago and get to know their company and products in depth.   I’ve been a fan of theirs since my research and blog post on collagen but after meeting them in person, I’m even more impressed. The amount of independent research they do and the lengths they go to make sure we’re getting the best, safest and highest quality products available is incredibly impressive to me.  

Will I get the same benefits from these liver pills as I do from raw liver?

Yes! The grass-fed beef liver pills from Vital Proteins are freeze dried as to preserve the rawness of the liver and to ensure that the nutrients are fully available. 

Please keep in mind that not all liver pills are created equal. I found this to be very true, not only in my research, but from my own experiments.  I tried 2 other quality liver pills in the past, but didn’t receive the same benefits like I do when I take my homemade raw liver pills. Vital Proteins is the first liver pill that I get the same benefits and energy boost like I am taking it raw. 

I questioned Vital Proteins about this. I wanted to know why their pills were very potent for me when I haven’t had success with others in the past.  What’s the difference?

It turns out that most liver pills are de-fatted, which removes Vitamin A.  Most companies do not source from 100% grass-fed and grass-finished cattle. Grass is high in beta carotene, which the cows convert to pre-formed retinol or Vitamin A. That’s the form that is best absorbed by the human body. Also, because the cows were grass-fed all the way up until slaughter, their livers are naturally higher in B vitamins and other minerals. 

In my research I found that many liver pills on the market are processed using heat, solvents or deodorizers, all which greatly impact nutrients. Some even have added ingredients in them. Vital Proteins is just 100% pure grass-fed beef liver raised free from hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides. They carefully preserve that nutrient density all the way into the final product. The pills are regularly tested for purity and to make sure no heavy metals are detected.

Have you experienced any benefits from eating liver? Have you ever tried liver pills? Leave me a comment and let me know!

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