Why Organ Meats Are a Nutritional Gold Mine

Organs are some of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet

Photo by Alesia.B on Shutterstock

I’ve written before about why I think organ meats are one of the best ways to increase the nutrient density of your diet. In this essay, I will describe the unique nutrient profiles of many of the different organs and why they are beneficial to consume.

Below is a table compiled using information from the USDA nutrition database. These data show the relative amounts of water-soluble vitamins and minerals in many types of organs compared to ground beef. Protein and fat content are listed below the micronutrients.

Nutrition data of select cuts of meat as listed in the USDA nutrition database.

The key message from this table is that some organ meats (especially liver) have MUCH higher concentrations of vitamins and minerals compared to a staple meat product such as ground beef. Below I will delve deeper into the unique nutrient profiles of each organ type.

1. Liver

Liver is one of the most widely consumed organs…and for good reason. It is one of the richest sources of vitamins and minerals out there. A 3 oz portion of liver (one serving size) contains enough riboflavin and…