Is Liver a Superfood?
Subconscious Fat on Superfoods and Liver
I looked it up on YouTube: Superfoods. One video, sponsored by UCF Health, showed Dr. Maria Cannarozzi. She’s shown speaking to a group, mostly senior citizens, who all clap for her when she’s done. However, liver is never mentioned as a superfood.
Another YouTube video by WatchMojo lists the 20 Healthiest Foods in the World. The top 20 include the usual suspects: kale, beets, blueberries, ginger, avocados, garlic, and broccoli, but no liver.
Mr. Skeptical interrupts, “I’m happy liver isn’t a superfood because it’s gross.”
“Well, these YouTube videos are giving us false information. The liver is a superfood.”
Mr. Skeptical has his arms folded, looking at me skeptically. He then unfolds his arms and uses his hands to plead his case, “You’re full of shit. Why wouldn’t you believe what an M.D. says?”
Before I can answer, he does it for me. “I know why. It’s because you were a chiropractor.” He points an accusing finger at me. “You chiros always hated medical doctors, which I believe are the true doctors.”
Subconscious Fat at 30,000 feet
Ignoring Mr. Skeptical, I write on.
First, let’s talk about where the term ‘superfood’ came from. The term was first used in the early 20th century by The United Fruit Company. The term was a marketing scheme to sell more bananas. There’s no official legal definition for the term superfood. In other words, anybody can legally claim the food they sell as a superfood.
Mr. Skeptical folds his arms again. “I should have guessed there was a financial incentive behind the term.”
“Yes, like I often say, love and money make the world go around. Inventing the word ‘superfood’ has helped sell much food worldwide. Medical doctors also promoted and used the term to sell more food that was likely endorsed by the American Medical Association, which was likely paid for by food corporations.”
Mr. Skeptical shakes his head again. “There you go bashing medical doctors again.”
“I’m not bashing them. In fact, plenty of MDs agree with me that liver is a superfood. Look at the chart below.”
Subconscious Fat at 10,000 feet
Watching Mr. Skeptical observe the list, I feel a warm fuzzy feeling in my chest. He appears like he’s shrinking, heh-heh.
And now, to continue winning my debate, let’s bring animal species into the argument.
I’ve shown killer whales before on Subconscious Fat; click here to see. Orcas will nudge the great white shark to go belly up. If you’ve seen enough shark week, as I have, you’ll know this causes the shark to go into a deep sleep, known as tonic immobility. While under the spell, the orcas will bite and squeeze out the liver.
Mr. Skeptical looks down at his phone, likely Googling. Idiot.
Not just orcas but most land predators (lions, wolves, etc.) will eat the liver and other internal organs first before consuming the rest of the carcass.
“Animals are just that, animals. We are human. We are different.”
“Well, I think we’re an animal with a bigger forebrain and opposable thumbs, but let’s leave that argument for another day. Let’s look at humans who have supported eating liver.”
Subconscious Fat at Eye-Level
The Hadza Tribe, one of the few modern-day remaining hunter gatherer tribes, still eats the liver and a few internal organs first right after a kill, uncooked and raw. Australian Aboriginal hunters would often cook and eat the liver first before taking the rest of the kangaroo back to the tribe. The Traditional Inuit prized liver. Western Nile Tribes made eating liver a sacred act, and no human hand was allowed to touch the liver; it had to be eaten from a spear, saber or fork stick.
The book Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne documented the powerful American Indian Tribe, The Comanche. He wrote:
Children would rush up to a freshly killed animal, begging for its liver and gallbladder. They would then squirt the salty bile from the gallbladder onto the liver and eat it on the spot, warm and dripping blood.
Published in the National Library of Medicine, “I Miss My Liver” Nonmedical Sources in the History of Hepatocentrism (hepato refers to liver)
Ancient myths in cultures as diverse as Assyrian and Babylonian, Greco‐Roman, Hebrew, Aztec, and Chinese showed that the liver was seen as the seat of life and human passion, thereby influencing the development of hepatocentrism in art and literature as well as in medicine.
Mr. Skeptical is sitting there with his arms folded and a frown on his face. It feels so good to shut him up and not hear his sarcastic, irritating comments.
In my research, I’ve seen videos, writings, and podcasts from the following MDs: Paul Saladino, Tony Hampton, Ken D Berry, and Robert Kiltz, among others, who all agree that the Liver is a superfood. Many chiropractors like Eric Berg, Sten Ekberg, and Jacey Folkers also agree.
Mr. Skeptical interrupts, “Isn’t the liver supposed to detoxify the body? Isn’t it dumb to eat the liver because you’d be eating all the animal toxins?”
“This is a common myth many people have. The Liver does clean out toxins, but they come out quickly via feces, sweat and urine. When one eats Liver, virtually all the toxins are gone.”
Mr. Skeptical adds, “I see you capitalize the word liver now. Do you, too now see the liver as something sacred?”
I look at Mr. Skeptical sitting there, arms still crossed. I say, “Since I can’t find a better, more nutritious food than Liver, then yes, I do consider it in a way sacred, for it’s likely the healthiest food a human can eat.”
Mr. Skeptical shrugs his shoulders. “Whatever, you’re a weirdo. And I’m still not going to eat liver. It’s disgusting.”
Practical Suggestions and Conclusions
“Believe it or not, I’m glad you think Liver is disgusting. Many people would agree, which perfectly leads to an idea I wanted to introduce to our readers. One concept is to look at food as fuel.”
“People who read this are human, not cars.”
“True. Yet food is our primary gasoline. The better the fuel, the better you’ll function. And Liver is the best fuel you can have. The way I see it, so what if it tastes like shit! Eat some because it’s good for you.
I continue, “Another concept is to think of educating your palate. Like smoking cigars, or trying different brands of coffee or wine, tastes can and do change over time. I won’t pretend I know how to cook Liver to make it more palatable.”
Mr. Skeptical rolls his eyes. “Yeah, you trying to teach people how to cook would be like the blind leading the not-so-blind.”
“Fine, I admit I hate cooking. But there’re plenty of instructional YouTube videos and Liver Pates that are more taste friendly.
The point is this, don’t allow yourself to be consciously or subconsciously brainwashed by giant food companies as to what a superfood is. Large food corporations can kiss my ass, and they should kiss your ass (the reader) too. Follow what many animals do and what humans have done for millennia. And don’t listen to what others say about the taste of Liver. Try it for yourself. And if you don’t like it, experiment and find a way of consuming a little bit each week.
Be independent and think for yourself. Make up your own mind.
Be aware.