Why eating an organ heals that same organ
One of the most fascinating things about eating organs is how eating them will help like for like.
What do I mean by like for like? Well, by eating liver you help your liver, by eating heart you help your heart and so on…
So that's what we'll be diving into today.
Firstly, where does this notion of like helping like come from?
We can trace that back to a few different ancient knowledge sources...Traditional Chinese medicine, Ancient Shamanic Wisdom, Native American traditions and in more modern times many naturopaths recommend like for like to improve organ and overall health.
Even our grandparents remember having meals such as steak and kidney pie, stuffed heart, liver and onions which are so rare in most people’s diet these days (bring back the organ meals!).
A lot of animals will also instinctively go for organ meat first before eating the muscle meat of the prey they have just killed, knowing that there's a lot more nutrients in the organ meat compared to muscle meat.
But how does this actually work and what is the science behind it?
What are the cold hard facts?
Since you're likely to want to know the science behind the nutrition advice and (not just go off ancient wisdom), we shall be focusing on the nutrients these organs supply when we eat them and how that relates to boosting the function of our organs in our bodies.
Liver
Liver is exceptionally rich in vitamin A, B vitamins (especially B12, folate), iron, copper and zinc. What does your liver need to work optimally?
The same nutrients it stores... B-vitamins for methylation pathways, choline for fat processing and bile production, copper for enzyme function, vitamin A for protein synthesis. Your liver literally recognises these pre-formed, bioavailable nutrients and can immediately utilise them without conversion.
A recipe to try...
- Liver pâté: Velvety smooth beef or lamb liver blended with caramelised onions, garlic, thyme, and then whipped with lots butter until creamy. Chilled and spreadable, it’s rich in iron and B vitamins, a decadent, nutrient-dense snack best served on toasted sourdough, cucumber slices or simply with some raw carrot sticks.
Heart
Heart contains high levels of CoQ10, B vitamins, and quality protein. What does your heart need to work optimally? CoQ10 for cellular energy production in cardiac mitochondria, carnitine for fat metabolism (heart's preferred fuel), taurine for electrical conduction and rhythm regulation. Heart muscle has the highest CoQ10 concentration of any tissue.
A recipe to try...
- Reindeer/Venison heart tartare: Finely chopped raw heart mixed with capers, shallots, Dijon mustard, and a splash of olive oil, then topped with a fresh egg yolk. The lean, iron-rich heart offers a clean, almost sweet flavour that shines when paired with tangy, punchy accents. Serve chilled with sourdough or rye crisps.
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Beef tongue & heart stew: Slow-braised chunks of buffalo tongue and heart cooked with root vegetables, garlic, and fire-roasted tomatoes. A splash of organic red wine and a pinch of rosemary bring depth, while long cooking ensures the tongue turns silky and the heart becomes tender and meaty. Hearty, grounding, and perfect for cold evenings.
Kidney
Kidneys provide B12, DAO enzyme, vitamin C, selenium, and riboflavin. What do your kidneys need to work optimally? B-vitamins for filtration processes, selenium for antioxidant protection against constant toxin exposure, balanced electrolytes for proper fluid regulation. The kidney's own mineral ratios mirror what human kidneys require for optimal filtration.
A recipe to try...
- Kidney and caramelised shallots: Lamb kidney sliced and pan-seared in ghee, with slow-cooked shallots and a splash of apple cider vinegar to balance the richness. Serve over mashed celeriac or roasted squash for a grounding, mineral-rich meal.
Lungs
Iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, glutathione precursors, elastin, collagen. What do your lungs need to work optimally? Iron for oxygen-carrying capacity, vitamin A for respiratory epithelial cell regeneration, antioxidants to combat oxidative stress from breathing. Lung tissue provides the exact structural proteins your own lung repair mechanisms require.
A recipe to try...
- Coriander lung and liver cleanser: Tender slices of beef lung and liver marinated in lime juice, garlic, and fresh coriander, then quickly seared in ghee until just cooked through. Finished with an extra squeeze of lime and a scattering of vibrant coriander leaves. Light, aromatic, and perfect over a crisp fennel salad or steamed jasmine rice.
Spleen
Iron, B12, immunoglobulins, vitamin C, heme compounds. What does your spleen need to work optimally? Iron for blood filtration and red blood cell recycling, B12 for proper immune cell production, the same immune factors it produces to support your body's defence systems.
A recipe to try...
- Spleen meatballs in cinnamon tomato sauce: Finely mince fresh spleen and blend it into grass-fed lamb or beef mince with cumin, coriander, garlic, and mint. Roll into meatballs and gently simmer in a rich tomato sauce spiced with cinnamon and cloves. Comforting, subtly sweet, and stealthily iron-rich.
Or if you want a recipes with them all...
- Nose-to-tail stew: A slow-cooked medley of beef cheeks, oxtail, tongue, liver, and heart, simmered with bone broth, carrots, celery, and warming spices. The mix of textures, tender, gelatinous, and meaty, creates a deeply satisfying, collagen-rich dish that honours the whole animal. Best enjoyed with mashed roots or crusty bread.
Now this doesn't mean go out and consume unlimited amounts of organ meat...
Organs are incredibly nutrient dense, so over consuming things like liver can lead to vitamin A toxicity (though you would really need to eat a lot). A small portion a day or a bigger serving once a week is perfect. Lastly, the quality of organ meat is incredibly important. Reaching for supermarket chicken liver isn't recommended, but instead getting 100% grass fed and finished cow or lamb organs.
Taking a more food based approach to healing our health is the way forward. People are slowly turning away from the over consumption of synthetic supplements and prioritising their daily nutrition as well as including some superfoods, which organs most definitely are!
Adding organs to your diet is a great way to make sure you are getting enough nutrients. As you can see this has been known for thousands of years but very recently with the introduction of convenient processed food we’ve forgotten about organs and turned away from them, seeing them as waste parts instead of what they really are, nutrient dense superfoods.
And if you really want to disguise the organs (without losing their nutritional value), we’ve put together some deliciously sneaky recipes below, perfect for getting all the benefits without the “offal” taste...
