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The 4 Best Grass-Fed Beef Liver Supplements

Published:
Last Updated: Jan 05, 2024

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This article contains affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links.

Organ meat, and especially liver, is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. But few of us consume enough of this nutritious powerhouse on a daily basis because of its image, its taste, or its lack of availability. That’s where beef liver supplements come in: they provide nearly identical health benefits to fresh liver in a much more convenient format.

In this article, I’ll list the best beef liver supplements from grass-fed and pasture-raised cows, and provide a brief overview of the benefits of supplementing with desiccated beef liver capsules.

The table below is a quick summary of the four beef liver supplement brands I recommend, based on my research, hands-on experience and personal preferences.

You can get more info about each by jumping directly to the list, or read the full article to learn about how beef liver supplements are made, why you should take them, and what to look for when buying them.

Top Four Beef Liver Supplements
My favorite beef liver supplement brands.
MK SupplementsAncestral SupplementsEnviromedicaVital Proteins
Serving size:3,000 mg3,000 mg3,000 mg3,000 mg
Servings:45303030
Freeze-dried:YesYesYesYes
Non-defatted:YesYesYesYes
100% pasture-raised:YesYesYesYes
Container:GlassPlasticPlasticPlastic
Family-operated:YesYesNoNo
Free domestic shipping:For orders of $100 and aboveWith subscription onlyNoWith subscription only
International shipping rate:$9.99VariesVariesVaries
Available in Europe:YesYes (via third-party)NoNo
Cost per serving:$1.00$1.20$1.00$1.27
You can scroll horizontally on mobile devices!

Scroll down to learn more about each of the brands and see the available discount codes.

Health Benefits of Beef Liver Capsules

Jam-packed with valuable micronutrients like preformed vitamin A, vitamin B12 and iron (as well as many others), beef liver is nature’s ultimate multivitamin. Its diverse micronutrient profile provides the building blocks for a wide range of bodily functions, supporting the metabolism, immune system, skin, eyes, reproductive organs, mental health and more.

Plus, its synergistic combination of vitamins and minerals can naturally boost energy levels by supporting mitochondria (the part of every cell responsible for energy production).

Many people supplement with grass-fed liver to improve or support the following areas of their health:

  • Eye health: The vitamin A (retinol) and B vitamins in liver play a crucial role in vision, helping to maintain a clear cornea (which is the outside covering of your eye).
  • Energy and mood: Liver is an excellent source of vitamin B12, copper, heme-iron, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and niacin, all of which are crucial for energy, optimal exercise performance, metabolism, red blood cell production and mood.
  • Immune system: Selenium is a cofactor for the body’s antioxidant defense (glutathione peroxidase, thioredoxin reductase) and (together with copper) supports optimal immune function.
  • Skin health: The hyaluronic acid, copper, zinc and selenium in liver are crucial for maintaining healthy skin and connective tissue.
  • Brain health and cognition: The highly absorbable B vitamins (riboflavin, folate and B12), amino acids (anserine, carnosine, taurine and l-carnitine), choline and zinc in liver are vital for brain health and cognition, as well as for neurotransmitter formation.
  • Teeth and bones: The vitamin K2 in liver is crucial for bone and tooth health because it supports the remineralization and absorption of calcium.

If you’d like to take a deep dive into the health benefits of consuming fresh or freeze-dried beef liver and its nutritional composition, check out this article. You can also learn about other types of organ meat supplements available on the market, which combine multiple organs in a single capsule in order to target specific health situations and outcomes.

How to Choose a Desiccated Beef Liver Supplement

MK Supplements - Grass-Fed Beef Liver Intro
Why I decided to launch my own organ meat supplements brand.

Below I’ll list a few of the supplements that I’ve tried and recommend. But there are certainly other products on the market you could choose from. 

It’s important to keep in mind that supplements are largely unregulated in the United States. As a result, manufacturers have a lot of wiggle room regarding what information they put on the label and how accurately that information reflects the actual ingredients. That’s why I recommend sticking to brands you trust.

Here are the most important criteria that I look for when shopping for organ supplements.

Note: I recently launched my own beef liver supplement, which is included in the list below. My supplements are third-party tested and manufactured in a GMP-certified facility.

100% Grass-Fed and Pasture-Raised

Raw pastured beef liver
Raw pastured beef liver.

Much like when buying fresh meat, I make sure the organs that were used to make a supplement were sourced from 100% grass-fed and pasture-raised animals. 

That’s not only important from an ethical perspective (it ensures sustainable farming practices), but also from a quality perspective, as it leads to a supplement with a better nutrient profile. 

For example, the liver (and muscle meat) of grass-fed beef has a more favorable fatty-acid composition than that of grain-fed beef. 

Additionally, you can find significantly more vitamin A (both provitamin A and preformed A) in the liver and muscle tissue of pasture-raised cows compared to grain-fed cows (as shown in this study). Those are only two of many examples that prove the superiority of pasture-raised vs. grain-fed meats.

Interestingly, New Zealand produces some of the best pasture-raised beef in the world — perhaps because most of the country’s beef herd is entirely grass-fed and can graze on pasture year-round. 

Potency

Whatever product you choose, make sure it has sufficient amounts of liver (and thus, micronutrients). I recommend products with 3,000 milligrams of beef liver per serving or more.

Processing Method

Many vitamins and minerals are heat-sensitive or quickly deteriorate when exposed to air. That’s why the processing method of a whole-food supplement is crucial. 

Freeze-drying is an excellent method to preserve as many micronutrients as possible. That’s why I recommend products that were manufactured using this method.

Third-Party Testing

I prefer products that have been tested to ensure ingredient quality and certain manufacturing standards. So look for ISO or GMP certifications, or ask for a test report if in doubt.

Other Ingredients

I recommend avoiding products that contain unwanted ingredients like fillers, flow agents, artificial colors and sweeteners, sugars, soy, wheat, gluten, dairy and anything else you don’t recognize.

Servings

Most brands offer 30 servings per bottle, but others offer 45 servings per bottle. Take that into account when assessing how much the supplement is going to cost you every month (see below).

Cost Per Serving

Instead of solely looking at the price per bottle and the number of capsules per bottle, make sure you understand what the price per 3,000 mg serving is. Brands use different capsule sizes, which determines whether one serving is comprised of four or six capsules.

In other words, 180 capsules may yield either 30 or 45 servings per bottle, depending on the capsule size.

Eco-Friendliness

Regardless of what your stance is as far as climate change is concerned, I think we can all agree that humans produce too much plastic waste. As a result, I encourage you to look for brands that actively try to reduce plastic waste by using glass containers, metal lids and paper-based packaging materials.

Top Four Desiccated Beef Liver Supplements

Top 4 BEEF LIVER Supplements [Grass-Fed, Desiccated, Pasture-Raised]
Watch the video above to learn about my favorite beef liver supplements, or keep reading this post.

Below is a list of the four supplements we’ve used in the Kummer household. While there might be other brands that offer similar ingredient quality, these are the ones I have tested and thus recommend.

MK Supplements Grass-Fed Beef Liver

MK Supplements Grass-Fed Beef Liver
I launched MK Supplements with the goal of offering supplements that are good for you as well as the environment.

When I first wrote and published this roundup in 2020, I had no intention of launching my own line of beef organ supplements. I had tried and/or researched all of the supplements highlighted in this article, and I still have no hesitation about recommending them. They’re all high-quality products that can help you optimize your diet. 

But as I analyzed the specific details of the different options available in the marketplace, I started to realize they all fell short of my ideal standard in one area or another — whether that meant using extended periods of very high heat during production (which damages some of the livers’ nutrients) or being shipped in plastic bottles (which contain xenoestrogens that studies have shown can leach into the contents). 

I’m not the kind of person who likes making compromises when it comes to my health. So I decided to develop a supplement that better aligns with my lifestyle and meets my admittedly high standards.

Months of research and development led to what I sincerely believe is the best beef liver supplement on the market.

MKS Beef Liver - Enhances your health
The Grass-Fed Beef Liver supplement I launched in the summer of 2021.

Quick Facts About MK Supplements Beef Liver

  • Sourced from 100% pasture-raised, grass-fed and grass-finished New Zealand cattle.
  • 100% free of additives, allergens, antibiotics, GMOs, artificial hormones and pesticides.
  • Contains absolutely no fillers or flow agents (such as the silica or brown rice concentrate that’s commonly found in powdered gel capsules).
  • Freeze-dried and non-defatted to ensure pure nose-to-tail nourishment.
  • Packaged in non-toxic glass bottles that are fully recyclable and don’t contribute to the 300 million tons of plastic waste generated every year.
  • Third-party tested to ensure purity and to check for heavy metals.
  • 45-day supply (instead of the 30-day supply offered by other brands).
  • Three-year expiration date.

Plus, since MK Supplements is a family-owned, small-batch producer with minimal marketing and overhead costs, I’m able to offer my beef liver supplements at one of the lowest prices on the market — less than a dollar per serving, which is 10-30% lower than three of the most well-known competitors.

We also offer…

  • Free shipping on all domestic orders of $50 or above.
  • A low $9.99 International shipping flat rate for orders above $75.
  • US and European fulfillment centers (to help you save on import taxes and duties).
  • A full money-back satisfaction guarantee, with free returns.
  • 10% off the regular price when you order using code BLOGLOVE10.

Buy MK Supplements

You can also find MK Supplements on Amazon!

Ancestral Supplements Grass-Fed Beef Liver

Ancestral Organ Supplements
Beef liver is one of many Ancestral Supplements products I’ve used on a regular basis.

Ancestral Supplements’ nose-to-tail product line is always from grass-fed animals that were raised without the use of pesticides, hormones or antibiotics.

What I like about the company is that it produces in small batches but offers a variety of organ meats and beef “byproducts” that you often won’t find anywhere else, including: heart, thyroid, pancreas, spleen, bone marrow, thymus, brain, kidney, trachea, prostate, adrenal, intestines, gallbladder, lung, colostrum, eyes and more.

In other words, the company is literally taking “nose-to-tail” eating to the next level — and I love it.

Ancestral Supplements’ beef liver is carefully processed (freeze-dried), non-defatted, and made from only the best and purest ingredients using cattle from New Zealand.

Buy Ancestral Beef Liver on Amazon

You can also buy directly from Ancestral Supplements, but the price may be slightly higher because of shipping fees.

Enviromedica Pastured Beef Liver

Enviromedica pastured beef liver capsules
When I started supplementing with organ meats two years ago, Enviromedica’s beef liver was the first product I tried.

Enviromedica is at the top of my list of favorite supplement brands because of its unparalleled focus on ingredient quality and clean manufacturing practices. Enviromedica’s facilities are GMP compliant and ISO22716 certified. 

Sourced exclusively from grass-fed, pasture-raised New Zealand bovine, Enviromedica’s beef liver is an abundant source of nutrients including protein, vitamin B6 and B12, folate, choline, copper and hyaluronic acid, and is a concentrated source of preformed vitamin A (retinol).

Additionally, all of the company’s supplements are true-to-label. That means what’s on the label is exactly what’s inside, with no exceptions.

Aside from the trust I have in the brand and the positive experience I’ve had with some of Enviromedica’s other supplements, I like their beef liver tablets because they don’t contain anything but liver and gelatin (for the capsule). 

In other words, the product is free of dairy, wheat, yeast, gluten, corn, sugar, soy, shellfish, tree nuts, stearates, fillers, flow agents or any other potentially irritating ingredients.

And at $1.00 per serving, the supplement is also reasonably priced.

Shop Enviromedica

Make sure to use code HEALTHTECH to get 10% off your purchase.

You can also find Enviromedica on Amazon.

Vital Proteins Beef Liver

Vital Proteins Beef Liver
Vital Proteins Beef Liver.

Vital Proteins’ Beef Liver is also an excellent choice — albeit one that’s priced on the upper end of the spectrum.

From an ingredients perspective, these beef liver pills are comparable to the products from MK Supplements, Ancestral Supplements and Enviromedica. In other words, the liver the company uses is sourced from 100% grass-fed New Zealand cattle.

Buy Vital Proteins Beef Liver on Amazon

You can also shop directly on Vital Proteins’ website.

How Many Nutrients Are In Beef Liver Supplements?

Now that you know how nutritious beef liver is, the million-dollar question is this: How many of those nutrients are retained in freeze-dried beef liver capsules?

Three grams of freeze-dried liver — the standard dosage for liver supplements — contains the same micronutrients as 1 ounce of fresh beef liver.

It also has approximately 2 grams of protein (compared to about 7 grams in one ounce of fresh beef liver) and negligible amounts of fat and carbs.

That’s because the freeze-drying process breaks apart most of the molecules that make up carbs and fat, while retaining 95-97% of the micronutrients (minerals and vitamins).

Who Should Not Supplement With Beef Liver?

Desiccated beef liver supplements are safe for most people, including children and pregnant women. The latter can greatly benefit from the vitamin B9 (folate) in liver, which is much better absorbed and used by the body than the synthetic version (folic acid) found in traditional multivitamins.

However, if you suffer from hemochromatosis, Wilson’s disease or severe hepatitis (liver disease), you should either avoid consuming liver or consume only small amounts, based on the recommendation of your doctor.

Potential Side Effects of Beef Liver Supplementation

Side effects of consuming freeze-dried beef liver are rare, but some of my customers have reported a temporary change in bowel movement or light constipation. You might also experience an optimized detoxing process that could make you feel more fatigued for a few days.

So if you’re new to consuming organ meats, I recommend starting with half the prescribed serving size for a few days before ramping up your intake.

Note that many of my customers take more than the prescribed number of liver capsules without any negative side effects. I usually supplement with 4,500 to 6,000 mg of desiccated beef liver and never experience any problems with vitamin A toxicity or other theoretical issues.

You can learn more about proper vitamin A dosing — and why there’s very low risk of toxicity when using beef liver capsules — in my article on the best vitamin A supplements.

Freeze-Dried Beef Liver for Pets

Our German Shepherd Dog thrives on a raw diet
Our German Shepherd (Rib Eye) loves a mix of muscle meat, organs, bones, fish and egg yolks (from our own hens).

Dogs and cats are carnivores that thrive on a diet consisting of raw muscle meat, organs and bones. But if a raw food diet isn’t in the cards for you, adding freeze-dried beef liver to your furry friend’s diet is a great way to improve their health and well-being. Depending on the size of your pet, you can either feed them the entire capsule(s) or mix the powder from the capsules with their regular food.

For reference, liver can make up approximately 5% of a dog or cat’s meals (by weight). Our German Shepherd weighs 65 pounds as of this writing and eats approximately 38 oz. of raw meat, organs and bones per day.

That means he eats 1.9 ounces of liver per day, which translates into almost 6,000 mg of freeze-dried liver.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it OK that beef liver supplements have greater amounts of certain nutrients than the daily recommended value?

Beef liver has ample amounts of cholesterol, certain minerals, and fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamin A) that can become toxic if ingested in excess amounts.

While it’s true in theory that you can have too much of these nutrients, I don’t see that as being an issue in real life. I don’t know anybody who consumes large amounts of liver every single day.

Doing so would also not mimic the eating habits of our ancestors, because they didn’t have daily access to fresh liver. Plus, any liver they harvested from animal kills had to be split among a tribe of up to 40 members. 

Based on the scientific evidence that I’ve found, it’s perfectly safe to consume between four and eight ounces of liver per week.

Also, dietary cholesterol is not unhealthy and has no impact on blood cholesterol levels. I’ve said that numerous times before on this blog, but I feel like it’s worth repeating.

Why are none of the recommended brands labeled as organic?

100% pasture-raised and grass-fed cows that don’t receive any non-organic or GMO feed are, by definition, organic. However, the gelatin capsules available in the United States aren’t certified organic, which is why the final product cannot be labeled as organic either.

I’ve found only one brand (Grassland) that carried the “organic” label, but that referred to the kelp in the product, not the liver.

Where does the gelatin found in some of the capsules come from?

Gelatin is a protein (similar to collagen) that’s made from boiling skin, tendons, ligaments and/or bones. Most gelatin capsules are made from bovine gelatin.

What is defatted beef liver?

Defatting a beef liver means removing its fat, and with that fat many of the fat-soluble vitamins. That’s why it’s important to choose beef liver supplements that contain non-defatted liver. All of the products I recommend above fall into that category.

Considering that some supplements manufacturers make it a point to mention that the livers they used are non-defatted, it’s reasonable to assume that others use defatted livers. Why someone would want to remove fat from the liver before freeze-drying it is beyond me.

Can you cook or bake with beef liver powder?

At least one of the brands I stumbled across while writing this article also offers beef liver powder, meant for mixing into shakes, cooking or baking. While making a smoothie or shake with desiccated beef liver powder is perfectly fine, I wouldn’t recommend heating it (to avoid destroying the heat-sensitive micronutrients).

Can you use beef liver supplements instead of eating liver?

The best source of nutrients is fresh food. In the case of animal products, that means unprocessed liver sourced from grass-fed, pasture-raised and grass-finished cattle. 

However, if you follow a healthy dietary lifestyle, rich in healthy fats and low in carbs (especially processed carbs), adding organ meats in the form of supplements is your second-best option.

I eat organ meats but probably not as much as I could. That’s why I supplement with beef liver and organ meat pills.

Do you still need to eat veggies if you consume a lot of organ meat?

If you regularly consume sufficient amounts of organ meat, including liver, you’ll get all the nutrients your body requires. So there’s no need to worry about your veggie intake, in my opinion.

More important than getting the required amount of vital nutrients is getting the right and most-usable nutrients. 

Organ meats contain heme iron and retinol (aka the real vitamin A). Plants contain the inferior non-heme iron and beta-carotene (a precursor to vitamin A). Both are examples of nutrients found in plants that the body can’t absorb and use as well as their animal-based counterparts.

I’m not recommending avoiding seasonal fruits and certain veggies (I eat them), but I remain unconvinced as to their importance in the context of human evolution. You can learn more about the differences between meat and plants in this article.

Is beef liver high in tyramine?

Certain foods, such as aged cheese and (aged) liver, contain relatively high levels of tyramine, an amino acid that can cause migraines and high blood pressure in some people. 

The issue is often exacerbated in people who are on certain antidepressants, such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Monoamine oxidase is an enzyme that breaks down excess tyramine in the body. If that process is inhibited by medication, you might end up with elevated levels of tyramine (leading to high blood pressure and migraines).

The good news is that, based on the latest scientific evidence, fresh or freeze-dried liver has relatively low levels of tyramine. Only aged liver has been shown to have high enough levels of tyramine to cause issues and interact negatively with MAOIs.

However, to be on the safe side, if you are taking MAOIs, we recommend having a discussion with a knowledgeable healthcare professional before consuming liver supplements.

Can you find the products recommended in this article on Amazon?

Yes, you can find most of the products I recommend in this article on Amazon. However, some of the brands are small businesses (including my own) and I encourage you to purchase from them directly. Also, none of the discount codes mentioned here work on Amazon (another incentive to buy directly from the brands).

Should you supplement with liver pills if you follow a carnivore diet?

Unless you’re making fresh organ meat (and liver in particular) a regular part of your carnivore diet, I highly recommend supplementing with desiccated liver pills and other organ meat supplements.

I know that some red meat purists don’t care about organs, but I firmly believe that skipping organs deprives your body of the nutrients it needs to perform optimally. I regularly consume fresh organs but still take freeze-dried beef liver capsules every day.

What does the term “desiccated” mean?

In the context of liver supplements, the term “desiccated” simply means “dried out.” In other words, some manufacturers of beef liver supplements use a gentle freeze-drying method to turn raw liver into powdered gel capsules that are tasteless and easy to swallow.

Freeze-drying, as opposed to using high heat during the manufacturing process, ensures that most of the livers’ nutrients remain intact.

Can you take beef liver capsules instead of a traditional multivitamin?

Yes, absolutely! Most multivitamin supplements are made using synthetic ingredients that are different from the vitamins and minerals that occur in nature. That makes synthetic products poorly absorbed. However, liver contains nature-identical nutrients that are highly bioavailable and well-absorbed. I stopped taking store-bought multivitamins when I introduced liver into my diet.

Are there any other supplements you recommend besides liver?

Besides consuming fresh and freeze-dried liver (and other organ meats), I also take a high-quality magnesium supplement before going to bed, which helps relieve stress and improve my sleep.

Is liver good if you suffer from anemia or a low red blood cell count?

Yes, liver is an excellent source of heme-iron and other micronutrients that support your body in the creation of red blood cells.

Is liver a superfood?

Yes! In comparison to kale, broccoli or chia seeds, I consider liver an actual superfood that has none of the toxins (i.e., antinutrients) that other “superfoods” have.

Can supplementing with beef liver capsules improve your liver health?

I strongly believe that consuming organ meats is beneficial to your organs because of the specific nutrients they contain. In addition to vitamins and minerals, liver contains liver-specific peptides, co-factors and other nutrients (some of which we might not even be aware of yet) that are essential to nourish your own liver. It’s an ancient concept known as “like supports like.”

Can you eat beef liver on a keto diet?

Fresh liver contains carbs in the form of glycogen, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have it on a ketogenic diet — depending on the amount of other carbs you consume. If you’re already close to your daily carb limit, I recommend considering freeze-dried beef liver because it contains only residual amounts of carbs.

What’s the best time to take beef liver supplements?

As with consuming fresh liver, I don’t think there is a perfect time to supplement with beef liver capsules. I usually take mine with the first meal of the day. Some people prefer splitting the serving size into two, and that’s fine but not necessary.

If you practice intermittent fasting, keep in mind that freeze-dried beef liver has some protein, which might break your fast.

Are beef liver supplements good for you?

Yes, grass-fed beef liver supplements are full of essential and highly-bioavailable nutrients your body needs to thrive. That’s why I consider beef liver nature’s ultimate multivitamin.

Can beef liver supplements interact with medications?

As a whole-food supplement, beef liver is generally safe to consume together with medications. But it’s always a good idea to double-check with your doctor.

Can you take beef liver supplements while pregnant or nursing?

Yes, you absolutely can — but I’d recommend consulting your Ob/Gyn to adjust the dosage of your prenatal vitamins, if necessary. For a detailed breakdown of the nutrients in beef liver, check out the nutrition section of this article.

How long does it take for beef liver supplements to start working?

Depending on your nutritional deficiencies, it usually takes a few days to a week before you’ll notice improvements.

Do beef liver supplements contain omega fatty acids?

Yes, grass-fed beef liver supplements contain approximately 174 mg of omega-3 fatty acids per serving (3 grams).

Wrap-Up: The Best Beef Liver Capsules

Kummer family having dinner with beef liver capsules in foreground
The Kummer tribe consumes fresh and freeze-dried organ meats every day.

There are many health benefits of eating organ meat, which has been an essential part of human nutrition for millions of years. Unfortunately, the combination of our modern lifestyles and the industrialization of food has removed this nutritional powerhouse from the plates of most people. 

The results of our modern eating habits are a dramatic increase in metabolic disease and obesity rates, as well as widespread deficiencies of essential vitamins and minerals. So it’s time to reverse that course and to start nourishing our bodies with the foods we are genetically primed to consume.

While I highly recommend trying to get pasture-raised organ meat (including liver) back on the dinner table, I also understand that this isn’t as easy for everyone as I might make it sound. 

At the Kummer household, we started including liver in our diet a few years ago. But we still don’t consume the variety and amount of organ meat that we should.

That’s why I believe including the right supplements on top of a solid dietary framework — even if that doesn’t yet include the regular consumption of organ meat — is an excellent idea.

Medical Disclaimer

The information shared on this blog is for educational purposes only, is not a substitute for the advice of medical doctors or registered dieticians (which we are not) and should not be used to prevent, diagnose, or treat any condition. Consult with a physician before starting a fitness regimen, adding supplements to your diet, or making other changes that may affect your medications, treatment plan or overall health. MichaelKummer.com and its owner MK Media Group, LLC are not liable for how you use and implement the information shared here, which is based on the opinions of the authors formed after engaging in personal use and research. We recommend products, services, or programs and are sometimes compensated for doing so as affiliates. Please read our Terms and Conditions for further information, including our privacy policy.

72 thoughts on “The 4 Best Grass-Fed Beef Liver Supplements”

  1. Hi MK,

    How many ounces per week of liver does the recommended number of daily capsules equate to? I’ve been having trouble finding that online. For example, if I’m taking 4 capsules/3,000mg each day – is that equivalent to roughly 3oz a week?

    Reply
    • Hey JC,

      3 grams of our freeze-dried organ meat capsules have the same micronutrients as 1 ounce of fresh organ meat. So if you consumed 7×3 (21 grams) of freeze-dried organs per week, it’d be the equivalent of 7 oz of fresh organs.

      Reply
  2. Hi Michael,

    Is there saturated fat and cholesterol in the pill supplement form, just like there is in actual prepared beef liver? Or is there a substantial decrease in those elements with the pills? I currently take your beef liver supplement’s and am a big believer in the health benefits. I also cook it occasionally.

    Reply
  3. Could you clarify how many mg of iron is in one serve (or 3000mg) of dried liver? I noticed you listed all the vitamins and minerals, but not iron (which is the part I’m particularly interested in) – unless I missed this somehow? Many thanks.

    Reply
    • Hi Lauren!

      The table actually shows the amount of iron in one ounce of liver as 1.4 mg — one ounce of fresh liver is the equivalent of 3 grams of freeze-dried liver.

      Cheers,
      Michael

      Reply
  4. hi there,
    I have a freeze dryer and i am going to make my own capsules. I have went over the web looking to see if I can freeze dry raw or must be cooked. lots of mixed answers. most say there’s still risk of getting ill from either parasites or bacteria unless cooked. weston price says if frozen for two weeks then in the clear but there’s debate about that as well. what do you suggest?
    thank you,
    -stacy

    Reply
    • Hi Stacy,

      It’s true that consuming raw (uncooked) organs carry a risk of disease. That’s why it’s important to source your organs from farms and butchers who handle them accordingly. The same goes for handling the organs at home. Freezing meat and organs for two keeps kills some but not all pathogens. For example, salmonella can survive in the freezer.

      However, if you cook the liver before freeze-drying it, you destroy some of the heat-sensitive nutrients. That’s why I have my capsules tested in a lab to ensure their safety.

      That said, I regularly consume raw organs at home because I trust their source. So you’ll have to make the call whether it’s worth the hassle and risk of making capsules at home vs. buying them from companies like mine.

      Cheers,
      Michael

      Reply
    • Hi Tuuka,

      there is K2 in liver but as far as I know, the daily recommended value hasn’t been established. In other words, we don’t know how much you need exactly. That’s why I said N/A in the DV % column.

      Cheers,
      Michael

      Reply
    • Hi Shree,

      one serving of MK Supplements Grass-Fed Beef Liver has about 20% DV of folate (Vitamin B9). Depending on your diet, you might need some more and I’d recommend checking with your OBGYN how much folate (not the synthetic folic acid) you need.

      Cheers,
      Michael

      Reply
    • Hi Rewa,

      If you’re an adult, you can take 3 grams as well (that’s 4 – 6 capsules, depending on the manufacturer). My wife weighs 110 lb and takes 4 capsules of my supplement (that’s 3 grams of liver).

      Cheers,
      Michael

      Reply
        • Hi Jolene,

          yes, my wife takes it daily and so do our kids. Consuming organ meats (fresh or freeze-dried) on a daily basis is perfectly safe, unless you suffer from a preexisting condition that would prevent you from metabolizing some of the vitamins or minerals in liver.

          Cheers,
          Michael

          Reply
  5. Thanks for the article and the suggestions. I really appreciate you coming out with glass bottles instead of plastic!

    You mentioned a concern in the processing of liver, that heat drying is worse than freeze-drying because the liver loses some of its nutrients but also that eating fresh liver is the best option. Wouldn’t cooking liver at home also affect its nutrients? So why would heat-drying be worse? Trying to understand the scientific difference between cooking at home, freeze-dried liver pills and heat-dried pills.

    Reply
    • Hey Ian,

      yeah, cooking liver will also degrade some of the heat-sensitive micronutrients. That’s why I fry only the outside and leave the inside as pink as possible when I make pate at home.

      To get the most nutrients out of the liver, you’d have to eat it raw as I did during the last Thanksgiving dinner :)

      But there is obviously a risk of food-borne pathogens by doing so. That’s why I pop one or two capsules even on days where I eat cooked liver.

      Cheers,
      Michael

      Reply
  6. I see a lot of claims but almost no peer reviewed scientific studies. I think there’s probably a net benefit in most cases, but how can you really be sure if you don’t have experimental data to back it up. I think it is best to consult with your doctor before taking this supplement.

    Reply
    • Consult a doctor? Why? So he can steer you toward big pharma products that instead of supporting and healing you at the cellular level actually just mask your symptoms, toxify your body and cause chronic illness and disease?
      Wake up, bro.
      Big pharma medicine is a for-profit, turn-key operation that doesn’t take your long-term well-being into account.

      Reply
      • Hi Steve,
        Supplements are also “for-profit”. Welcome to capitalism.
        “Big Pharma” also includes all supplements sold anywhere. We all want the most natural and best nutrition sources, but to think that doctors are any more evil than a company selling you vitamins is paranoid.

        Reply
  7. Is there a chicken liver supplement or something? I’d like my family to start eating more liver but they don’t eat beef so I’m not sure what to do at this point.

    Reply
  8. Thanks for the informative article! We have been buying Ancestral Supplements and I’m pleased to see it on your list. I noticed you say you take 1 capsule (of one of the above products) per day. Ancestral’s dose is 6. I’m a smaller woman, so I decided I’d take less because I’d eat a smaller serving if I were eating it on my plate AND I dont take it every day, because I wouldn’t eat liver every day. My question is, based on your research, does that make sense to you? Does it make sense to take the supplements a few times per week rather than every day? And maybe a smaller quantity if you aren’t a 180# male? Thanks

    Reply
    • Hi Anne,

      where in the article do I say to take only 1 capsule a day? I couldn’t find it but if I say so, it’s a typo :)

      I eat an ounce or so of liver (fresh or freeze-dried) almost every day but also try to mix it up with other organ meats (from Ancestral Supplements). I’d try to eat small amounts of liver several times (3-4x) a week and then mix in other organs.

      Cheers,
      Michael

      Reply
  9. Great info. Since e coli can survive freezing temps, do you know if it is possible for e coli to survive in the freeze dried liver powder supplements?

    Reply
    • Hi Ann,

      Yes, that’s possible but highly unlikely. Plus, the livers are usually tested for common pathogens before being processed. So I don’t think you should be concerned about an E.coli contamination in liver supplements.

      Cheers,
      Michael

      Reply
  10. Hello, and thank you for your article. I have some questions ….mostly about the amount of fresh liver and nutrients per serving of the 6 liver capsules. If the liver loses average of two thirds of its weight during the drying process……6 capsules equaling 3 grams of dry weight….would mean that each serving would be equivalent to 15 grams of fresh weight. My question is …How does this equate to the nutrients being equal to 1 ounce of fresh liver….ie 1 ounce is 28.3495 grams. I have reached out to Ancestral Supplements about this….great company, Brian very approachable and willing to answer questions. But he told me the same thing……one serving ..(6 capsules, weight 3grams is equal to the nutrients in 1 ounce of fresh liver……they measure by nutrient content)…..this makes no sense to me. 15 grams of freah liver cannot contain the same amount of nutrients as 28 grams.
    I have actually dried some liver and weighed it before and after and it does actually lose roughly two thirds of its weight…….If you know of any answers to this I would very much like your opinion….I think it is an important point because of the amount of vitamin A in liver

    Reply
    • Sorry….I meant ..every serving of 6 capsules consisting 3 grams dry weight liver would equal 9 grams fresh liver . Not 15 grams fresh liver as I mentioned above

      Reply
      • Hi Candi,

        one ounce of fresh liver has about 6 grams of protein, 1 gram of carbs and 1 gram of fat. So assuming none of the macronutrients are lost during the freeze-drying process, the capsules should have about 8 grams (and not 3).

        So yeah, good question and it doesn’t make any sense. I’ll try to find out more!

        Cheers,
        Michael

        Reply
        • Thankyou…..this issue has been been realy bugging me. I’ve been low on iron and want to use the liver caps to try and correct that but I don’t want to either overdo or underdo it

          Reply
          • Here is the explanation from Ancestral Supplements: When freeze-drying the macronutrients are also concentrated. The Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen molecules in carbohydrates and fats for example bond closer together and some of the hydrogen and oxygen are dried out. The micronutrients stay mostly intact and that’s why we say 1 ounce of fresh liver is equivalent to 6 capsules of our organs supplements.

  11. Thank you for writing this all out. I have been dealing with low Vitamin B12 levels the last year and my general doctor told me to start taking B12 supplements. Shortly after taking B12 (methylcobalamin) supplements, my arms broke out with pretty nasty acne that wouldn’t clear, and this also ended up on my chest and stomach (in smaller quantities). I believe that this was caused by the supplement, but haven’t been able to prove it. My question to you would be if you thought a Beef Liver supplement would cause similar reaction? Does my body process it differently than it would a B12 supplement? I’ve been trying to find a solution, because taking the B12 supplements did help in many other ways, but the breakouts on my arms were too much to continue taking them.

    Reply
    • Hi Jason,

      generally speaking, your body absorbs micronutrients from real food better and more efficiently than from synthetic sources. I have never heard about issues with Vitamin B12 from liver (freeze-dried or fresh), so I’d definitely give that a try.

      Cheers,
      Michael

      Reply
  12. Hi Michael,
    Thanks for the great info. The discount code for Enviromedica Beef Liver has expired. Do you have a new one?

    Reply
      • The energy boost of Grass fed organic Beef liver capsules is incredible. I have just started taking them and the boost in energy you get is like nothing I have ever experienced. Also, how much K2 is in there, because correct me if I am wrong, K2 moves the calcium out of the arteries into the bones. Very good for heart health and bones?

        Reply
        • Hi Bert,

          one ounce of beef liver (or 3 grams of freeze-dried liver) has approximately 3-4 mg of K2 which helps get calcium into bones and teeth, among other benefits!

          Cheers,
          Michael

          Reply
  13. I’ve been severely anemic and also have a copper deficiency. Infusions haven’t helped and I want to have a baby. Trying anything I can except I can’t eat liver. Just ordered the supplements. Think it’ll
    Help increase rbc and deficiencies?!

    Reply
  14. This article was exactly what I was looking for, lots of helpful information! I’m convalescing from a nasty bout of Covid, and am looking for ways to support my body and regain some much needed energy. I’m thinking organ meats would be effective. It’s so important to me to trust the companies I buy animal products from. Thanks so much for sharing your findings.

    Reply
  15. Hi Michael,

    I have a question about dosage. On the packing on Ancestral it is recommended to take at least 6 pills per day or what is suggested by a healthcare provider. What is your suggestion? I’ve read from previous people who consume 3 pills per day.

    Thank you!

    Reply
  16. what are your thoughts on daily vitamin supplements and liver supplements in the same day. I was thinking if i start to take a liver supplement skipping some of the other ones that i would normally take that day? then on the days i dont take the liver i’d take my normal regimen of daily vitamins?

    Reply
  17. If I eat zero liver per week, how often should I supplement? Many of those brands suggest daily but, like you mentioned, that might be a little much and not in line with ancestral patterns.

    Reply
    • Hi Leroi,

      I think taking a 3g serving every day is just fine. In fact, that’s what I do on days where I don’t eat liver. It’s not in line with ancestral eating habits but neither is having regular meals :) So I wouldn’t overthink it. What I mean by that is to have a serving every day while supplies last. When you travel or go on vacation, don’t bring the supps and don’t worry about stocking enough for a continuous supply. I use them when I have them and don’t when I don’t.

      Cheers,
      Michael

      Reply
  18. Great article. Can I ask why perfect supplements didn’t make the list? They first introduced me to desiccated liver, even before I changed my eating habits, and it definitely improved my health and energy. Now I am interested in other brands that carry different organs as well, but I have always been happy with perfect supplements. Plus if you buy a bunch at once, you can’t beat the price.

    Reply
    • Hi Casie,

      mostly because I didn’t know about that brand when I wrote the article and I never tried their products :) But I mentioned their liver powder in the FAQ. From what I can tell, their product is a perfectly fine choice!

      Reply
  19. Great article man. Ive been eating liver regularly for the past year. Beef liver is my least favourite in taste, lamb liver is much better and chicken liver is delicious. Im gonna assume chicken liver is not as nutrient/mineral dense as the former two though… I’ve also had kidneys a few times and even a lambs brain curry!

    I am travelling a lot at the moment and finding it hard to source and work organ meats into the diet, so I will be buying supplements. I have few questions though.

    1. If I eat real liver once in the week, do I still need to supplement that week as well? If so how much?
    2. Should I be considering both liver supplement and other organ supplements alongside it to? I also take bone broth drink everyday. I don’t want to overdo it.
    3. If no organ meat is consumed in the week I am assuming I should take organ meat supplements everyday?

    Thanks again for this beaut article

    Reply
    • Hi Hank,

      1) It depends on the amount of liver you eat. Liver has a lot of fat-soluble vitamins that can be toxic if consumed in larger amounts. So if you eat a couple of ounces a liver once a week, I wouldn’t worry about liver supplements on the remaining days.
      2) I’d definitely considering eating other organs as well. But if that isn’t an option, I’d use supplements. That’s what I do because I find it harder to source kidneys, heart, pancreas…than liver.
      3) That’s what I do.

      Cheers,
      Michael

      Reply
    • Hi Steve,

      I’m not a medical doctor and I don’t know the details of your bloodwork. However, I can tell you that elevated LDL is not an issue for most people if you eat well (high fat, low carb, no seed oils). My LDL is elevated too and I take the MOFO supplements.

      Cheers,
      Michael

      Reply
    • Hi Patrick,

      you can take liver supps anytime, with or without a meal. Just be aware that liver supplements break your fast because they contain protein, fat and carbs. So if you fast intermittently, take them after breaking your fast.

      Reply
  20. Great article. After reading I was inspired to begin utilizing a liver supplement since the presence of liver has been non-existent in my diet for the majority of my life.

    Reply

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