Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I have been making a pate from beef liver (grass fed) mushrooms and onion, and it is delicious! I thought I had bragging rights and was offering to share but my friends and family refuse to even try it because they believe that I am eating the toxins that are stored in the liver. I think they are stored in the fat. A Google search turns up lots of (bogus) ads for liver detox and I haven't been able to find what I am looking for. Can anyone help? Thanks! Wobur

edited Nov 29 2010 at 16:49

gilliebean♦
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asked Nov 29 2010 at 15:56

wobur
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Can you post the recipe? – Alex Nov 29 2010 at 16:51

Yeah, me too, the recipe! That grassfed liver is kinda stringy. – Eva Nov 30 2010 at 4:31

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Alex, the 'recipe' is a compilation of all of the recipes I found on line. I fried one pound of trimmed and chopped beef liver in butter for about 3 mins. I added a lb of chopped, cooked mushrooms and a with a large onion and put it all in the food processor along with half a cube of GF butter. I added salt, pepper, and a little brandy to taste. I will add herbs or whatever strikes my fancy when as I defrost each 1/2 cup serving from the freezer. So far I just added chopped green onions, a touch more brandy and yumm! – wobur Nov 30 2010 at 14:38

Yum. I just cooked the biggest slab of pork liver ever and maybe pate is what I should do with the rest of it. Sounds really good. – Diane Jul 9 at 15:17

Jay · Answer 1 · 2010-11-29 17:00:57Z UTC

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I didn't see any references, but the author is generally pretty good. http://thehealthyskeptic.org/natures-most-potent-superfood

Ok, I did a little research for you on google scholar (the search engine to use to avoid all the nonsense). I found a few interesting studies, but didn't spend much time. He's what I found:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1277511/

http://www.springerlink.com/content/r457kh30458765k5/

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1745-4573.1997.tb00626.x/abstract

edited Nov 29 2010 at 17:00

answered Nov 29 2010 at 16:37

Jay
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Nice. Your first says it all: "While it is true that one of the liver’s role is to neutralize toxins (such as drugs, chemical agents and poisons), it does not store these toxins. Toxins the body cannot eliminate are likely to accumulate in the body’s fatty tissues and nervous systems. On the other hand, the liver is a is a storage organ for many important nutrients (vitamins A, D, E, K, B12 and folic acid, and minerals such as copper and iron)." – Ambimorph Nov 29 2010 at 20:22

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It says it but just cause a blogger says it doesn't make it so. That's why I tried to find what he was basing it on (other than entry-level anatomy intuition). I found some studies that suggest liver does have some more toxins than muscle meat but still at acceptable levels. – Jay Nov 29 2010 at 22:57

Thanks, Jay. Intersting reads. – wobur Nov 30 2010 at 14:40

Bruno · Answer 2 · 2010-12-08 23:11:46Z UTC

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Pate, too delicious for trace toxins to matter, I think!

answered Dec 8 2010 at 23:11

Bruno
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erin · Answer 3 · 2010-11-29 16:34:08Z UTC

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070912/news_lz1f12focus.html

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=129

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/198/is-liver-good-for-you-isnt-it-full-of-pesticides

an interesting cross section of articles basically saying that a grass fed, organically raised beef liver is indeed good for you.

Cheryl - Diabetes Bootcamp · Answer 4 · 2010-11-29 16:32:10Z UTC

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If you were eating conventionally raised meat - a definite YES that there are toxins in the liver and fat. Organs are the "processing plants" of the body, so whatever the animal ate that wasn't "clean" gets processed through liver pancreas, brain, etc. and GETS CONCENTRATED.

The best you can do is either make your own from sources you trust to be clean, organic, and grass-fed (not just grass-finished) or imported from France (esp.) as their growing practices more closely align with the natural methods just mentioned.

answered Nov 29 2010 at 16:32

Cheryl - Diabetes Bootcamp
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I don't think this is true. Liver removes toxins but doesn't store them. Do you have any references to back up your claims? – Jay Nov 29 2010 at 16:35

Agreed they don't store. – Aaron Curl Nov 29 2010 at 16:37

When a mammals liver cannot metabolize the toxins, it WILL store them. You are correct under normal circumstances, but I am assuming that factory farmed cows are not under anything that's normal. The literature will say that the liver doesn't store toxins, read on and see under what cirumstances storage (or lack of metabolism) exists and that's when an organ is inflammed. – Cheryl - Diabetes Bootcamp Nov 30 2010 at 6:50

I will argue until blue in the face......i eat toxic livers then....do you? Bullshit! After the animal is dead IT IS NOT TOXIC to the consumer! – Aaron Curl Nov 30 2010 at 8:12

I don't trust factory raised beef in general, so their liver isn't tempting to me in any case, but it could be more psychological than scientific. Good link, Cheryl, thanks! – wobur Nov 30 2010 at 14:45

show 1 more comment

Aaron Curl · Answer 5 · 2010-11-29 16:36:20Z UTC

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The toxins in animal liver will not hurt humans when they consume it. Many cultures eat/use the ENTIRE (heart,liver,feet,tongues,eyeballs) animal when it is killed. The organ meats are the finest(most nutrient dense) parts of any animal!

answered Nov 29 2010 at 16:36

Aaron Curl
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Many cultures eat that same liver raw pulled straight from the fresh kill. – Eva Nov 30 2010 at 4:32

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Those cultures aren't eating organs from mega farms! – wobur Nov 30 2010 at 14:42

Nick Carroll · Answer 6 · 2010-12-08 04:31:52Z UTC

Wouldn't most if not all of the toxic materials from the liver leave the body in fecal matter? If i remember anything from biology class it is that the toxins and waste in your body get expelled from your urine, - such as excess glucose - the nose through mucus, fecal matter and even through your skin. Also i do not personally believe that your body would store toxic materials instead of getting rid of them. If anything the amount of toxins in the liver of a dead animal at any one point should be minimal as to where your immune system should be able to handle it anyway. Not to mention that if the animal is in a fight or flight response, the digestive process stops and any toxins in the liver (by my own speculation) should still go through the chemical reactions that remove the toxins in the liver to another location making the liver have even less toxins. Considering this is the state that most animals go into when they are hunted, Liver in my opinion is a safe food.

Liz P · Answer 7 · 2010-12-08 22:53:34Z UTC

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Sally Fallon reccommends soaking liver in vinegar for a bit. Check out Nourishing Traditions.

Cheers,

Liz

answered Dec 8 2010 at 22:53

Liz P
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Are toxins stored in beef liver or in beef fat?

7 Answers