Are you looking for information about acai and goji berries, flax or chia seeds? Keep moving because this isn’t it. These superfoods come from animals.
Do you think you could guess which of the two options I would choose if you left me on an island without any plants or animal food for my survival?
Let me give you a hint. It would be the most nutritious food.
This post is meant to give a quick overview of some of the incredible health benefits of foods often demonized in mainstream media. This post is not intended to be an exhaustive explanation of the reasons we should eat these foods.
Eggs: Whole eggs, and especially yolks.
Media and marketing hype has kept us away from essential nutrients. This began in 1984 when Time Magazine published an article speculating on dietary cholesterol and fats’ health effects.
It turned out that there wasn’t enough research to support this claim. However, as a nation, we were scared of one of the most delicious foods in nature!
Gary Taubes refuted that article and the mainstream demonization of fat in general in his New York Times Magazine article “What if It’s All Been a Big Fat Lie?”.
It is important to remember that cholesterol consumption is not only good for your body but also recommended to maintain a healthy hormone balance.
What’s so special about eggs?
Choline is essential to cell membrane integrity, nerve–to-muscle communication and optimal liver function. Eggs are high in choline. Eggs are rich in vitamin A, iron (B2) and selenium. Eggs are a great source of nutrients!
Liver: Your grandmother used to cook it every day for good reasons!
Many people believe that the liver is the detoxifying and filtering organ of the body. Therefore, many people mistakenly believe it is full of toxic substances and shouldn’t be eaten. It is not true! Although the liver completes these processes, the toxins are eliminated and not stored in animals’ livers.
Indeed, liver from pastured and grass-fed animals (pastured when necessary) is healthier than liver from non-pastured animals. These livers are rich in B vitamins, vitamin A, iron, and other vital nutrients for our health.
Are you hungry for more?
You can find my simple recipe for chicken liver pate right here.
Beef is a grass-fed beef, high in omega-3 fatty acids and CLA (the fat-burning fat).
Did you know that red meat that has been grazed on grass pasture throughout their lives is rich in bioavailable nutrients (easy to digest and absorb by the body), protein and vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, iron and zinc?
Moreover, 100% grass-fed beef tends to have a lower fat content than its grain-fed counterpart.
Farmers use corn, soy, and grains to fatten cattle in a short time frame, so it is less costly to produce them. 100% grass-fed beef packs a powerful nutritional punch and has fewer calories than grain-fed beef. This is better for the cow and better for you.
Lard is rich in vitamin D, heat-stable and is my top choice for cooking and nutrients.
Mary Enig, the author of “Know Your Fats”, says that lard (fat made from pork) contains about 50% monounsaturated fatty acids. This is the same type as olive oil!
Lard is also a rich source of vitamin D. This nutrient is so hard to obtain from food, and in climates with little sunshine all year, many nutritionists and doctors recommend it as a supplement.
The solid-at-room temperature of lard visually shows us what the chemistry indicates: it is also rich in saturated fats.
Once thought harmful to our health, Saturated fats have been proven to be healthier than highly refined seed oils.
Artificial seed oils, high in saturated fats and not naturally occurring, are more susceptible to heat, light, or air damage. It is always better to cook with more saturated fats, which are more stable and less likely to be damaged.
