Liver is part of the offal family. The word offal refers to the organs within an animal. The term comes from the phrase “off fall”, which is the meat that has fallen off during butchering.

Thankfully, offal is starting to gain popularity, through its resurgence in the culinary world. Cable TV shows, like Food Network, feature chefs that cook up organ meats as a part of fine cuisine. Chef Michael Symon, a Cleveland based chef, even sports an “I Love Offal” t-shirt on occasion. Offal may be an up-and-coming trend, but the truth is that eating organ meats, namely liver, is something that people have been doing for centuries.

Liver: Nature’s multi-vitamin

Before I begin to discuss the nutritional benefits, let me first state that any liver that you purchase should be from hormone-free pastured animals (pastured is another name for grass fed). The quality of this meat is safe and nutrient dense, and with the correct ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 fatty acids.

Liver is very high in B vitamins, especially B12 and folic acid. B vitamins promote a healthy nervous system, sound sleep, mental sharpness and healthy energy levels. They also help to keep depression at bay. Folic acid is a B vitamin essential to good health, especially during pregnancy. It’s needed to prevent neural tube defects in babies, such as spina bifida, an incomplete closure of the spinal cord and spinal column. Studies have proven that women getting at least 400mcg of folic acid per day, prior to conception, reduce the chance of neural tube defects by as much as 70 percent.

Liver is not just rich in B vitamins. Along with egg yolks, raw milk and raw butter, liver is an excellent source of vitamin A. Proper vitamin A levels are needed for healthy eyes and skin, healthy bones and teeth, sex organ development and a healthy reproductive system.

Vitamin A works with vitamin K2, present in pastured dairy, for added bone health. For added nutritional support, serve liver with a pat of pastured butter for better absorption.

A higher intake of vitamin A is essential during pregnancy, despite the conventional belief that high amounts of vitamin A cause birth defects. Most of this flawed conventional view is based on a 1995 paper written by Dr. Kenneth Rothman of Boston University. This paper showed that consuming more than 10,000 IU of vitamin A per day significantly increased the chances of birth defects. The major flaw with this study was that the vitamin A in question was synthetic and the “foods” mentioned in the study were most likely fortified with synthetic vitamin A.

Pregnant women have been eating foods naturally high in vitamin A for centuries with no ill effects, long before the FDA existed. Rather than relying on a prenatal, get your vitamins the natural way through nutrient dense foods and quality supplements like fermented cod liver oil or butter oil.

Iron, like vitamin A, should be part of every pregnant woman’s vitamin arsenal, and liver is one of the best bio-available sources out there. Iron keeps you healthy by transferring oxygen to your blood. It assists in proper fetal brain development and is critical for a healthy immune system. If you are anemic and are thinking about having a child, rather than investing in iron supplements or fortified foods, you should invest in a plentiful source of pastured liver.

Liver contains an unnamed anti-fatigue factor that makes it an amazing food for everyone, especially expectant mothers. Benjamin K. Ershoff, PhD, referenced this factor in a 1951 article published in the Proceedings for the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. Pregnancy taxes a woman’s energy, so be sure to eat liver at least two to three times per week for an added energy boost, in addition to its other wonderful nutrients.

Liver for Dinner

Many of you may still shudder at childhood memories of choking down tough, rubbery liver, followed by chants of “It’s good for you.” The truth is when liver is properly prepared, it’s as delicious as it is nutritious. Liver and its vitamins are very heat sensitive, so overcooking is a definite no no. Always cook your liver rare or medium rare to preserve the nutrients. Not only is it better for you, but it’s tastier. Soaking liver in lemon juice or milk helps to remove that characteristic liver taste that makes people cringe.

Still can’t stomach the taste of liver? You can easily sneak this into your meals by adding it to ground meat, such as chili, or making a pate with fresh herbs. Grass fed natural liverwurst is also a tasty alternative. Make your own liverwurst spread! (See recipe at the end of this article.) For an even more potent option, freeze small pieces of liver and add a pea-sized amount to a vegetable-based capsule, and voila; you have your own liver supplement.

Mother Nature provides a nutritional powerhouse in liver. Expectant mothers have been indulging in this superfood for centuries. You owe it to yourself and to your child to add this food to your pre-conception and pregnancy regimen.

Liverwurst Spread

Ingredients:

8 ounces grassfed liverwurst
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
8 ounces full fat cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup full fat sour cream (preferably raw)
2 cloves garlic, minced

Fresh thyme and sage
2 pastured hard boiled eggs, chopped
1 tsp coarsely ground black pepper or to taste

½ tsp of Celtic or unrefined sea salt or to taste
1/3 cup chopped kalamata olives

Directions:

Place liverwurst and dry mustard in food processor; process until smooth.

Add cream cheese, sour cream, garlic and hard boiled eggs; mix until well combined.

Fold in the black pepper, thyme, sage, salt, kalamata olives with a spatula.

Chill spread for at least one day to let the flavors blend. It’s best to make the spread at least a day in advance.

Use this as a tasty dip for raw veggies.

Article by Taheerah Barney http://360nourishment.com

Infertility rates are on the rise in the US; a disturbing trend in recent years. According to the Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org), “Researchers estimate a 20 percent increase in the last decade, with an estimated 7.3 million American couples currently facing infertility.” Possibly even more shocking is that women are having more and more difficulty conceiving at younger ages than in the past. One of the main reasons for increased infertility is widespread iodine deficiency.

Iodine and the thyroid

Iodine is a crucial supplement that we need for good health. Each cell in our body has iodine receptors; iodine is detected in every organ and tissue in the body. Iodine is especially necessary for healthy breasts and ovaries.

Iodine is mostly associated with thyroid function, but its role goes much deeper than that. The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland inside the front of the lower neck. The thyroid helps to regulate your metabolism. Iodine is needed by the thyroid to produce the thyroid hormones T4 and T3. Low levels of these thyroid hormones have been linked to an increase in estrogen, also known as estrogen dominance. Estrogen dominance is directly linked to iodine deficiency. Imbalanced levels of estrogen can lead to irregular menstrual cycles and lack of ovulation. These conditions can make getting pregnant difficult if not impossible.

Iodine deficiency and infertility

Estrogen is one of the main sex hormones in a woman’s body. Estrogen actually exists in three different forms: estrone (E1), estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3). E1 and E2 are dominant in women of childbearing ages; E3 is the least prevalent of the three. Estrogen dominance occurs when there are significantly higher levels of E1 and E2 in relation to E3. This imbalance can cause women to develop ovarian cysts, which can lead to infertility. Iodine maintains a delicate estrogen balance by converting excess amounts of E1 and E2 into E3.

Estrogen dominance also causes PCOS, known as polycystic ovarian syndrome. PCOS is a condition that plagues about 5 to 10 percent of the female population, and is a leading cause of infertility. The majority of these afflicted women have ovarian cysts.

Supplying your body with sufficient iodine also helps to protect you from breast and ovarian cancer. As I mentioned before, iodine increases E3 which prevents ovarian cysts. Some ovarian cysts over time can turn into malignant cancer tumors. Iodine also prevents breast cysts from forming. Breast cysts, like ovarian cysts, can also turn malignant. Henry Lemon, M.D., a women’s cancer specialist, conducted a study on 150 close relatives of breast cancer patients. Researchers found that the majority of these relatives had lower E3 levels and elevated E1 and E2 levels than women with no family history of breast cancer. His research also revealed that E3 improves your white blood cells’ ability to devour viruses, bacteria and cancer cells.

E3 levels are highest during pregnancy, rising by as much as 1,000 times or more.

E3 is the reason why women who have given birth significantly lower their risk of breast cancer compared to those who have never had a child.

How can I get more iodine?

The RDA for iodine is 150mcg, which is the bare minimum to prevent goiter (swelling of the thyroid). Iodine is needed in the mg (milligrams) amount by the breasts and the ovaries alone. Iodized salt is a poor source of iodine because it contains lows levels of non bio-available iodine.

Natural food sources of iodine include raw dairy, organic sea kelp and seaweed, eggs, seafood and fish eggs, all of which nourish the thyroid. Foods that impair thyroid function and iodine absorption are non-fermented soy (tofu, edamame, etc), flour and brominated vegetable oil (an ingredient in Gatorade and Mountain Dew). Fermenting soy significantly reduces the thyroid inhibiting compounds or goitrogens. All flour contains bromide unless it specifically states that it is unbromated; in the 1980s bakers started using potassium bromate to condition dough instead of iodine. Bromide and iodine are both halogens and they compete for the same receptors within your body. Bromide will kick out any iodine present in your body and vice versa. Many countries, including the UK and Canada, have banned the use of potassium bromate.

If you are thinking about conceiving, limit or eliminate these food sources. If you are severely deficient, you will likely have to supplement until you build up healthy iodine levels. Even if you are slightly deficient, it can several months up to a year to replenish healthy iodine stores.

Before taking any iodine supplements, you should test your current levels. The iodine loading test is a popular test that you can order online. If you decide to take an iodine supplement, be sure to take one that contains a combination of iodine and iodide, such as Iodoral. An ideal daily level of iodine is 3 to 12.5mg per day. For more detailed information, please visit Dr. Brownstein’s site at www.drbrownstein.com.

Iodine for Healthy Brains

Iodine feeds your child’s developing brain. Thyroid hormones are transferred from the mother to the fetus; impaired thyroid function can be passed on to the baby via iodine deficiency or goiter. Iodine deficiency can potentially damage fetal development in the first half of pregnancy and cause mental retardation in the child. It can lower IQ by as much as 15 points in the mother and child, as well as causing impaired movement, speech and/or hearing. A traditional diet increases saturated fat intake and saturated fat increases the need for iodine.

Iodine reduces stillbirths and miscarriages

As previously mentioned, iodine aids fertility and overall brain health. Iodine also helps pregnant women significantly reduce the risks of miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery and birth defects.

Iodine is a useful substance that will greatly benefit you, especially if you are considering conceiving. Iodine will aid in your reproductive health, while encouraging healthy brain development for your child. Part II of this series will explore iodine’s role in male fertility and libido, ADD and autism.

Article by Taheerah Barney http://360nourishment.com

A Brief History of Fluoridated Water

Phosphate mining companies that refine phosphate rock into phosphoric acid used to release byproducts of the process into the air. When they did this, the farms around the companies began to experience great losses of animals and crops. It was determined that this was happening because the phosphate rock had high levels of fluoride that was turned into toxic vapors. These vapors in the air were causing animals and crops to suffer from fluoride poisoning. To prevent these vapors from escaping into the air, the phosphate mining companies figured out a way to turn them into liquid chemicals. They would then package them and send them away to cities to be added to municipal water supplies, justifying the addition as cavity prevention. Unfortunately, fluoridated water is not a prescription for tooth decay prevention, as we have been led to believe. It is a toxic chemical that can harm us and our children.

The Dangers of Fluoride: Pre-conception

The dangers of fluoride are significant for hopeful or expectant mothers. Much of it accumulates in the body, while some is filtered through the liver. This means the liver of the mother-to-be may be working overtime to remove toxins. Fluoride can also cause anemia. This can lead to abnormalities and problems with the development of a fetus. It can also result in low birth weight and even stillbirth. Since fluoride affects the endocrine (glandular) system, the thyroid of a woman hoping to conceive can be damaged, leading to hormonal imbalance, hypothyroidism, and many other problems that may cause difficulties in conception and pregnancy. Problems with the thyroid can also lead to lower IQ, hypothyroidism, hormonal imbalance, and mental retardation in the baby. In order to be healthy to conceive, a woman should avoid fluoride and fluoridated water.

Fathers-to-be should also think about the risks fluoride puts on them and their family. As mentioned earlier, fluoride can cause hormonal imbalances. This is true for men as well as women. It can contribute to a breakdown of the body and lead to greater cancer risks. A man hoping for a child may not be able to contribute to conception if his hormones are out of balance or he is unwell. There is as great a reason for a man to avoid fluoride before, during, and after conception as there is for a woman.

A healthy pregnancy begins BEFORE conception. It includes a diet that is rich in fat-soluble vitamins and minerals, with foods that are unprocessed and as close to nature as possible. Fluoride and fluoridated water should be avoided. Hopeful mothers and fathers should understand the truth about fluoride. They must think about how their health and choices will contribute to the health of their approaching pregnancy. Fluoride is not a natural mineral that is required for tooth care. In fact, it can do great damage to the body. It has never been shown to prevent cavities, and can even prevent a man and woman from having a child. To create a less toxic environment, hopeful mothers and fathers should get a water filter for the home. This will help them limit exposure to fluoridated water, and prepare to have a happy, healthy family.

The following video is the full story of the Fluoride Deception. It is a fun and educational video that will tell you more facts about the processing and reasons behind water fluoridation.

Condition your body before the main event

Before you actually become pregnant, it’s important to make sure that your body is in optimum shape to carry a child; this is often an overlooked component of a healthy pregnancy. If you wanted to run a marathon, would you attempt to train on the day of the big event? Of course you wouldn’t. You would condition and prepare your body for the race several months before you actually ran. Think of pregnancy as the marathon and the pre-race training and conditioning as pre-conception nutrition.

Savor the fats – your brain and hormones will thank you

We often hear that “good fats,” such as Omega 3, are an essential part of our diet. These fats reduce inflammation, are largely monounsaturated and come from sources such as avocados, oily fish and olive oil. Pregnant women should not be encouraged to eat olive oil or avocados, though it is fine to eat those fats. However, more important are healthy sources of saturated fats. Although items like real butter, whole fat dairy and animal fat are largely shunned and vilified by mainstream doctors, these items will prove to be incredibly valuable for you and your future child’s health.

Saturated fats are part of the building blocks for healthy hormone production and function. Infertility has become a modern day epidemic with more and more women struggling to conceive at younger ages; the source of this problem for many women begins in their teens. More and more young women in their teens and early twenties frequently experience irregular periods, and instead of investigating the root of the problem, many doctors casually recommend the pill as a solution. The truth is these young women don’t need the pill – they need more fat.

Hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone (two of the main hormones involved in menstruation and ovulation) are made from cholesterol. Without sufficient amounts of cholesterol, your body will not make enough hormones, resulting in skipped periods or periods without ovulating. Contrary to popular belief, cholesterol should not be feared, as it’s actually an antioxidant that protects and repairs your organs from damage.

Fats are also important for your brain health and mood regulation. Cholesterol maintains the health of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin – “the feel good hormone.” In addition to cholesterol, a diet rich in vitamin D is wonderful for elevating your mood. Animal sources of fat, such as fermented cod liver oil, raw butter and dairy, are rich in vitamin D. So if you’re feeling a little blue or you are experiencing PMS, instead of loading up on chocolate, you may want to raise your fat intake to help “turn your frown upside down.”

Balanced hormones are not the only advantages of eating fats. Fats also help you to absorb vitamins such as vitamins A and D, essential vitamins for fetal development. Vitamins A and D pre-pregnancy are also responsible for healthy skin, vision and calcium absorption. Fears concerning vitamin A in pregnancy are largely unfounded, provided the vitamin A comes from nutrient dense food. Large amounts of the synthetic form of vitamin A – an ingredient in most standard prenatal vitamins – is what you should be concerned about. Large amounts of synthetic vitamin A can cause birth defects. Low levels of vitamin A in pregnancy can cause improper fetal development of the heart, lungs, kidneys, eyes, bones, circulatory, respiratory and central nervous systems. Low vitamin A can also impair the immune system and fat metabolism.

Low levels of vitamin D increase the chances for preeclampsia, a pregnancy condition caused by high blood pressure. It is crucial to build your stores of both vitamins A and D before you become pregnant to further reduce these risks.

Therefore, to get vitamin D from a natural source, use FERMENTED COD LIVER OIL. You can buy it at www.codliveroilshop.com

Consuming healthy fats helps to stabilize blood sugar levels by minimizing sugar cravings (which plague pregnant women). Fat keeps you fuller for longer, which keeps blood sugar levels stable. During pregnancy, healthy blood sugar levels help to lower the risk of gestational diabetes.

Healthy sources of fat from a wide spectrum including pastured butter, eggs and meats, whole fat dairy and animal fats such as tallow and lard are essential for reproductive health.

It is best to build your body using nutrient dense foods several months to a year before pregnancy. From a physiological standpoint, carrying a child depletes a woman’s nutritional reserves in its attempt to supply the growing child with nutrition. Realistically, trying to increase your nutrition once your pregnant is a reactive approach; how can you possibly build up healthy levels of nutrients in your body and supply your growing child with these nutrients at the same time? If your own nutritional stores are intact prior to your pregnancy not only will your baby be healthy, but you will be healthy as well. After all, a truly healthy pregnancy involves not just one, but two.

Oysters

This tasty shellfish is part of the mollusc family. Widely known as an aphrodisiac, it’s less well known as a fertility food. High in vitamin D, iron, zinc, iodine, selenium and copper these tasty morsels help set the stage for ideal baby making.

For Her: Vitamin D is crucial for your body before, during and after pregnancy. It is beneficial to the human body in so many ways; scientists have barely scratched the surface on its usefulness. Vitamin D plays a role in regulating estrogen; estrogen is one of the key hormones involved in egg follicle development.

Vitamin D, in fact, plays a substantial role in the female endocrine system. Dr. Lubna Pal of Yale University conducted a study of over sixty women with varying degrees of anovulation (lack of ovulation) and problems conceiving. According to Pal, over 90 percent of these women had low levels of vitamin D.

Vitamin D also reduces the instance of C-sections, according to a study done by Michael Holick, Ph.D., M.D., of Boston University1. In a study of 253 women, those who were vitamin D deficient at the time of giving birth had twice as many C-sections as those with normal vitamin D levels. Further analysis concluded that pregnant women with low vitamin D levels are almost four times as likely to have a C-section versus women with normal vitamin D levels.

For Him: Oysters are jam packed with three essential nutrients for male reproduction: selenium, zinc and iodine. Zinc and selenium are crucial to a man’s sperm count, quality and movement. The International Journal of General Medicine2 determined that a daily dose of 200mcg increased sperm motility among infertile men, and encouraged spontaneous pregnancy rates among their partners. Iodine is also an integral part of thyroid health. Low levels of the thyroid hormone T3 (triiodothyronine) lower sperm count and movement. In an infertility study3, 45 men with reduced fertility were treated with T3. Forty percent of these men increased their fertility. For more information about the roles of zinc, selenium and iodine in male fertility, please visit Iodine: A Vital Micro-nutrient for Male Fertility, ADHD and Autism.

Tip: For an inexpensive, easy and delicious way to incorporate oysters into your diet, I recommend Smoked Oysters by Crown Prince. They are packed in extra virgin olive oil and come in BPA-free cans. Add them to a salad or eat them as a snack right out of the can! You can buy them at Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s for about $2.30 per can.

Fish Roe
Fish roe are the ripened eggs of fish, popularly known as caviar. They are abundant in Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins D and B12 and trace minerals. These eggs are a delicious delicacy, but they are also a traditional sacred food, prized for aiding fertility and lactation. Fish roe have been used for hundreds of years for conceiving, particularly salmon caviar, used by people in the arctic regions. Dr. Weston Price observed that these eggs were an integral component for fertility. He also observed that people who lived far away from the sea went to great lengths to obtain fish roe for their child-bearing women and men.
Studies have proven that low omega 3 levels have an adverse effect on male fertility. Fish eggs are one of the most superior forms of Omega 3; their omega3:6 ratio is approximately 10 to 1. Eating this food two or three times a week will definitely boost omega 3 levels in both men and women. Salmon roe is the best roe to eat for increasing omega 3 levels and fertility. Salmon roe has the highest levels of omega 3 compared to any other food; one ounce of salmon roe contains 1800mg of combined EPA and DHA, which is more than three times that of salmon.
Tip: For a delicious way to start your day, pair two pastured eggs (any style) with salmon roe and sliced avocado for a fertility charged breakfast.  You can also pair salmon roe with sushi, or serve with lox, red onions, capers and homemade raw crème fraiche (see recipe at the end of the article), for a delicious twist on a classic Sunday brunch.

Ideally you should purchase wild Alaskan salmon roe or caviar (avoid farmed salmon roe at all costs). You can purchase this online or buy in a gourmet or specialty foods store.

Mother Nature, in her infinite wisdom, has provided us with foods that nutritionally sustain us and aid in fertility as well. Native people have been aware of the potency of these foods as a conception aid. Incorporate these foods into your diet and make them part of your ongoing tradition.

Recipe – Raw Crème Fraiche

1 cup pastured raw cream*
1 1/2 tablespoons whole milk yogurt, unflavored

Warm cream gently over low heat until a thermometer reads a temperature somewhere between 100 to 110 degrees. Put yogurt in a lidded container and whisk until smooth. Add a tablespoon of warmed cream and whisk in. Slowly pour in the remaining warmed cream, while stirring thoroughly. Put the lid on the container and place in a warm spot, 95 to 100 degrees, for 8 to 12 hours.

*If you cannot find raw cream or pastured cream, use non ultra-pasteurized heavy cream free of rBGH (bovine growth hormone).

by Taheerah Barney

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References

1.Merewood A, et al “Association between vitamin D deficiency and primary caesarean section” J Clinical Endocrinol Metab 2008, DOI: 10.1210/jc.2008-1217.

2. Moslemi, M.K., and S. Tavanbakhsh “Selenium-Vitamin E Supplementation in Infertile Men: Effects on Semen Parameters and Pregnancy Rate”, International Journal of General Medicine, January 2011

3. Wright, Jonathan V. and Alan R. Gaby, Natural Medicine, Optimal Wellness: The Patient’s Guide to Health and Healing.

4. Roqueta-Rivera et al. Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation fully restores fertility and spermatogenesis in male delta-6 desaturase-null mice. The Journal of Lipid Research, 2010; 51 (2): 360 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.M001180.