Even just talking about organ meats makes many people’s noses wrinkle, let alone actually buying and cooking them. They can be very tasty, but we understand it’s not everyone’s thing. However, here’s what you should know: Organ meats are nutrient powerhouses, with B vitamins, vitamin A, iron, and more. This is why beef organ supplements can be appealing: You get the benefits of eating organ meat without having to prepare it yourself at home.
This type of supplement can also be seen as an efficient booster. Besides the energy boost that can come from consuming B vitamins, a beef organ supplement can be a great time-saver for people who are busy at work all day and may not be getting all the nutrients they need. We looked at several popular options on the market and asked our testing team to give them a try. Here’s what those testers said about the supplements (including notes on the varying smells), plus key takeaways.
Our team of expert testers has tried hundreds of the most popular supplements on the market today, using our comprehensive supplement testing methodology to find the best products for most people.
Heart & Soil’s Beef Organs supplement is designed to help you “revitalize your body, regain your energy, and reclaim your health.” The company says this supplement, which includes grass-fed beef liver, heart, pancreas, spleen, and kidney, contains high-quality nutrients that support overall well-being. This supplement also purportedly helps maintain healthy energy levels, boosts immune health and overall resilience, promotes muscle growth and post-workout recovery, and supports metabolic and cellular function.
Our tester, Andrew, first noted that the supplement comes in a glass jar, though he said, “I would prefer plastic if I were taking this on the go.” He did appreciate the “very clear” usage directions, adding, “It gives instructions to work your way up to the recommended dose if you have never taken beef organ supplements.” He rated the instructions a 5 out of 5.
Andrew said the capsules were pretty average in size, but “the serving size of six pills seems like a lot. I had to split them up into two batches.” For that reason, he rated the product a 1 out of 5 on swallowability. As for the actual flavor, “The pill has no taste; however, there is a faint earthy smell,” said Andrew. He said there wasn’t any lingering taste associated with the capsules and gave the overall taste a neutral score of 3 out of 5.
Our tester, who describes himself as a 39-year-old father of two who is active and always on the go, concluded, “These supplements were very easy to take and fit into my schedule since they did not have to be taken with meals. Other than the serving size—six capsules—being high, I feel like this product gave me a natural form of vitamins in an easy-to-use way.”
The key ingredient in Nutricost Grass-Fed Desiccated Beef Liver Capsules is sourced from free-range, pasture-raised cows from Argentina. (If you’re wondering what “desiccated beef liver” is, “desiccated” simply means dehydrated or dried out.) As is typical with Nutricost, the product description is minimal and doesn’t include extensive health claims like some similar products on the market, though the company does say the supplement is made in a GMP-compliant facility.
Our tester, Meredith, examined the packaging and said it was “pretty bulky” and not ideal for travel. She also said it isn’t child-proof, and upon opening the bottle, she said, “It smells like fish food.”
However, Meredith said the instructions were “super easy to read and understand,” and that they direct users to take four capsules per day. She rated the instructions a 5 out of 5.
The capsules themselves were “pretty decent-sized,” according to Meredith, though not overly large. They were easy to swallow, but the four-capsule serving size was a lot, said Meredith. She rated the product a 1 out of 5 for swallowability.
Nutricost’s Grass-Fed Desiccated Beef Liver Capsules had a perfectly fine and neutral flavor, noted Meredith—who rated the product a neutral 3 out of 5 on taste—but “the pills smell bad even though they don’t taste bad.” Overall, though, these capsules have the lowest cost per serving in the lineup, at just 33 cents. For comparison, the most expensive product in the lineup costs more than five times as much. For those who prioritize value at a low price point, we think this supplement stands out.
Ancestral Supplements Grass Fed Beef Liver offers “the full array of energizing B vitamins plus iron and magnesium,” says the company’s website. The product also includes vitamin A to “support fertility, glowing skin, and eye health,” and vitamins A, D, and K to help boost the immune system. Ancestral Supplements claims its Beef Organ supplement also supports fetal development, strong bones, strength and endurance, and detox.
Sophia, our tester, looked at the product packaging and described it as looking “industrial,” adding that the bottle itself was easy to open but not child-proof. When she actually opened the bottle, though, Sophia said, “My biggest complaint is the odor of the product.”
The instructions were easy to read and understand, with Sophia rating them a 5 out of 5. She noted the serving size is six capsules daily, adding, “That seems like a lot to me, but I guess it would equate to consuming the same amount of liver as if you were actually eating it.”
The capsules themselves were powder-filled and “slightly squishy,” said Sophia. When she took them as directed, she said afterward, “Despite the smell, the capsules do not have any taste at all.” She rated the product a 5 out of 5 for swallowability and a 3 out of 5 for the neutral flavor.
Sophia was generally a fan of the product, except for what she described as the “awful” smell. “Other than that, it seems to be a quality product,” she added. She did question the cost, saying it seems expensive for a 30-day supply, but there’s a subscription option that helps lower the price.
Equip grass-fed beef organs are marketed as “the first regenerative organic certified beef organs capsules.” The supplement contains freeze-dried liver, kidney, and heart, and Equip calls it “nature’s original multivitamin.” The product doesn’t contain any synthetic vitamins, fillers, or flow agents, and every batch is third-party tested for heavy metals, pesticides, microplastics, and pathogens.
Our tester, Andrew, first noted that the container and packaging were “a good size” and would be easy to pack for travel. He said, “The instructions are clear and easy to understand. It simply says take one serving or four capsules with food.” He rated the instructions a 5 out of 5 for being so easy to understand.
When he actually tried the product, he said the capsule itself was a “normal” pill that wasn’t too large in size, and because of the four-capsule serving size, Andrew took two at a time without issue. He rated this supplement a 5 out of 5 for swallowability.
Andrew gave the product another 5 out of 5 for its neutral flavor, saying, “These pills have no taste or smell.” He also said there wasn’t any aftertaste.
Summing up his experience, Andrew said, “This product is easy to take, and I could see myself taking this once a day with dinner. If I were looking to take this on a daily basis, I think this product would be good, but the price is slightly higher than I would be looking to spend each month.”
Beef organ supplements may be sourced from bovine organs like liver, heart, spleen, kidney, and pancreas, which are typically dehydrated, converted into a powder, and ultimately sold as capsules. Organ meats can be very nutrient-dense but not always easy to buy or cook, which makes a supplement an appealing option.
Many high-performing professionals prioritize both career and health and look for efficient ways to optimize both. Certain supplements may be useful in such cases, like beef organ supplements. They offer a convenient way to get the dietary benefits of organ meat without going to the grocery store or doing any cooking.
We looked at many different factors when choosing the best options.
Assessing flavor is an important part of our testing process. If a supplement doesn’t taste good, people are less likely to take it regularly. The same goes for swallowability: We asked testers to rate how easy it was to swallow each product because if the capsule size is overly large or the serving size is cumbersome, people are less likely to want to take the product.
We work with a registered dietitian to review formulas for safety. This includes making sure product dosages are clinically supported and in line with the recommended daily values, and that products don’t contain any undesirable ingredients.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t approve dietary supplements for safety or efficacy, so ingredients and their amounts can differ from what’s on the label. Because of this, we look for products that have been third-party tested to confirm ingredient accuracy.
Here’s a cost breakdown for each product, including cost per serving—often a better indicator of value than overall price. Note: We also included the subscription cost for comparison, for people interested in longer-term use.
As Sydney Lappe, a dietitian based in St. Louis, Missouri, explains, “The biggest benefit of beef organ supplements is that they provide concentrated amounts of nutrients like vitamin B12, iron, zinc, selenium, copper, and vitamin A. For people who don’t eat organ meats, they can be a convenient way to get more of these nutrients.”
However, Lappe added that it’s important to separate nutrient content from health claims. “While organ meats are packed with nutrients, there’s little direct evidence that taking a beef organ supplement will boost energy, improve hormone health, or enhance performance in otherwise healthy adults,” explained Lappe, noting that the greatest value of taking beef organ supplements is that they can help fill nutrient gaps.
We recommend following the manufacturer’s instructions when taking beef organ supplements. Make sure to note the serving size—number of capsules—and whether the directions indicate an optimal time of day to take the supplement. Additionally, note whether the supplement needs to be taken with a meal or with a certain amount of liquid.
Here’s what to look for when searching for a beef organ supplement. As always, we recommend speaking with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement. Lappe also noted that most healthy adults don’t need a beef organ supplement just because organ meats are nutrient-dense. “The better question is whether you have a nutrient gap that actually needs to be filled,” said Lappe.
Consider your unique health goals and medical needs when choosing a beef organ supplement. Additionally, we recommend speaking with your healthcare provider to determine whether you have a true deficiency and could benefit from a supplement.
While this lineup includes capsules only, in general, you should consider which form you prefer and seek that out when looking for a supplement. If a product is easier to take, you may be more likely to establish a consistent routine.
Consider your target price range and whether you’re willing to spend more on certain things. Some people may want a product sourced from grass-fed bovine, for example, while others may want a product with the smallest serving size to avoid swallowing a lot of capsules.
Beef organ supplements can provide a range of important nutrients for people who may be deficient or who simply don’t eat enough foods with those particular nutrients. They offer the dual benefit of being much more convenient than procuring and cooking organ meats and offering a lot of nutrients—ideal for people looking to maximize their efficiency and health.
As Lappe explained, “A beef organ supplement may be helpful if you have a diagnosed nutrient deficiency, a condition that affects nutrient absorption, or you rarely eat foods that naturally provide nutrients like iron or vitamin B12.” But even then, she added, it isn’t always the best option, and changes to your diet or a targeted supplement may make more sense. For this reason, it’s important to speak with a healthcare provider before starting a beef organ supplement.
“If there’s a nutritional standout, it’s beef liver,” said Lappe. “Gram for gram, it’s one of the most nutrient-dense foods available, providing large amounts of vitamin A, vitamin B12, iron, copper, and folate.” However, she added, “No single organ is ‘best.’ The heart is naturally rich in protein, B vitamins, iron, and CoQ10, while the kidneys provide nutrients like selenium and vitamin B12. That’s one reason many beef organ supplements combine multiple organs rather than liver on its own.”
We recommend following the manufacturer’s instructions and taking your beef organ supplement as directed. If you have questions about the usage instructions, we suggest consulting your healthcare provider.
此内容由惯性聚合(RSS阅读器)自动聚合整理，仅供阅读参考。 原文来自 — 版权归原作者所有。