Nose To Tail – Get Your Hormones In Order With Organ Meats
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For those of us raised in a time of polished butcher counter displays, showcasing perfectly portioned, glossy cuts of meat, the very thought of eating a dish that features actual grass-fed organ meats can be somewhat jarring.
It may even sound unbelievable that there are delicacies enjoyed around the world highlighting organ meats. It is true that a new movement is being led by environmentally conscious consumers, artisan butchers, and even high-end restauranteurs. A movement where we dig into the philosophy of nose-to-tail eating or nose-to-tail diet, what it really means, and the benefits it holds for us.
What Is The Nose To Tail Eating Philosophy?
This philosophy stems from the eating styles of our hunter-gatherer ancestors. They respected their hunt and consumed all of the parts, letting nothing go to waste. Now a quick look at the statistics of the past century proves that the average human health is deteriorating, with more chronic illnesses ailing us. The declining life expectancy and quality can be explained through many facets, but one aspect that is especially important is the diet they followed- mainly the consumption of grass-fed meat. It can be argued that grass-fed organ meats are one of the most nutrient-dense foods in the world. They're right up there along with other popular health foods like turmeric, kale, and spirulina.
As with any other new food trend, there needs to be a mental shift when it comes to enjoying organ meats like a lamb’s brain and livers, and finding grass-fed organ meat “near me.” Many people may find it hard to stomach and this is also why there is a definite appeal for the choicest cuts that are so far disconnected from the animal they were sourced from.
It is this very obsession with perfection in food that is adding to a whole lot of waste across the globe. Supermarket chains that are not familiar with the growing trend of the nose-to-tail diet simply discard any part that does not measure up to the requirements of the shoppers.
Resurrection Of Nose To Tail Eating Philosophy
Given its rich history and background, offal has once again started to appear as an item of high-end cuisine on menus. Local Texan farms like Buck Creek Meat are advocating a nose-to-tail diet by offering offal, hearts, livers, and kidneys for sale. Diets like the famous Paleo diet also promote the consumption of grass-fed organ meats, specifically the liver for its nutrient density.
Nose to tail eating also aims to do away with the squeamishness that is associated with the less common parts of the animal. Eating nose to tail allows more complete nutrition than when you eat muscle meat alone. Cartilage, meat and bones combine to provide collagen, glycine, generation, essential minerals and promotes absorption of fat soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and vitamin K.
Balancing Your Hormones With Grass-Fed Organ Meats
Hormonal imbalance has become a chronic ailment today affecting most Americans irrespective of gender or age. While there are many environmental and physiological factors that play role in wreaking havoc on our hormones, what we put into our bodies has the most impact on the way our bodies run. Eating industrially grown animals that are pumped with medication and growth hormones throughout their lives can NOT have a detrimental effect on our health. I wouldn't even recommend having the organ meats of such animals, because these internal organs are directly affected by the presence of harmful substances, whether it be of an animal or ours.
So, the first step towards balancing your hormones through organ meats is to procure them from organic, sustainable producers. The animal is raised humanely, without the use of toxic medications, so their meat is natural and wholesome.
Four Hormone Balancing Grass-Fed Organ Meats
Today we look at 4 primary organs and the nutrition they pack. Read carefully, for they may unlock the secrets to a nose-to-tail diet and getting those hormone levels in order!
1. Liver Organ Meat
Once a regular feature in many traditional dishes, the liver has lost its place on the plate on most American dining tables. For a really economical organ, the liver is a true powerhouse of nutrients. Grass fed beef liver is potentially the richest source of Vitamin B12 you can find. A healthy presence of vitamin B12 in your daily diet will keep a check on estrogen dominance, one of the leading causes of menstrual problems, and fatigue in women. Liver organ meat is also extremely high in copper, an essential mineral that affects the gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) in men.
Almost anybody can have liver because it is low in calories, low in cholesterol and gives you a high-quality protein serving.
How Can I Enjoy Liver Organ Meat?
If beef liver isn't working for your taste buds, go for chicken or lamb as both have a milder taste. Some easy ways you can prepare liver are:
Pan fried with onions
Stir fried with plenty of strong spices like turmeric, cumin and cinnamon
Minced and formed into a burger patty
2. Kidney Organ Meat
When it comes to your hormones, the main nutrient that kidney meat provides you with is Selenium. This mineral is responsible for the healthy functioning of the thyroid gland and secretion of thyroid hormones, T3 and T4. Hormonal imbalances due to the misfunctioning of the thyroid gland are quite common and are off late, increasing in the younger generation of females aged below 30. Kidney meat also contains all of the essential B vitamins, and zinc, iron, and copper, which are again important for the thyroid hormone conversion.
How Can I Enjoy Kidney Organ Meat?
When shopping for grass-fed organ meat “near me,” look for the freshest kidneys. They have no odor or foul smell. Trim off the connective tissue but keep the layer of fat that comes attached to the kidney. Some delicious ways of preparing kidneys are:
With stir fry vegetables
Pan-fried with onions, crushed ginger and garlic
Grilled, with a sauce on the side
3. Heart Organ Meat
You would be surprised to know that heart organ meat contains the antioxidant, CoQ10, which has been studied to affect the performance of several hormones and their direct link to their functioning. It is one of the grass-fed organ meats that you should start introducing to your nose-to-tail diet to help in balancing cortisol hormone levels while also keeping in order:
Progesterone: Necessary steroid hormone in females
Melatonin: A pineal gland hormone that regulates sleep patterns
Insulin: A peptide hormone that regulates the absorption of glucose
HGH: A pituitary gland hormone, human growth hormone works to regulate cell repairment, metabolism and growth.
DHEA: An adrenal gland hormone, responsible for Increasing bone density and decreasing body fat.
How Can I Enjoy Heart Organ Meat?
Agreed that beef or any other heart for that matter can be chewy and tough to eat, but the key is preparation. Trim the hard arteries and sinew and leave any bits of fat that may be present on the heart. You can either slice the heart into halves or chop them into smaller cubes. Marinade it with some lemon juice and freshly ground ginger and garlic. The heart meat should be cooked either barely and briefly, so the muscle fibers stay soft or a long time to break down the collagen. Flash fried at 130-135 F, the flesh stays moist and the outer surface stays crisp. If cooking slow and long, simmering for more than an hour dissolves the hard collagen into gelatin.
4. Brain Organ Meat
Lamb or beef brain is highly dense in Omega 3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA. Omega-3’s are essential fatty acids that we obtain from food sources. These fatty acids are also necessary for the transport and communication between nerve synapses. The brain organ meat contains neuroprotective nutrients such as phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylcholine and antioxidants such as carotenoids, carnosine and tocopherols, all of which are critical in the maintenance of our neurological tissue.
How Do I Enjoy Brain Organ Meat?
The brain is a very delicate organ that does not require too much cooking at all. Gently clean the brain under cool running water while checking for any skull fragments that may have been left behind. My most favorite method of preparing the brain is chopping it into quarters and adding them to a pan of chopped fried onions and chopped tomatoes. Season well and end off with a garnish of cilantro.
Taking part in the nose to tail diet philosophy benefits, not just us, but our sources of food, the animals. It also reduces the stress felt by our environment. Grass-fed organ meats and other offal are nutritional treasures that must be preserved for the coming generations.
Looking for fresh, grass-fed meat delivery in Texas? Check these 9 Farms Providing Fresh Grass-Fed Meat Delivery in Texas!
