Sally Fallon Morrell, President of the Weston A Price Foundation, has a cute saying. She tells people that she “Can make offal taste good” Being that she is a chef, I know she can. Now as a human, we don’t always enjoy the taste of offal, (pronounced awful) such as liver , kidney, sweetbreads, heart and other organs. But dogs love them. And the more awful, the better. Some people think that liver for example, is toxic because it stores toxic substances. However, that is not the case. The liver neutralizes toxins and then eliminates them through the urine. But why should we feed them to our dogs. The answer is simple.
Organ meats are the most nutrient dense superfoods you can give your pets.
Kasie Maxwell from SFRaw says it perfectly:
“Organs are a vitally important part of a nutritious and balanced ancestral diet. Think of organs as adding a “vitamin-mineral” supplement to complete and balance the diet.
Organs provide concentrated, special forms of bio-available, essential fats, vitamins and minerals required for proper organ function and overall nutritional balance.
We recommend feeding between 5-10% of each of the below categories, so that organs are included as 10-20% of the overall diet to maintain long-term health. Certain individuals can easily and healthfully consume more than this % in the diet, others are highly sensitive to these potent foods and experience digestive upset when overfed these foods — some even require that the organs be cooked to tolerate. However, please do not skip or avoid these important foods — organs from truly pastured and wild animals are an essential part of a balanced, nutritious diet.
There are two different categories of organs:
1) MEATY organs include: heart, gizzards, tongue, cheek, lung. Trachea, gullet, feet, tendons, heads (brain/eyes) may also be categorized here as “offal” but, unlike the other options in this category, these cuts may also provide some calcium/cartilage, so please do not rely on them to fulfill the nutrients provided by other cuts in this category of offal.
2) SECRETING organs include: liver, kidney, spleen, pancreas, testicles, glands, “sweetbreads”. Green tripe may also be categorized here, however, green tripe provides a natural ca:ph balance and is best fed as a separate category independently. You still need to feed other secreting organ options *in addition* to feeding green tripe, should you include tripe in the diet.
Organs are the most nutrient dense part of an animal; we consider organs true superfoods – organ cuts are nature’s most delectable and nutritious vitamin and mineral supplements you can find. Be sure to include a variety of these foods in the diet on a regular basis.”
Look at liver. It is a powerhouse of nutrition. It contains:
An excellent source of high quality protein
• Contains all the essential amino acids
• A great source of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E & K
• Has all the B Vitamins in abundance, especially B12
• One of the best sources of folic acid
• Contains CoQ10, a nutrient that is crucial for energy production and heart function
• A highly usable source of iron
• Contains trace elements, such as copper, zinc & selenium,
And dogs LOVE liver.
Dr. Patricia Jordan DVM says:
Signaling Molecules
Cells communicate through signaling molecules. The cells send and receive chemical signals. These signals coordinate the actions of other organs, tissues and cells.
When the cells in the organ receive the signal, then the body can respond by making changes.
In the 40s, Dr Royal Lee discovered how to extract signaling molecules from glands and organs. His extraction process (which he patented), involved centrifuging the organ tissues.
These biomolecules are all important to the proper operation of organs and glands. And the molecules act as a blueprint for corresponding cells in the body.
So, when you give glandulars to a dog with a diseased or disordered organ … it helps renew the function of that organ or gland at a cellular level.
This means feeding these meats isn’t only for their rich nutrients! They have other powerful health benefits too.
Feeding organs and glands can support the healing of the corresponding organ in your dog.
I give my dogs some kind of offal everyday. I love Kasie’s 10-20% of the diet as opposed to others who say only 5%. I do go a little easy on the liver for my dogs as too much for them tends to cause loose stools.
There are many online sources for these foods if they are hard to find in your area.
Give your dogs the gift of offal for super nutrition and a long vibrantly healthy life.
