The Blessings of Beef Liver for Breastfeeding Women
“Yummy” may not be the first word you think of when you hear beef liver, but this nutrient-dense food is crème de la crème for pregnancy and postpartum health.
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The need for certain nutrients increases during pregnancy and when breastfeeding, which is why it’s vital to choose nutrient-dense, whole food sources during the gestation period, as well as throughout your breastfeeding journey.
As one of the most alimental foods one can consume, beef liver contains almost every single nutrient required for optimal health (yes, you can get most of your needed vitamins in one food)! Below I have included some benefits of beef liver, and as a reminder, you can consume this food in a supplement that is grass-fed and pasture-raised (my preferred method).
As a reference, I have about six beef liver pills a day (500mg per capsule; 3,000mg total) from the company Trace Minerals (my favorite because their supplements are hormone, pesticide, and GMO-Free with no fillers or flow agents, and are pasture-raised in New Zealand).
1. Helps fight off iron-deficient anemia
As one of the richest sources of heme iron, beef liver helps to increase the overall iron levels in the body. However, you want to be careful not to overdo it and take it in excess, which can lead to toxicity.
Iron-deficient anemia is especially concerning for breastfeeding women due to a reduction in milk supply, diminished cognitive function, compromised immune function, hindered postpartum recovery, and impaired infant development.
Also, beef liver helps to reduce any excessive bleeding that can take place during childbirth due to the optimal iron content it provides (reduces anemia-related complications).
2. Provides a great amount of needed Vitamin A
Vitamin A is a group of fat soluble compounds and is necessary for better eye vision, strong organ tissues, healthy reproduction, and a good immune system boost. Since baby’s have minimal amount of Vitamin A stored in their little bodies, it’s so important for them to receive it through your breast milk in order to build their vision, put on healthy weight, and develop their immune system.
Keep in mind that you don’t want to overdo it and exceed the amount needed as that can be harmful. The National Institutes of Health Trusted Source recommends 1,200 to 1,300 mcg of vitamin A daily in your diet if you’re breastfeeding.
3. Provides an adequate amount of Vitamin B12
There are other forms of Vitamin B that are necessary, but we’re going to focus on this one specifically in this article.
Beef liver is a fantastic source for Vitamin B12, which is crucial for breastfeeding women since it plays a key role in red blood cell formation and neurological health.
You can access the amount of Vitamin B12 through a healthy diet, but beef liver pills can help with getting the recommended intake of 2.8mcg per day. It’s important to note that Vitamin B12 deficiency in infants can lead to anemia, developmental delays, neurological impairments and poor growth. However, you don’t want to have an excessive intake of vitamin B12 as it would lead to adverse effects.
4. Contains Folate, or Vitamin B9
Folate (otherwise known as Vitamin B9) is crucial for breastfeeding women as it helps support a baby’s neural development. It’s also necessary to mention that it aids in the production of DNA and red blood cells, which are vital for the overall growth of the infant and the development of tissues and organs.
If an infant doesn’t receive enough folate, various health conditions like neural tube defects can occur, which ultimately affects the brain and the spinal cord.
Beef liver was not only consumed by our ancestors, but it was considered a prized possession and a sacred food. It’s called the #1 ancient superfood due to it being the most nutrient-dense part of the animal that was hunted (100g of beef liver will give you the 100% recommended daily intake of the necessary nutrients needed for overall good health).
If hunter gatherers received massive benefit from this food, why would we put it to the side and not look more in depth at the benefits it can be providing? Many tribes saw that the consumption of this food brought about a vitality in their culture and were beyond thankful for the health it produced for their people. I believe we should be doing the same, especially if we are carrying a little one in our bellies or supplying our babes with our breast milk.
I consumed six pills of grass-fed beef liver every day during pregnancy and can honestly say it helped me feel much more energized and vibrant. I’ll forever be thankful for beef liver and continue consuming it during my days.
As a reminder:
Iron - hemoglobin production (protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to cells throughout the body).
Vitamin A - vision development, immune system support, cell growth, bone development, and antioxidant properties.
Vitamin B12 - brain and nervous system development, red blood cell formation, DNA synthesis, energy metabolism, immune system function.
Folate - neural tube development, production of red and white blood cells, immune system support.
I hope this shined some light on the benefits and blessings of beef liver and how it can greatly help your health, especially for women and their babies. The more meat, the merrier!