Many of us consult Dr Google when wanting a solution to a problem with the search term ‘fatigue’ currently delivering 1.8 million results. It’s also reported that around 1.5 million Australians visit their doctor each year in the hope of fixing their fatigue.
So why are so many of us feeling sluggish? Are vitamins and minerals (or lack of) connected to fatigue and how can beef organs help? Before we share our findings let’s quickly touch on the two processes that are pivotal to experiencing optimal energy levels ...
1. ATP
In humans, the foods we eat provide the fuel required to perform our daily physical and mental activities. This food is broken down into sugars, fatty acids and amino acids that ultimately end up in our mitochondria (the batteries of our cells) which produce chemical energy called ATP (adenosine triphosphate). ATP is effectively a shuttle, delivering energy to places within the cell where energy-consuming activities are taking place.
Side note: A 2020 study published by PubMed* indicates a long-known involvement of vitamins and minerals in cellular energy production (ATP) which translates into perceived physical and mental fatigue.
2. Oxygen
While ATP's role in energy production is pivotal, other functions fulfilled by micronutrients are also key in relation to fatigue and cognition. Besides energy, muscles and brain also need oxygen, which should be delivered by the hemoglobin (which is a protein in red blood cells) that carries oxygen. This process requires the red blood cells to be created optimally in the first place for which (and this is important to note) ... iron, vitamin A and several B vitamins are critical. Inadequate intakes of these micronutrients result in anaemia, with resultant fatigue and weakness symptoms.
Side note: During anaemia when the levels of hemoglobin (the oxygen carrier) are decreased, oxygen delivery is impaired, with consequences for not only cognitive and physical performance, but also perceived fatigue and tiredness
So What Does This Mean?
It's now clear that select vitamins and minerals play a critical role in making healthy red blood cells for oxygen production while also producing ATP. It's also important to note that fatigue is much more than just a deficiency of iron. The vitamins and minerals that are central to supporting the two energy systems above are:
- B Vitamins (in particular B12)
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Zinc
The PubMed* study continues to outline that supplementing individuals with vitamins and minerals is thus highly likely to result in health benefits in the areas of mental and physical fatigue. Importantly, effective supplementation should carefully consider the chemical form of vitamins and minerals, that is natural versus synthetic, which can affect their bioavailability.
Could This Be Why Your Iron Supplement Is Ineffective?
As you can see, supplementing with more iron when you are anemic is only one piece of the puzzle. Without adequate intakes of the vitamins and minerals outlined above you may still be experiencing compromised energy production.
How Can Beef Liver & Organs Support Energy Production?
Many people assume that beef organs are simply a good source of iron which in turn helps to fight fatigue. Given what we now know about the two important processes involved in energy production and the nutrients required to support them, the picture starts to become clearer.
Beef liver and organs are particularly rich in vitamin A and B-vitamins, and are also rich in minerals, including iron, magnesium and zinc. These are the building blocks required to support optimal oxygen levels and ATP. They also come packed as nature intended in a whole food animal-based source that are generally more bioavailable than plant-based or synthetic supplements.
What if You Want More Energy But Don't Like Eating Beef Liver & Organs?
As you can see from the information above, adding beef liver and organ meats into your diet makes a lot of nutritional sense. If you’re still not comfortable with the idea of buying and preparing organ meats you're not alone. Fortunately there is an easy solution...
Our beef liver and beef organ supplements are contained in easy-to-take flavourless capsules. They are non-defatted to preserve the fat-soluble nutrient content (including vitamin A) and are freeze-dried, which also helps preserve the full range of nutrients. They are 100% hormone, antibiotic and GMO-free and are 100% grass-fed and organic from the pristine Tasmanian pastures.
