In the realm of alternative nutrition, there's a hidden gem that's often overlooked: the beef spleen. Yes, this organ meat might not be the star of the show, but its health benefits pack a punch that might just make you reconsider your dietary choices. Let's dive into the world of beef spleen, exploring its wonders and understanding why it's a great natural alternative to synthetic iron supplements.

What Exactly is Beef Spleen?

The spleen is an organ that sits quietly in the abdomen of animals, including cows. While it might not sound like the most appealing dish, its nutrient profile is nothing short of impressive. Packed with vitamins, minerals, and proteins, the beef spleen is a powerhouse of nutrients that has been a part of traditional diets across various cultures for centuries.

Beef Spleen: Nature's Iron Boost

Now, let's talk iron. Iron deficiency is a common concern, especially for individuals with specific dietary restrictions or conditions. Here's where beef spleen steps in as a natural alternative. Beef spleen offers the highest concentration of iron from any organ with a single 1.5g serving of freeze-dried beef spleen offering almost 100% RDI of iron!

The bioavailability of iron in beef spleen, particularly heme iron (a type of iron found in animal-derived foods), is specifically advantageous compared to plant-based or synthetic sources due to several factors:

• Chemical Structure: Heme iron, predominant in animal-derived products like beef spleen, has a structure similar to the iron in our blood (hemoglobin). This resemblance allows the body to absorb heme iron more efficiently as it closely mirrors the form of iron our bodies are naturally designed to use.
  
• Enhanced Absorption: Heme iron, unlike non-heme iron found in plants or synthetic supplements, is absorbed through a distinct and more efficient pathway in the intestines. The body's mechanisms for absorbing heme iron are more effective, allowing for a higher absorption. The absorption rate of heme iron is typically around 15-35%, while non-heme iron absorption is generally lower, ranging from 2-20%.
  
• Absorption Enhancers: The presence of specific compounds in animal-based foods, particularly meat, can enhance the absorption of heme iron. For instance, meat contains factors that counteract inhibitors of iron absorption present in various foods, further boosting the body's ability to take in and utilise iron from sources like beef spleen.
  
• Reduced Interference: Non-heme iron from plant sources can be influenced by other dietary components, such as anti-nutrients like phytates and polyphenols, which can hinder its absorption. Heme iron, on the other hand, is less affected by these inhibitors, allowing for a more consistent and higher absorption rate.

The Hidden Costs of Convenience

While synthetic supplements offer a quick fix, they come with a hidden cost in the form of less effective options and digestive issues. Ever heard the saying "too much of a good thing can be bad"? Synthetic supplements often provide an excessive dose of isolated nutrients, disrupting the body's natural balance. Moreover, they lack the holistic nutritional spectrum found in whole foods like beef spleen. It's akin to taking shortcuts—a temporary solution with potential long-term consequences.

Health Benefits Beyond Iron

Beef spleen isn't just about iron. It's a nutritional powerhouse offering a spectrum of essential nutrients. From vitamin B12, which supports nerve function and energy production, to zinc for immune health and protein for muscle repair, this organ meat covers a wide array of nutritional needs in one serving.

The Gut Connection

Interestingly, beef spleen also contains peptides that can support gut health. These peptides may play a role in maintaining a healthy gut lining, potentially benefiting those with digestive issues or aiming to enhance their overall gut health.

How to Supplement with Freeze-Dried Beef Spleen

If you are looking for a natural, whole food and bio-available supplement to boost your iron that includes a myriad of critical nutrients look no further than desiccated beef spleen. 

Our Primal Iron Beef Spleen supplements are organic, 100% hormone, antibiotic and GMO-free. Available in capsules or powder form, they provide nose to tail nourishment, are freeze-dried to preserve nutrients and are 100% grass-fed and grass-finished from the pristine Tasmanian pastures.

Discover Why Your Iron Supplement May Not Work

Iron is an essential mineral that plays a crucial role in human health, particularly in the production of hemoglobin, the protein responsible for carrying oxygen in the blood. As such, iron deficiency and anemia are common health issues faced by many people, especially women, who tend to lose iron through menstruation. To address these health problems, the vitamin and supplement industry has been marketing iron supplements as a solution. However, what many people are not aware of is that these iron supplements may not be the solution they need, and may, in fact, do more harm than good.

The key issue with many high street iron supplements is that they are often made from synthetic iron compounds, specifically ferrous iron. Ferrous iron is cheap and easy to produce, which makes it an attractive option for supplement manufacturers. However, the problem with ferrous iron is that it can cause a number of adverse side effects, including digestive problems like nausea, vomiting, constipation, and abdominal pain, as well as darkening of the stool and staining of the teeth. In some cases, ferrous iron supplements can even cause iron toxicity, which can lead to more serious health problems.

In addition to the problems with ferrous iron, many of the iron supplements being sold are also lacking in the essential nutrients required for healthy red blood cell production. Specifically, many iron supplements are lacking in vitamin A and vitamin B12, both of which are critical for the production of healthy red blood cells. Vitamin A is necessary for the growth and maintenance of healthy red blood cells, and vitamin B12 is essential for the formation of the DNA in red blood cells. Without these essential nutrients, the body may not be able to produce enough healthy red blood cells, even if it has enough iron.

What Causes Low Iron?

The root cause of iron deficiency and anemia is often not a lack of iron, but rather a deficiency in the nutrients that support healthy red blood cell production. 

This includes vitamins and minerals like vitamin A, vitamin B12, B9 (folate), and copper. Without these essential nutrients, the body cannot produce enough healthy red blood cells, and iron levels may become depleted, leading to iron deficiency and anemia.

To address the root cause of iron deficiency and anemia, it is important to focus on consuming a diet that is rich in the nutrients required for healthy red blood cell production. This includes foods like red meat and organs, poultry, fish, eggs, leafy green vegetables, nuts, and seeds. It is also important to reduce foods that interfere with the absorption of these essential nutrients, such as caffeine, alcohol, and processed foods.

In addition to making dietary changes, individuals who are struggling with iron deficiency and anemia may also benefit from taking a comprehensive and bioavailable multivitamin that contains not just iron, but also the essential vitamins and minerals required for healthy red blood cell production. This will help to ensure that the body has all of the nutrients it needs to produce healthy red blood cells, and will help to address the root cause of iron deficiency and anemia.

A word on choosing supplements ... if we follow the principle that it's best to get nutrients from food then it's best to take supplements that are closest to food.

The Bottom Line

In conclusion, the iron supplements being sold by the vitamin and supplement industry are often made from cheap and synthetic ferrous iron, which can cause a number of adverse side effects. Furthermore, many of these supplements are lacking in the essential vitamins and minerals required for healthy red blood cell production.

To address the root cause of iron deficiency and anemia, it is important to focus on consuming a diet that is rich in the essential nutrients required for healthy red blood cell production, and to avoid foods that interfere with the absorption of these essential nutrients. Additionally, taking a comprehensive multivitamin that contains not just iron, but also the essential vitamins and minerals required.

How Can Beef Liver & Organs Support Low Iron & Fatigue

Many people assume that beef organs are simply a good source of iron which in turn helps to fight fatigue. While they do contain heme iron they are particularly rich in vitamin A and B-vitamins, and are also rich in minerals, including magnesium, zinc and copper. These are the building blocks required to support healthy red blood cell production. 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.

Who remembers Popeye, the wisecracking cartoon sailor who possessed superhuman strength after ingesting an always-handy can of spinach? While Spinach may not provide bulging muscles or super-strength it does provide iron which is an important nutrient for stable energy. A deficiency in this precious mineral can lead to weakness, tiredness and fatigue but we may not need to carry cans of spinach around like Popeye.

In this article we’ll look at the role iron has to play in the body, and examine the different types of iron.

Why is iron important?

Iron is an essential nutrient that plays a vital role in the transport of oxygen around the body. It binds to something called hemoglobin (a special protein) and helps it carry red blood cells from your lungs to other tissues in your body. A deficiency in iron is called anaemia which effects about 20% of women, 50% of pregnant women and up to 5% of men. The easiest solution to avoid anaemia is to consume more foods high in iron.

How much iron do we need?

The recommended daily intake (RDI) may vary based on a person’s gender and life stage but is typically:

• Men over 19 years - 8 milligrams
• Women between 19 and 50 years - 18 milligrams
• Women over 51 years- 8milligrams
• Pregnant women - 27 milligrams
• Women who are exclusively breastfeeding - 10 milligrams

The different types of iron

There are two forms of iron, heme iron and nonheme iron. The term 'heme' is derived from a Greek word that loosely translates to 'blood.' This type of iron comes from animal protein, such as poultry, fish, and beef. Nonheme iron is found in plant foods including legumes, leafy greens, and nuts.

Which type of iron is better?

Your body can absorb heme iron (from animal protein) more readily and is reported to be up to 18% more bioavailable. Nonheme iron, the iron source in vegetarian diets, has a bioavailability of 5–12%. The reason for this is that many plant foods that contain iron also contain phytic acid and oxalates which significantly inhibit the body's ability to absorb iron.

Iron-rich foods

Good sources of heme iron offering around 3.5mg per serve include:

• Beef organs
• Mussels
• Oysters

While sources of nonheme iron offering around 3.5mg per serve include:

• Tofu & Soybeans
• Lentils
• Beans (red, white, kidney etc)

The problem with iron supplements

Supplemental iron comes in many forms. Getting the most absorbable form is the key to preventing gastrointestinal distress and constipation. Ferrous sulphate & ferrous fumarate are the most common form of iron supplements. They're also the least absorbable forms which is why iron supplementation has a reputation for slowing down the bowels. This is the main reason why obtaining iron from food sources are preferable.

Organ meats and iron

As outlined above organ meats are a great source of iron with spleen offering the highest of all. Beef liver also offers a wide range of iron, B-vitamins and is especially high in vitamin A. It's important to note that being deficient in vitamin A may interfere with your ability to efficiently absorb iron which may increase your iron needs.

Foods To Boost Your Iron Levels 

Eating a balanced and nutritious diet is the key to remaining healthy and avoiding a lot of nutrition-related illnesses. To maintain a balanced diet, we have to include macronutrients and micronutrients. 

Macronutrients are the main food groups that the body needs in large quantities like proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. On the other hand, micronutrients are nutrients that the body needs in small amounts like minerals and vitamins. Among the most important minerals is iron. 

It is important to ensure the proper functioning of hemoglobin. That is a protein your body needs to transport oxygen to all body parts through the blood. It also transports carbon dioxide from the body parts back to the lungs for exhalation. 

The recommended daily allowance depends on our age and sex. Experts recommend the following intake levels for different people:

• Men over 19 years - 8 milligrams
• Women between 19 and 50 years - 18 milligrams
• Women over 51 years- 8milligrams
• Pregnant women - 27 milligrams
• Women who are exclusively breastfeeding - 10 milligrams

There are certain groups of people who need to take more of it than others, including:

• Pregnant women who need it in more volume to promote more blood flow to the baby and developing reproductive organs.
• Young children, especially those born premature or underweight.
• Adolescent girls need more of the mineral because of their rapid growth. They also need it because menstruation could cause a deficiency.
• Frequent blood donors
• People with gastrointestinal disorders, cancer, or heart failure

If our bodies do not absorb the required amounts of the mineral, we can develop a deficiency. This is among the most experienced nutritional deficiencies and the number 1 cause of anemia. Symptoms of low iron levels do not start showing until it progresses to iron deficiency anemia. That is a condition where we get very low iron levels that not enough normal RBCs are made to carry oxygen to our body parts and organs effectively.Some of the symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Pale fingernails and skin
• Dizziness
• Inflamed tongue (glossitis)
• Headache

While mild deficiencies don’t cause a lot of problems, we could experience some of the following complications if we leave it untreated:

• Heart problems due to irregular heartbeats as the heart tries to compensate for the low mineral levels by pumping more blood.
• Problems during pregnancy like premature births and babies with low weight.
• Slow growth and development in infants.

There are different reasons why we can suffer from iron deficiency, including:

• Blood loss
• Lack of the mineral in our diet
• Pregnancy
• The inability of the body to absorb it

Iron Rich Foods

To boost the levels of the mineral in our bodies, we need to eat foods that have it in higher amounts. We can have it as either heme or non-heme. We get heme from hemoglobin found in animal foods like red meat, poultry, and fish, while we get non-heme from plant-based foods.

Our bodies get the most levels of the mineral from heme sources. Our bodies absorb it mainly via the upper part of our small intestines. Some of the best iron rich foods we should always include in our diets to reduce fatigue include:

Beef spleen & organs 
Meat from beef organs, also known as offal, is very nutritious and packed with the mineral iron. Some of the organs include the spleen, kidney, heart, tongue, and liver. 

The mineral from these beef organs is bioavailable, which means that it is easily absorbed by our bodies better than when we get it from plants. 

Beef spleen is one of the organs with the highest amount of iron, with a 2g serving of freeze dried spleen containing 11.5 milligrams. That represents 100% of the daily value.

Red meat
Eating red meat not only boosts our protein intake but also helps increase our levels of the blood-making mineral. A serving of 3.5 ounces of red meat will leave us feeling fuller for longer and provide us with 2.7 milligrams of the mineral, which represents 15% of the daily value. 

Shellfish 
Shellfish are not only tasty but also highly nutritious. While all of them have high amounts of the hemoglobin-making mineral, oysters, clams, and mussels are the ones with the highest amounts. 

A 3.5 ounce serving of clams, for example, has up to 3 milligrams, which represents 17% of the recommended daily value.

Fish There are a lot of different types of fish we can eat to boost our levels of the hemoglobin mineral. A serving of 3 ounces or 85 grams of tuna has 1.4 milligrams of the mineral, which is around 8% of our recommended daily intake. Turkey especially dark turkey meat, is not only delicious but also a good source of the mineral. A serving of 3.5 ounces of turkey contains 1.4 milligrams, which is our recommended daily intake.

Iron Rich Plant-Based Foods

Non-heme iron can be found in the following plant-based foods:

• Spinach
• Legumes
• Pumpkin seeds
• Quinoa
• Broccoli
• Tofu
• Dark chocolate

Low iron levels in our bodies do not only happen because we are not eating a lot of it, but it could happen because our bodies are unable to absorb it. If that is the case, we should try and increase the levels of Vitamin C in our bodies because it helps with the absorption of the mineral.Some of the foods we can add that are rich in vitamin C include:

• Broccoli
• Kiwi
• Oranges
• Grapefruit
• Melons
• Leafy greens
• Peppers
• Strawberries
• Tomatoes
• Tangerines

As outlined above beef organs are an excellent source of heme iron but can be difficult to source and prepare.