THE REFRAME
Brains, colostrum and skewered hearts: Will you be joining the organ meat revolution?
Call it extreme eating or call it a lifestyle- either way, offal (yes, organ meat) is taking centre stage as the ultimate nutrient-dense power food. Organ meat is considered any internal part of the animal besides the muscle meat- meaning the liver, heart, kidney, spleen, lung, brain, intestines, tripe, blood, bones, skin and tongue. These parts of the animal provide a concentrated source of essential nutrients that can support energy production, immune function and muscle recovery. Loaded with high levels of Iron (more than most standard meats), as well as high quality protein, it’s no wonder it’s sought out by high performing athletes.
Organ meat also goes hand-in-hand with the ‘ancestral eating’ movement, which takes inspiration from the diet of early humans and hunter-gatherers. Alongside nuts and berries, these early humans would make use of the whole animal when considering the spoils of a hunt. The rise of the ancestral eating movement is explored through the lens of trending supplements, including the consumption of colostrum and collagen. Bovine colostrum is the first milk produced by cows and when consumed by humans is said to support a healthy immune system, gut repair, anti-ageing and skin health, and potentially muscle recovery. Along with health lovers raving about the benefits, the Colostrum industry has inevitably raised ethical concerns; it’s harvested from the cow shortly after the birth of a calf, often removing the newborn calf from the mother’s presence during the extraction process. Grass-fed collagen is collagen protein extracted from the hides, bones, and connective tissue of grass-fed cows for similar health benefits. Unlike the controversial colostrum, collagen is harvested after the cow is slaughtered- usually for meat. Since it’s often derived from parts of the animal that would otherwise be discarded, using the entire animal can be seen as reducing waste. Willpowders- the supplement brand founded by biohacker Davinia Taylor- have collagen and peptides as their hero product.
Organ-meat consumption is on the rise and fast becoming a contender in the food and nutrition scene. The UK-based organ meat capsule specialists, Organised recently debuted organ protein drinks at London’s Farm Girl cafe in Notting Hill. Ancestral health seekers can now grab a Collagen Latte or Collagen Choc hot drink laced with organ protein together with whole milk, raw honey and raw cacao blends. St. JOHN Bread & Wine Restaurant in East London is known for serving offal fare, with dishes such as chicken liver toast served with brandied prune and grilled ox heart with beetroot and horseradish. Offal is firmly on the menu across the UK food scene, with hotspots such as The Pelican and Caravan in London serving up chicken lives, and skewered duck hearts on the barbecue at MOREJOY in Manchester’s Freight Island.
Once dismissed as fringe or downright extreme, ancestral eating is now gaining traction among wellness devotees, foodies and biohackers alike. From nose-to-tail carnivory to supplements packed with organs, colostrum, and collagen, this primal approach to nutrition is being rebranded as a modern path to optimal health. Physician and carnivore diet advocate Dr. Paul Saladino founded Heart & Soil, a supplement line offering organ meats- including colostrum- in capsule form. The brand’s website captures the spirit of this bold health movement with a succinct promise: “If you’re in search of radical health… then you’re in the right place”.
© Higher Self Experience
