Hey McKinley!

Are you eating a healthy balanced diet, exercising and still feeling low on energy?  Does this describe you?  Before you decide whether or not this really describes you I want you to answer the following questions:
1. Are you eating breakfast?
2. Does your breakfast include a healthy balance of protein, carbs and healthy fats?
3. Is your sugar intake between 50 – 60g/daily (no more than that)?
4. Do you drink less than 16oz of coffee or tea?
5. Are you eating every 3-4 hours?
6. Are you exercising 3-5x weekly for a minimum of 45min each time?
7. Are you under a 30 BMI?

If you answered YES to the above questions, you may find the article I am going to share with you very helpful.  A couple weeks ago Angie Mullan sent this article to me and I was intrigued.  I would encourage you to read the whole article but just in case you choose not to I will summarize it for you :).

The author, Sarah The Healthy Economist, is describing a friend of hers who is a mother with a healthy body weight, eats a balanced diet, exercises and is not achieving the energy levels she needs.  Sarah recommended she try consuming 4-6oz of LIVER weekly.  Right now you might be thinking “Thanks for the info Mer, but I’ll stick with my stimulant and crash routine before I even THINK about eating liver…blah”.  I get it, however, there are other ways of consuming liver other than liver and onions in the frying pan.  Here are the examples Sarah has provided:

1.  Liver pate:  If strong tasting beef liver and onions turns your stomach as it does mine, try the milder tasting liver pate made with chicken or duck livers that is an excellent dip or spread on toast. This recipe includes lots of bacon pureed with the liver and is very well accepted even by children. {click here for a video demonstrating how to make liver pate}
2. Liver and Rice: Just before you put a pot of soaked rice on to cook, mix in one or two spoonfuls of grated liver. The liver will impart a wonderful flavor to the cooked rice and your family won’t know the difference. Note that brown rice works better than white rice for this trick.
3. Raw liver pills: Chop up raw, grassfed liver that has been frozen for 14 days or more (eliminates parasite risk) into small pieces and swallow a few each day whole with a glass of water, milk or juice. Over the span of a week, you will consume several ounces and no doubt be feeling much more energetic.
4. Raw, desiccated liver powder: probably the easiest and most painless way to get your liver is through a raw, grassfed, “nothing added nothing taken away” desiccated liver powder. This is what we take at home when we haven’t been eating enough pate or the raw liver has run out until the next local meat co-op delivery. You can take the powder in capsule form or sprinkle it into homemade soups and sauces for a boost of nutrition.

For more info on the desiccated Live powder or pills, click the link below:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/487625-what-are-the-benefits-of-dessicated-liver/

Why Liver: It’s rich in iron, contains B complex vitamins, amino acids, calcium and phosphorus

Precautions:
There is not a “One size fits all” diet plan.  We are all unique individuals just as our dietary needs are.  I strongly recommend you check with your doctor before you start taking a desiccated liver supplement pill or powder for 2 main reasons.
1. Your iron levels may already be high enough and too much iron in the body can be toxic (even though this is rare, it is still something you should be aware of).
2. If your doctor thinks a liver supplement would do you some good, it would be best for them to suggest the right dosage for you based on your height and weight instead of depending on the serving size listed on the nutrition label. If you did want to test the liver out to see if it made a difference in your energy levels before seeing the doctor, I would try 1-2tbsp of  liver pate with one of your afternoon snacks once or twice a week.

Click the link below to read the whole article.  Email me with any questions 🙂
http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/exhausted-this-superfood-can-get-you-off-the-couch/

Have an awesome day!!

Yours in Health and Wellness,