Benefits of Beef Liver

Benefits of Beef Liver

Lately there has been a lot of buzz about adding beef liver to your supplement routine and you are probably wondering “Eww why?”.  Beef liver has always been a powerhouse of beneficial vitamins and minerals however people are just now realizing all the amazing benefits thus why you are probably hearing all about it. It also helps that we now have the luxury of taking it in a capsule if you can’t stomach fresh beef liver. Known as nature’s multivitamin, beef liver is a whole food source of almost all the vitamins and minerals your body craves. Particularly high in choline, B12, folate and vitamins A,D,E and K, beef liver is beyond nutrient dense. When shopping for beef liver you want to ensure it is of high quality. Look for grass fed and pasture raised. Some of our trusted brands are:

• Code Age (This can be purchased at your next visit)

• Perfect Supplements

• Heart and Soil

• We also love getting the organ grind from Behind the Oaks Farm if you are brave enough to work it into your dinner plans. Making meatballs is a great way to hide the liver taste.

Also keep in mind beef liver is great for your little ones too! A great way to give them this is to break open a capsule and mix it into a smoothie or put it on a spoon with some apple sauce. Beef liver is a much better alternative to the traditional gummy vitamins marketed towards kids. When starting with beef liver be sure to start off slow and take small amounts. It also helps to take this kind of supplement with food.

So overall what can beef liver do for you?

• Improve your hormone balance

• Support healthy iron levels during pregnancy

• Increase energy

• And so much more!

We hope you feel encouraged to try out this supplement, but if you have specific questions or health goals please don’t hesitate to bring it up at your next visit!

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Vitamin D

Vitamin D is sometimes called the “sunshine vitamin” because it’s produced in your skin in response to sunlight. Your body produces vitamin D naturally when it’s directly exposed to sunlight. Getting the right amount of vitamin D is important for normal growth and development of bones and teeth, as well as improved resistance against certain diseases.

Vitamin D turns on key peptides in your immune system that trigger a strong anti-microbial response, allowing you to quickly and effectively fight off invaders before they can develop into a full-blown infection.
 

Few foods contain vitamin D naturally. Because of this, some foods are fortified. This means that vitamin D has been added. Foods that contain vitamin D include:

• salmon

• sardines

• egg yolk

• shrimp

• milk (fortified)

• cereal (fortified)

• yogurt (fortified)

• orange juice (fortified)

Studies on Vitamin D:

• "Activated vitamin D is one of the most potent inhibitors of cancer cell growth," says Michael F. Holick, PhD, MD, who heads the Vitamin D, Skin, and Bone Research Laboratory at Boston University School of Medicine.

• In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in December 2003, of more than 3,000 veterans (ages 50 to 75) at 13 Veterans Affairs medical centers, those who consumed more than 645 IU of vitamin D a day along with more than 4 grams per day of cereal fiber had a 40% reduction in their risk of developing precancerous colon polyps. 

• A study in the Jan. 13, 2004 issue of Neurology indicated that women who get doses of vitamin D that are typically found in daily multivitamin supplements -- of at least 400 international units -- are 40% less likely to develop multiple sclerosis compared with those not taking over-the-counter supplements.

• In a report in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society in February 2004, researchers at the University of Basel in Switzerland showed that elderly women who took a vitamin D supplement plus calcium for three months reduced their risk of falling by 49% compared with consuming calcium alone. Those women who had fallen repeatedly in the past seemed to gain the most benefit from vitamin D.

Why we like Liposomal D:
Research suggests a significant portion of the North American population has suboptimal levels of vitamin D. Most holistically oriented health care practitioners regard a blood level of vitamin D between 50 - 100 ng/mL as optimal. The amount of vitamin D in this formula may correct the deficiencies of patients who do not get adequate sun exposure and/or dietary sources of these vitamins. Liposomal D Supreme provides 2500 IU of D3 in each 1-pump serving, making it an ideal choice for those who need higher dosing but prefer to swallow fewer pills. 

Vitamin D is essential for healthy immune function, calcium homeostasis, and more. Owing to their complementary roles in calcium trafficking and skeletal homeostasis, it is recommended to include vitamin K when supplementing vitamin D. Increasing the amount of vitamin D in the presence of inadequate levels of vitamin K may increase the risk of calcium deposition in arteries and soft tissue and have a negative effect on arterial elasticity. Liposomal D Supreme provides vitamin K as both K1 and K2, the latter being required for activation of osteocalcin and matrix Gla protein, critical for bone health and protecting against arterial calcification. 

CAUTION: Vitamin K may adversely interact with anticoagulation drugs known as blood thinners. Patients taking these medications should be medically supervised while taking Liposomal D Supreme. 

Benefits of Liposomal Delivery:

• Superior absorption and intracellular delivery of nutrients 

• Phospholipid structure allows for effective delivery of compounds with different solubilities carried within the same particle (e.g., water- and lipid-soluble compounds) 

• Penetrates the blood-brain barrier 

• Survives the acidic environment of the stomach, ensuring intestinal uptake and delivery to the lymphatic system 

• Convenient for those who prefer to swallow fewer pills; also allow for easy dosing

Why we like this product:

• Vegetarian 

• Dairy Free

• Gluten Free

• Soy Free

• Non-GMO

Take Care of Your Gut, It's the Only One You Got!

Gut health is so important in today’s world of processed foods, fad diets, and new gut diseases. Gut health can control so many other aspects of our lives such as: Weight and Heart Health. When gut health is working in perfect harmony with your body, the benefits could be endless. Certain gut bacteria can help to digest fiber. When fiber is not digested correctly your body can experience bloating and other intestinal issues. Gut bacteria, or microbes, can also help maintain a healthy immune system. With our busy schedules, getting sick is the last thing anybody wants.

Some of the things that can help to improve your gut health are:

Pre/Probiotics
Regular Exercise
Eat foods that contain healthy bacteria
Eat whole grains
Try to eat unprocessed foods
Daily supplements

Pre/Probiotics

First of all what are pre/probiotics, what’s the difference?

Essentially Prebiotics are substances that are fermented by the beneficial bacteria in the gut and used as a source of fuel to help enhance gut flora health. Probiotics, on the other hand, are live microorganisms that can confer health benefits to the host ranging from improved immunity to better brain function. To break this down into simpler terms, prebiotics “feed” the probiotics, or beneficial bacteria in your gut.

So what kind of pre/probiotic do you recommend?

Here at Essence, we choose the best supplements that are preservative, soy, and dairy free. We chose our products from Designs for Health because its a company committed to the goal of producing the most effective and therapeutic nutritional products possible. Most probiotics do not include prebiotics as well, and like we said “feeding” those probiotics is essential for preserving your gut health by maintaining balance and diversity of intestinal bacteria, especially by increasing the presence of “good bacteria,” such as Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria. Our probiotics are kept in the fridge unlike most others to ensure maximum potency and shelf life.

For our Essence kiddos we use once a day, chewable probiotic. Our Flora Bites do not contain Gluten, corn, yeast, artificial colors, or flavors. Ortho Molecular manufacturing test the purity, strength, identity, and composition of each and every product, making it a sure choice for your little one. They are sweet little gummies that will have your kiddo asking for more! It also contains amounts of Vitamin C, great for promoting a healthy immune system.

For our Essence babies we recommend using our Floraboost powder. FloraBoost is a probiotic formula for children, designed to deliver live bacteria that promote healthy gut microflora, protect intestinal integrity and boost immune function. Not only does it help maintain Gastrointestinal Balance, but Supports Bowel Regularity, Digestion, and Micronutrient Absorption.

Supplements

As our daily supplement, we choose to use, Organic PurePea Vanilla Protein. The vegan dietary supplement is made from North American grown yellow peas. It contains non-GMO ingredients and uses no chemicals in the natural fermentation process. The company even checks for the misuse of heavy metals and bacteria.The protein is a great addition to any smoothie, and with the added calcium, iron, and sodium this supplement will have you feeling great in no time!

Curcum-Evail Chewables are also a great supplement to support your gut health. These once a day, mango-nectarine chewables contain the ingredient curcumin. Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric. It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant. Curcumin is also fat soluble, so it may be a good idea to take it with a fatty meal.

Because of our hectic lifestyle, and the way we often consume food that is frequently overcooked, digestion can often be less than optimal. Poor digestion can produce bloating and gas, cramping, diarrhea or constipation, and even lead to incomplete digestion of food proteins that have been linked to food allergies. As a daily adult supplement we recommend Digestzyme-V. Digestzyme V is specifically designed to support digestion, help unlock more nutrition from food, and promote regular bowel movements.

Evening Primrose Oil

Evening Primrose the small yellow wildflower found in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia that’s most sought-out for its oil. Evening primrose oil is rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an essential fatty acid that has been used to treat everything, including:
female reproductive tissues
blood channels
the respiratory passages
nervous system

These days, you can find primrose oil in a variety of beauty products, as well as in supplement form. Below are some ways evening primrose could help.

Relief from skin conditions
Help reduce wrinkles
Slow Hair loss
Heal nerve damage
Lessen symptoms of arthritis
Put hormones in balance
Diminish acne breakouts
Reduce breast pain
Ease PMS

Not only can it help improve all of the symptoms above, but Evening primrose oil is high in GLA, which supports the production of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins can help improve poor blood circulation, maintain normal inflammatory balance, and strengthen immune function. Here at Essence we recommend evening primrose to all of our expecting moms. Why you ask? Women use evening primrose oil in pregnancy for preventing symptoms such as high blood pressure (pre-eclampsia), shortening labor, starting labor, and preventing late deliveries. Inside orthomolecular’s Evening Primrose capsule, includes 1,300 mg of cold-pressed, organically grown evening primrose oil and 117 mg of GLA, in a convenient, high-dose soft gel capsule. It is also free from gluten, corn, yeast, artificial colors or flavors.