understand benefits but curious about risks: liver/kidneys

[farmidwife]

hi there

i have always felt (on a biogical basis) that eating another animal's excretory organs (especially one with a lifespan so much shorter than human beings-presumably has less of a long term evolutionary strategy for limiting toxic buildup, etc) was sort of counterintuitive. i understand that tf ideas are based on the general wisdom of ancestral diets and the notable lack of most lifestyle illnesses, etc. in people who maintain these types of diets...and i also get that those diets almost invariably include many or all animal parts. i know that liver especially is a fantastic source of absorbable nutrition-but i'm having a hard time understanding how it isn't dangerous to consume the organ that another animal uses to isolate and excrete the substances that it considers chemically life-threatening. anyone know where to find this question addressed, or have thoughts? sorry if this a basic-level question...i was having trouble finding anything on this specifically

[FernG]

The liver produces enzymes, etc. to help process toxins. Toxins are not stores in the organs. They are stored in fat. It's a common myth that because the liver processes toxins, then the liver stores the toxins. Does that help?

[mom61508]

Originally Posted by farmidwife

hi there

i have always felt (on a biogical basis) that eating another animal's excretory organs (especially one with a lifespan so much shorter than human beings-presumably has less of a long term evolutionary strategy for limiting toxic buildup, etc) was sort of counterintuitive. i understand that tf ideas are based on the general wisdom of ancestral diets and the notable lack of most lifestyle illnesses, etc. in people who maintain these types of diets...and i also get that those diets almost invariably include many or all animal parts. i know that liver especially is a fantastic source of absorbable nutrition-but i'm having a hard time understanding how it isn't dangerous to consume the organ that another animal uses to isolate and excrete the substances that it considers chemically life-threatening. anyone know where to find this question addressed, or have thoughts? sorry if this a basic-level question...i was having trouble finding anything on this specifically

Great thread!! Very interesting!

[farmidwife]

yes-that helps! i'm sorry i sold my physiology book now

the main benefits of eating liver are the balances of minerals. though, right? (as opposed to ingesting the enzymes-which would cook if you couldn't stomach raw liver...)

thanks!