Liver Pills

[bright_eyes]

I read in some other threads about people swallowing chunks of raw liver like a pill and how they made a big difference in their health. I wanted to try this and found some grass fed, organic liver. The problem is that I can only buy it frozen. Since I can't defrost it, cut it up, the refreeze it, how can I go about using it for liver pills or am I out of luck??? Any suggestions from those of you who use liver like this?

[mbravebird]

Frozen is the best way to do it for liver pills, in my experience, both for swallowing and slicing. I take my frozen liver out of the freezer, let it sit for about ten minutes, which makes it more easy to slice. I then cut it into strips, then cut the strips into pill-sized pieces.

By the time you've got them into pieces, they're starting to thaw more, which is inconvenient because then they stick together in the bag. So I just cut up a few strips at time and transfer the chunks immediately to the plastic bag in one layer. Then when they get fully frozen again, they're easier to break apart back into little chunks.

ETA: Here's the link to the original liver pills thread, which is now closed for some reason: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=798808

[mbravebird]

Here are two GREAT articles that will further inspire you:

Nourishing the liver

Anti-fatigue Factor of Liver

[mom61508]

Originally Posted by mbravebird

Frozen is the best way to do it for liver pills, in my experience, both for swallowing and slicing. I take my frozen liver out of the freezer, let it sit for about ten minutes, which makes it more easy to slice. I then cut it into strips, then cut the strips into pill-sized pieces.

By the time you've got them into pieces, they're starting to thaw more, which is inconvenient because then they stick together in the bag. So I just cut up a few strips at time and transfer the chunks immediately to the plastic bag in one layer. Then when they get fully frozen again, they're easier to break apart back into little chunks.

ETA: Here's the link to the original liver pills thread, which is now closed for some reason: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=798808

I've been wanting to do this bbbuuuutttt liver makes my stomach turn like nothing else While you cut it up while frozen can you smell the liver?? I finally when and got some liver but I couldn't get myself to even touch it so I gave it to my mom to use.

[mbravebird]

Originally Posted by mom61508

I've been wanting to do this bbbuuuutttt liver makes my stomach turn like nothing else While you cut it up while frozen can you smell the liver?? I finally when and got some liver but I couldn't get myself to even touch it so I gave it to my mom to use.

No, I can't smell it when I cut it up -- but I'm not supersensitive to the idea of it. If you're having trouble touching it, it might bother you. I don't know. I can't smell it, and when I swallow it every now and then I get the faintest hint of taste -- but not much.

Can you get your mom to cut it up, and you just try to swallow it? One step at a time.

[Sihaya]

I've been doing this on and off for a few months and the difference in energy is amazing. I do not let the liver thaw at all before cutting it. I do run hot water over the knives I use so they go through the meat more easily, but I find that it's easiest for me if the meat is solid. Once it starts to melt it gets harder to cut and I've also found that the longer it thaws, the stronger the smell is (I was in my first trimester most of the time I was taking the liver, so I had a very heightened sense of smell).

I like to cut up as much as possible at one time, which usually ends up being 1-2 weeks worth. Each days serving is heaping tbsp of "pills." The storage system I use is Tupperware "smidget" and "midget" containers (each can hold 1 or 2 ounces). I put the "pills" straight into the containers so I have single servings already measured out to minimize how much I have to handle the liver.

I grab one of the pre-filled containers and wash the "pills" down with about 8 oz of either raw milk (before I realized this could hinder the absorbtion of iron) or a strong-tasting drink, such as unsweetened cranberry, tomato, or vegetable juice.

HTH!

[bright_eyes]

Thanks for all the info! I am in desperate need of some energy so I'm glad to know that this should help and to know how easy it is to do!

[mom61508]

Originally Posted by mbravebird

No, I can't smell it when I cut it up -- but I'm not supersensitive to the idea of it. If you're having trouble touching it, it might bother you. I don't know. I can't smell it, and when I swallow it every now and then I get the faintest hint of taste -- but not much.

Can you get your mom to cut it up, and you just try to swallow it? One step at a time.

haha I told my mom today she's going to have to cut it up for me So you can't chase it with raw milk!!??? Bummer

[Pinky Tuscadero]

There's no reason you can't refreeze meat, especially if it's only defrosted while you cut it up. No biggie!
Proceed with super liver benefits!!

[Magelet]

after reading the nourishing the liver article, I think I'll track down some grass-fed beef liver (pastured chicken livers simply can't be had in any quantity greater than 1 per chicken with each chicken around here it seems), and give this a try.

[bright_eyes]

So I finally got brave enough to cut some up and try this yesterday! But afterward, I had a headache and still have one this morning. I took it before bed and had the headache all night. It is pretty dull and I'm not sure if it is related at all-could be that I am just tired. But I rarely ever get headaches, so I am not sure. Is this normal???

Also, I cut up the pieces and put it in a ziplock freezer bag. Is it okay for the meat to be opening/closing the bag each day? Should I find a better storage method?

Is there a time of day that is best to take it and is there some things that are better to eat/drink with it?

[bright_eyes]

Anyone have answers to the last questions I posted?

[LoMaH]

Originally Posted by bright_eyes

afterward, I had a headache and still have one this morning. I took it before bed and had the headache all night. It is pretty dull and I'm not sure if it is related at all-could be that I am just tired. But I rarely ever get headaches, so I am not sure. Is this normal???

Like you, I very rarely get headaches but I've gotten them (dull, frontal) from eating liver. So you're not alone.
I think our reaction might be due to us being very vit D deficient.

According to the WAPF:

Chicken liver, which is lower in vitamin A, may be consumed more frequently. If you experience headaches or joint pains at this level, cut back until the symptoms go away.

Also...

In adults, according to the Merck Manual, vitamin A toxicity has been reported in Arctic explorers who developed drowsiness, irritability, headaches and vomiting, with subsequent peeling of the skin, within a few hours of ingesting several million units of vitamin A from polar bear or seal liver. Again, these symptoms clear up with discontinuation of the vitamin A-rich food.

http://www.westonaprice.org/The-Liver-Files.html

[FairyRae]

I personally would ONLY take liver in the morning or early afternoon, but never later. I cannot sleep if I get a big dose of b-vits like that in the evening, and have had crazy vivid nightmares when first starting liver (I took actual pills from dr. ron's in the past.) I had to build my tolerance for it when I was taking it...