Is Turkey Liver Healthy? A Comprehensive Look at the Benefits and Risks

Liver is an organ meat. It comes from the bodys largest internal organ, found in the bellies of all animals with backbones. Among hundreds of other functions, the liver filters blood and removes toxins. It also makes bile, a substance that helps digest fats and get rid of waste.

Like all types of liver, beef liver has health benefits but also some drawbacks. Photo Credit: iStock/Getty s

Livers from many different animals are eaten around the world. You might find beef, calf, chicken, pork, lamb, goose, and cod livers in your local butcher shop, seafood store, or grocery store. Liver has a strong flavor and unique texture that can be polarizing. Some people love it, while others hate it.

There are some significant health benefits to eating liver, but there are also some drawbacks you should consider before adding it to your diet.

Beef liver. This intensely flavored variety is one of the most widely eaten types of liver in the U.S. Its often used in the classic liver-and-onions dish. It comes from cows that are over a year old.

Calf liver. Also called veal liver, it comes from young cows (under 1 year old). Its similar to beef liver and can be cooked in similar ways. But it has a more tender texture.

Pork liver. Some people find that this type of liver, which comes from pigs, has a more bitter flavor than beef liver. Pork liver is an ingredient in liverwurst in Germany and livermush in the American South. Youll also find it in Chinese cuisine.

Lamb liver. This is the liver of a sheep that is less than 1 year old. It may be eaten fried along with other organ meats (especially in New Zealand and Australia) and is featured in some Indian and Lebanese dishes.

Chicken liver. Chopped liver, a traditional Jewish dish, is made from chicken liver. Youll find deep-fried chicken liver in the Southern U.S. Their flavor is considered milder than that of beef or pork liver.

Goose liver. This type of liver is best known as an ingredient in the French dish foie gras, which is made from the liver of geese or ducks that have been fattened. You can also prepare it more simply by frying or pan-searing it.

Cod liver. Its claim to fame is as the main ingredient in the dietary supplement cod liver oil. You can eat it, too. Cod livers are sold canned, and many Europeans eat them spread on bread or crackers. You can cook fresh ones, too. (Even Martha Stewart has a recipe.)

All types of liver are richer in vitamins and minerals than muscle meats and many fruits and vegetables. They dont have fiber like produce does, though.

Liver contains plenty of protein, iron, and B vitamins. Its also one of the best animal-based sources of vitamin A. One serving of beef liver, for example, provides more than 100% of your daily vitamin A requirement. Getting enough vitamin A has been linked to a lower risk of conditions like cataracts and breast cancer.

Beef liver nutrition. A 3-ounce serving of beef liver (4 ounces or 110 grams uncooked) contains:

Calves liver (veal liver) nutrition. A 112-gram serving of calf liver (about 4 ounces uncooked) contains:

Benefits of Eating Liver

Research has found a number of potential health benefits to eating liver:

Rich source of nutrients. Liver is one of the most nutritionally dense foods on the planet, with significant amounts of iron, riboflavin, vitamin B12, vitamin A, and copper. Eating a single serving of liver can help you meet your daily recommended amount of most of these vitamins and minerals, reducing your risk of nutrient deficiency.

Liver is also very high in protein, a nutrient thats essential for you to build and maintain healthy tissue, including muscle, skin, and bone. Foods that are high in protein also help you feel full longer after you eat them, which can help you stay at a healthy weight.

Lower risk of anemia. Iron is one of the most common mineral deficiencies in the U.S. Iron deficiency can lead to certain types of anemia, resulting in fatigue, muscle weakness, and a lack of focus. Liver is an excellent source of both iron and vitamin B12, which work in combination to keep your blood cells in good working condition. In fact, one of the earliest treatments for pernicious anemia was to regularly eat beef liver. Today, adding a few servings of iron to your weekly diet can help ease or prevent anemia.

Improved bone health. Liver contains some vitamin K, which is critical to bone health. Vitamin K helps your body process calcium and add it to your bones. As a result, it helps maintain the strength of your skeletal system. Getting enough vitamin K in your diet has been linked to a reduced risk of chronic conditions such as osteoporosis. Vitamin K is also important to maintaining the health of your circulatory system.

Your daily value for vitamin K is 120 micrograms. A 3-ounce serving of beef liver has about 3 micrograms of vitamin K, and the same size serving of chicken liver has 3 micrograms.

Improved energy, brain function, and mood. Vitamin B12 is critical for the healthy function of your nervous system. If you dont get enough, you may feel tired all the time and not have enough energy for daily activities. You may also have problems with memory and understanding and feel depressed, confused, or irritable. Liver, especially beef and lamb liver, is one of the best sources of vitamin B12 of any food. A 3-ounce serving of beef liver has 59 micrograms, while 4 ounces of chicken liver has 18.8. This more than satisfies your daily value of 2.4 micrograms.

Dangers of Eating Liver

The same vitamins and minerals that make liver so nutritionally potent can create complications for people with certain medical conditions. Thats why you should check with your doctor before you start eating a lot more of it.

Here are some possible drawbacks of eating large amounts of liver:

High cholesterol. Liver is high in dietary cholesterol. While many people can eat high-cholesterol foods without a problem, people trying to lower their cholesterol or who take cholesterol medications should watch their intake. Getting too much cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease.

Vitamin A toxicity. Its possible, and dangerous, to get too much vitamin A. Eating large amounts of liver can lead to symptoms of vitamin A toxicity, which happens when your own liver cant process the excess vitamin A quickly enough. Most doctors recommend that people without vitamin deficiencies eat just one serving of liver per week.

Symptoms of vitamin A toxicity include nausea and vomiting, headache, irritability, and sleepiness. Taking in high levels of vitamin A over time can also weaken your bones and make it more likely that youll have a fracture.

Copper toxicity. Beef liver contains more copper than any other food. A 3-ounce serving has 12,400 micrograms or more than 1,300% of your recommended daily intake. Your body normally gets rid of excess copper you take in efficiently, so its rare to have dangerous levels of this mineral in your body. But it can happen if:

• You take in high amounts of it through food over time.
• The pipes that supply your water leech copper into your drinking water.
• You have a condition known as Wilson disease, in which your liver stores copper instead of releasing it.

Symptoms of copper toxicity include nausea, belly pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Severe cases can cause liver damage and death.

Because liver is so high in both vitamin A and copper, most doctors recommend that people without vitamin deficiencies eat just one serving per week.

Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. Different antibiotics are given to livestock animals to both treat and prevent bacterial infections. Although there are regulations that govern their use, some of these antibiotics can be taken in by humans when they eat the meat or eggs from these animals. Because the liver is the organ that filters and removes substances from the blood, the buildup of these drugs is likely to be higher in this type of meat.

Antibiotics present in food may cause:

• Allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis
• Heart problems
• Sensitivity to light
• Developmental issues in unborn babies

Medication interactions. Some medications are known to interact with vitamin A. Because liver is rich in vitamin A, anyone on medications such as orlistat or certain psoriasis medications should talk to their doctor before adding liver to their diet.

Is LIVER a SUPERFOOD?? (2024 Revision)

FAQ

Is it healthy to eat turkey liver?

Vitamin B: Turkey liver is a good source of various B vitamins, including B12, which contributes to a healthy immune system and digestive tract, and B6, which regulates blood sugar levels. Bioavailable minerals: Turkey liver contains essential minerals like selenium, which helps reduce shedding and hairballs.”

Which is better, turkey liver or chicken liver?

Chicken Liver: Milder in taste, chicken liver is often more palatable for those new to organ meats and is also high in iron and folate. Turkey Liver: Similar to chicken liver but slightly larger and richer in flavor, turkey liver is another excellent option.

Is turkey’s liver fatty?

1 liver of turkey liver (All classes, cooked, simmered) contains 157 Calories. The macronutrient breakdown is 0% carbs, 41% fat, and 59% protein. This is a good source of protein (40% of your Daily Value), vitamin a (991% of your Daily Value), and vitamin b6 (56% of your Daily Value).

Can you eat liverwurst every day?

Even though liver is incredibly healthy and nutritious, it should not be consumed daily. Eating it once per week is enough. Bottom Line: Liver contains many essential nutrients.

Is Turkey liver healthy?

These two nutreints alone make turkey liver remarkably healthy without even considering the abundance of various B vitamins, selenium, heme iron, complete proteins, and nourishing animal fat. About 30% of the fat in turkey liver is anti-inflammatory monounsaturated fat. Many of these nutrients are only found in meat.

Does Turkey liver have vitamin A?

It’s also important to note that vitamin A in turkey liver is in a form called provitamin A retinol. This type of vitamin A is far more absorbable and useful in the body than the beta-carotene that some plant foods like carrots are famous for. In fact, high-vitamin A vegetables provide only 1/26 of their listed vitamin A.

Is turkey breast a liver-friendly food?

Turkey, especially turkey breast without the skin, fits the bill for a liver-friendly food. Low-Fat: A 3-ounce serving of turkey breast contains about 1/5 of the total fat contained in an equivalent portion of chicken breast. Turkey also contains less saturated fat which makes it a good choice for those concerned with a fatty liver.

Is Turkey liver a good source of protein?

Turkey liver is an excellent source of protein, iron, copper, phosphorus, zinc, selenium, and vitamins A, B12, D, E and K. Ounce for ounce, it contains more nutrients than muscle meat. It’s budget-friendly. Turkey livers are very inexpensive especially compared to many other animal protein sources. It has a mild flavor.

What are the health benefits of Turkey?

Proteins normally help the body repair tissue. They also prevent fatty buildup and damage to the liver cells. B Vitamins: Turkey is rich in all eight of the B vitamins – B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, folate, biotin, and choline.

Should you eat turkey if you have a fatty liver?

Turkey also contains less saturated fat which makes it a good choice for those concerned with a fatty liver. High Protein: Unless someone has advanced liver disease and is under strict protein intake inhibition, high protein foods are ideal to help with recovery from liver cell injury. Proteins normally help the body repair tissue.