Beef liver is a food that is rich in nutrients, Howevercontain many cholesterol. Therefore, consuming beef liver should not be excessive. There are various risks to consider, in addition to the health benefits.
Some of the nutrients contained in beef liver are vitamins A, B, D, E, and K. In addition, beef liver also contains protein, iron, zinc, magnesium and selenium. Although beef liver contains a number of important nutrients, that does not mean you can eat it in large quantities, given its high cholesterol levels.
Cholesterol can stick to the walls of blood vessels and form plaque deposits. Plaque is what makes the artery walls narrow, thereby increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease (heart and blood vessels).
Risks of Consuming Beef Liver
The liver is an organ that produces cholesterol, as well as stores it. So, it is not surprising that most cholesterol is found in the liver.
By consuming 85 grams of beef liver, you have consumed 330 mg of cholesterol. In fact, the recommended amount of cholesterol intake for adults is no more than 300 mg per day. Not to mention if you eat other foods that also contain cholesterol.
To avoid the risk of excess cholesterol, you need to limit the consumption of beef liver. Just consume beef liver once a month and the recommended portion is no more than 85 grams, so you avoid excess cholesterol.
In addition, the consumption of beef liver by pregnant women should also be avoided because the vitamin A content in beef liver is quite high. Although vitamin A is still needed by pregnant women and their fetuses, consuming too much vitamin A during pregnancy can actually harm the fetus.
Benefits of Beef Liver
Not only processed as food, beef liver is also often used as an extract for medicinal purposes. Although its effectiveness in humans is not clearly known, the content of iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid in beef liver extract is believed to be able to treat various chronic diseases, accelerate the growth of new liver tissue, prevent liver damage, and improve liver function.
In addition, beef liver extract is also believed to be detoxifying, which is able to remove toxins from the body, so it is often used to help the body recover from addiction or chemical poisoning.
Beef liver extract has also been linked to increased stamina. This ingredient can be used in people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. Bodybuilders also use it to increase strength, stamina, endurance, and muscle building.
Even so, further research still needs to be done to prove the efficacy or benefits of beef liver extract for treatment. Another thing that needs to be considered is the risk of disease transmission from cattle, although there have been no reports on this. However, to be safer, pregnant and lactating women should not consume beef liver extract.
Consumption of beef liver should consider the condition of the body. Limit beef liver consumption if you are at risk for high cholesterol. Meanwhile, beef liver extract should be consumed according to the rules on the packaging label or a doctor's recommendation. Do not let you who intend to take the benefits, but actually get a negative effect.
