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| Muscle meats are the most commonly consumed part of an animal in the United States these days. But the organ meats — liver, tongue, heart, kidneys, etc. — are also edible and highly nutritious. Below, registered dietitian Arissa Oukrop, has more. |
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Eat up,
Ginger Wojcik
Newsletter Editor, Healthline |
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Written by Ginger Wojcik
January 13, 2026 • 2 min read |
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| Q: |
Should I be eating more organ meats? |
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| A: |
Organ meats are some of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. Many offer more than 100% of the recommended daily amount (in a standard serving) of many vitamins and minerals. They contain B vitamins, all of the fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K), and zinc, choline, copper, selenium, magnesium, folate, and iron. They’re high in heme iron, specifically, which is the form your body most easily absorbs. Organ meats also provide high quality protein that can help you stay full, build and retain muscle mass, and manage your weight.
If you have or are at high risk for high cholesterol or heart disease, eat organ meats in moderation, as they tend to be very high in cholesterol. Organ meats are also high in purines, which can cause symptom flare-ups if you live with gout.
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| Arissa Oukrop, Registered Dietitian
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| Want to learn more about food, diets, cooking, or some other nutrition subject? Let us know at nutritionedition@healthline.com and we'll look into it for you! (Heads up, we may use your response in an upcoming newsletter.)
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| What we’re digesting |
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