There is no mystery that old timer bodybuilders used to take beef liver tablets.
Why did they do this?
They were a good source of protein.
Beef liver It is a very rich source of B vitamins, especially riboflavin, niacin, B-12, and the lipotropics choline and inositol it contains phosphorous, copper, zinc, chromium.
Also, liver has long been known to have a good source of iron in it.
In fact when I was growing up doctors used to tell anemic people to eat liver to help with iron poor blood, liver is a natural source of iron, also liver contains folic acid, which is good for lowering homocysteine which is a major factor in congestive heart failure.
Your muscles contain myoglobin, an oxygen carrying protein that works inside the cells. Like hemoglobin, myoglobin also requires iron to bind oxygen. Without the iron, the whole oxygen transport system simply won't work. It is well established that iron deficiency decreases work output and athletic performance.
In addition to these known nutrients, there are substances present in liver shown to have a beneficial effect on health, fitness, and endurance such as cytochrome P-450 and others yet to be identified.
According to Vince Gironda, the "Iron Guru", desiccated liver contains nucleic acids for proper amino acid utilization, a growth factor and an anti-estrogen factor, which keeps testosterone levels high, and it is also a great anti-toxin.
Desiccated liver helps to increase red blood cell count and stimulate appetite. Anabolic steroids also stimulate appetite and increase red blood cell count.
Highest protein source is in organ meats.
Some feel that liver has a anabolic effect if taken in large amounts.
I don’t think there is any study supporting this but I can see how this could be possible.
The liver contains all kindof growth hormone factors, makes cholesterol is a vital component of most, if not all cells in the body, and is critical for immune function. Cholesterol is the *mother steroid* in the body, from which many of our hormones are synthesized, estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, etc), converts T4 to T3, etc.
Several years ago, in order to demonstrate the capabilities of liver in the arena of boosting strength and endurance, Dr. B. H. Ershoff conducted a rather interesting experiment. The following is what occurred:
Dr. Ershoff took three groups of rats, and fed them controlled diets for a twelve week period of time. Group one ate a basic diet fortified with vitamins and minerals. Group two ate as much as they wanted of the same diet plus extra B-vitamins and brewer's yeast. The B-vitamins and yeast were added to the group two diet because of livers high B-vitamin content and the close proximity of brewers yeast to liver's nutrient content. Group three at the same basic diet but were supplemented with desiccated beef liver.
At the end of the twelve weeks of controlled nutrition, the rats were systematically placed in a drum of water. They couldn't climb out, so it was either swim or drown. The group one rats swam an average of 13.2 minutes before they drowned. Group two, an average of 13.4 minutes. Group three however were still swimming at the end of two hours! The experiment was concluded at that time.
I feel that for the price and nutritional benefit, they are a good selection for supplementation.
Are they anabolic?
Try 100 a day and let me know
