You’ve probably heard that organ meats, like beef liver, are incredibly nutrient-dense—but just how nutrient-dense might surprise you. Eating nose-to-tail isn’t just about honoring the whole animal. It’s also one of the most efficient ways to get nutrients that are hard to find in modern diets.
From vitamin A in liver to collagen in bones, and trace minerals in bone marrow—many of the nutrients your body needs are found in the parts that are often discarded. In this article, we’ll cover 5 nutrients that are particularly abundant in a nose-to-tail diet—and why these nutrients matter:
1. Retinol (Preformed Vitamin A)
Found in:
Liver (especially beef liver).
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Why It's Surprising:
Plant-based vitamin A (beta-carotene) needs to be converted to retinol in the body, but the conversion isn’t efficient. In animal foods, vitamin A already comes in its active form.
Role in the Body:
Vitamin A is essential for your vision, skin health, and immune function.
2. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
Found In:
Heart (specifically beef heart).
Why It's Surprising:
CoQ10 is known for its role in energy production. It’s often sold as a synthetic supplement, but can be found naturally in the heart. If you still prefer a supplement, we recommend freeze-dried beef heart capsules.
Role in the Body:
Cellular energy, antioxidant properties (protects against oxidative stress), and cardiovascular health.
💡Curious to read more about CoQ10? We’ve written about it in more detail in this article.
3. Vitamin K2 (Menaquinone)
Found In:
-
Brain
-
Marrow
-
Certain fats, like ghee or marrow fat
Why It's Surprising:
Vitamin K1 and K2 are not quite the same thing. Vitamin K2 is much more rare in modern diets than K1.
Role in the Body:
Vitamin K2 helps with calcium regulation, ensuring that calcium is directed to bones and teeth while preventing harmful buildup in soft tissues like arteries. In turn, it contributes to the maintenance of normal bones and teeth.
4. Bioavailable Iron (Heme Iron)
Found In:
Organs like liver and spleen.
Why It's Surprising:
Heme iron is easier for the body to absorb than non-heme iron (found in plants).
Role in the Body:
Iron helps with red blood cell formation, oxygen transport, reduces tiredness and fatigue, and more.
5. Collagen
Found In:
-
Skin
-
Cartilage
-
Tendons
-
Bone marrow
Why It's Surprising:
Most people only eat muscle meat and miss out on the parts of the animal that are rich in collagen. Fortunately, more and more people are rediscovering bone broth, which is bringing collagen back into modern diets.
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Role in the Body:
Collagen is a major component of connective tissue. Research suggests it can:
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Not Into Organ Meats? Here’s How to Still Get the Benefits
We get it, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea to start eating organ meats. Their taste and texture simply don’t appeal to everyone. And who’s got the time to gnaw on bones and connective tissue to get more collagen?
That’s why we’ve made this simple. By freeze drying beef organs and packaging them into gelatin capsules, you can get the benefits of nose-to-tail nutrition without the taste. Freeze-drying is a gentle process that preserves the nutrients naturally found in these foods.
Whether you’re after vitamin A and other essential nutrients from organ meats—or collagen and glycine from connective tissue and bones—we have a wide range of products that offer a convenient way to get more of what was included in a traditional diet. All products are grass-fed, pasture-raised, and without artificial additives.
Conclusion
Nose-to-tail eating isn’t just a tradition from the past—it’s a smart way to get a wide range of essential nutrients that aren’t abundant in modern diets. Animal-based foods offer more than just protein: liver contains bioavailable nutrients like vitamin A and iron, connective tissue and bones are rich in collagen, heart is abundant in CoQ10, and vitamin K2 can be found in various animal sources. Whether you’re already including organ meats in your diet or just getting started with a supplement, every step toward nose-to-tail eating is a step toward providing your body with more nutrient-dense foods.
References
- Hend Al-Atif. (2022). Collagen Supplements for Aging and Wrinkles: A Paradigm Shift in the Fields of Dermatology and Cosmetics. Dermatol Pract Concept. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8824545/
- Martínez-Puig, D., Costa-Larrión, E., et al. (2023). Collagen Supplementation for Joint Health: The Link between Composition and Scientific Knowledge. Nutrients. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10058045/
- Zdzieblik, D., Oesser, S., König, D. (2021). Specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides in Osteopenia and Osteoporosis: Long-Term Observation in Postmenopausal Women. J Bone Metab. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8441532/