Is eating liver and blood toxic?

I like to eat liver and animal blood, but many people think that this food is not good for health. Is this true or false? (Ha, 34 years old, Hanoi)

Reply:

Liver is a food with high nutritional value, rich in iron, so it is beneficial for people with anemia and physical weakness. However, this is also a food that can contain many toxins because the liver is the organ responsible for detoxifying the body, very susceptible to impurities and parasites such as worms and flukes.

In addition, animal liver is where antibiotics or growth stimulants are processed when introduced into the animal's body in livestock farming. Residuals of these substances can remain in the liver during metabolism, affecting health if consumed in large amounts.

Liver is also a food that contains very high cholesterol, which can cause atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, and coronary artery disease. Therefore, people with obesity, heart disease, and high blood pressure need to be careful when eating.

To avoid poisoning, you should cook the liver thoroughly before eating to kill all remaining toxins. In addition, choose to buy fresh liver pieces from reputable establishments with clear origins, and if the animal is raised cleanly, the better.

Similarly, blood is also a food rich in iron, eating it helps replenish blood. However, this is also a food that is difficult to digest. It is especially important to avoid eating blood pudding because it contains many dangerous germs such as worms, coccidioidomycosis, affecting health.

In general, liver and blood are both nutritious foods, you can eat them, but you should not consume them regularly. On the other hand, you need to make sure to eat cooked food, drink boiled water, and prepare them properly to avoid harm.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Duy Thinh
Institute of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Hanoi University of Science and Technology

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