In a world where our food supply is increasingly tainted with pesticides, herbicides, and heavy metals, we need to consider where our food and supplements come from.  

I am always advocating for a whole food diet that is rich in fresh, living, organic, and healthy foods. Our modern-day diet looks very different from that of our parents or grandparents who lived just 50-100 years ago.  Think of the ways our diet looks different from that of our Paleolithic ancestors thousands of years ago. The biggest distinction I can point out is the “nose to tail” philosophy.

You may have heard about the term “nose to tail” eating at a farmer’s market or a locally focused food establishment.  This philosophy is a return to the way animals were used for food before the 1800s industrialization of meat production.  

During most of human history, an animal was locally raised (or hunted) and slaughtered to be eaten, preserved, or used for daily activities.  All of the parts of the animal were used, not just the prime cuts. Everything, including organ meats, bones, skin, connective tissue, and fat served a purpose. 

In contrast, we now shop for individual meat cuts that are from factory-farmed animals that have eaten an unnatural diet used to “fatten them up.” These animals have been given hormones, antibiotics, and have been subject to unthinkable filth and treatment. We don’t regularly consume the most nutrient-rich parts of the animals---the glands and organs.

The glands and organs of every living animal, including humans, are a rich source of concentrated nutrients.  For example, beef heart contains 50-70% more iron than a standard beef steak of the same weight. This is a prime example of nutrient-dense food.  Few of us consume glands and organs, and this is why you would consider a glandular supplement. 

Glandular supplements are powdered or capsule versions of an animal gland or organ.  This makes them easy to swallow and tasteless. You skip the hassle of sourcing and preparing the organ or gland. You avoid unfamiliar tastes and textures that many people find unpalatable.  

Top Reasons to Take a Glandular Supplement

1. Concentrated nutrients
2. Whole food nutrients
3. Nutrients are easier to absorb
4. Restores what modern diets are missing
5. Provides nutrients not found in other cuts/forms of meat
6. Targeted use and organ-specific
7. Low risk of overdose
8. Supports “nose to tail” and wise stewardship of animals

Concentrated Nutrients

We need the micronutrients found in organ meats, but unfortunately, we are not in the practice — nor do we have sophisticated palates to appreciate the taste — of eating these nutrient-dense parts of the animals we consume.

This is how glandular supplements provide the concentrated nutrients found in organs, without the unfamiliar taste of actually eating the organ.  

Organ meats are much higher in concentrated nutrients than standard cuts of meat.  Organ meats and glands are especially high in:

• Iron
• B12
• Vitamin A
• Zinc 
• Selenium
• Choline
• Copper

Whole Food Nutrients:

Most nutrients can be synthesized in a laboratory or extracted from plants.  Vitamin C supplements are usually from corn and B vitamins are created by fermentation.  There is a natural synergy to eating and obtaining nutrients from whole foods.  Also, many nutrients like Iron, copper and Vitamin A are best absorbed together.  They are co-factors for each other that naturally improve absorption and performance.  Animal glands are an excellent source of these three nutrients.  

Nutrients are Easier to Absorb

In order to absorb nutrients, your stomach and small intestines must work together.  Digestion starts in your mouth with saliva and enzymes while you chew. That triggers your stomach to release digestive juices. If you don’t chew your food, you won’t release any digestive juices. That is why it is best to take supplements with food.  Otherwise, you get less absorption because you don’t have the necessary digestive juices available to break down the supplement. If you are taking a glandular supplement, I recommend taking it with a meal so that you have optimal levels of digestive juices in your stomach.  If you want a more in-depth explanation of digestion from your mouth to colon, refer to this blog.  I discuss the critical steps that your mouth, stomach, and small intestine play in digestion. 

Restores What Modern Diets are Missing

Our modern food system is very low in nutrition compared to 50 years ago.  Even vegetables are lower in some minerals than they were in the past.  This is due to modern farming practices, which leach minerals from the soil.  We eat so many processed foods that we no longer have an appetite for whole foods.  Processed foods are full of chemicals and preservatives and are almost completely void of vitamins, minerals, or antioxidants. A glandular supplement can increase your nutrient intake for the most important and foundational vitamins and minerals.

Provides Nutrients Not Found in Other Cuts/Forms of Meat

Even if you are eating a fairly nutritious diet, you are still missing an opportunity for concentrated nutrients. 

Vitamins that are higher in organs/glands than in regular steak:

• Iron (heme) is 50-200% higher in beef heart
• B12 is 5-10 times higher in beef liver and kidney
• Vitamin A (retinol) is 1000% higher in beef liver than in chicken breast
• Folate (B9) is 40-80% higher in beef liver versus ground beef
• CoQ 10 is 3-5 times higher in organs than in ground beef
• Copper is 100-150 times higher in beef liver than in chicken breast
• Selenium is 4-5 times higher in beef liver than in chicken breast
• Zinc is 4-6 times higher in beef heart than in chicken breast

Organ meats and glands are significantly higher in essential nutrients than any other cut of any animal. 

Targeted Use and Organ-Specific

Glandular supplements allow you to provide nutrients specific to your area of concern.  If you are experiencing thyroid symptoms, your body needs iodine, selenium, and tyrosine, natural B vitamins, zinc and iron.  These nutrients are naturally found in animal thyroids and their glandular supplements.  

Low Risk of Overdose

When you take a synthetic form of a vitamin, there is a risk of overdose.  This is because many supplements have much higher doses than the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA).  You can also overdose on synthetic supplements because they don’t come along with their necessary cofactors.  For example, zinc and copper need to be in balance in your body, so if you take a zinc supplement, you may be depleting your cellular copper stores.  When you take a glandular supplement, all of the nutrients have their cofactors and companion nutrients. 

Supports “Nose to Tail” and Wise Stewardship of Animals

Glandular supplements support “nose to tail” eating by using all parts of the animal and wasting none of its resources.  Choose a glandular supplement that comes from humanely treated and grass-fed (biologically appropriate diet) animals. 

Glandular Supplements 

Supreme Nutrition offers a full line of grass-fed glanular supplements. As always, Supreme Nutrition is dedicated to high-quality and toxin-free supplements.  All of their supplements, including their glandulars, are free from fillers, binders, excipients, and flow agents.  Supreme Nutrition uses ovine (sheep) glandulars because they are more hypoallergenic and because sheep are one of the cleanest domesticated animals. 

Grass-fed Sheep Pancreas

Your pancreas is central to digestion and blood sugar control. High blood sugar is the top risk factor for developing diabetes and obesity.  Read more about the epidemic levels of high blood sugar and how it contributes to weight gain in my blog.  I also cover the top treatments for high blood sugar and abdominal obesity as well as the other risk factors in metabolic syndrome. 

Pancreas glandular supplements are a nutrient-dense source of digestive enzymes, zinc, chromium, amino acids and trace minerals important to blood sugar regulation.  Pancreatic enzymes are essential for breaking down food so that you can absorb the nutrients. 

Why take Grass-fed Sheep Pancreas?

I recommend Grass-fed Sheep Pancreas for clients with:

• High blood sugar
• Diabetes
• Abdominal obesity-read more about the dangers of abdominal obesity in the article. If you are looking for a less expensive option for Ozempic or semaglutide medications, read about “Hepatocore: The Poor Man’s Ozempic.”
• Gas
• Bloating
• SIBO (Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth)
• Undigested food in stool

Supreme Nutrition offers a 100% grass-fed New Zealand sheep (ovine) pancreas glandular. 

I recommend 1-2 capsules with each meal

Grass-fed Sheep Liver  

Grass-fed sheep liver is high in iron, manganese, essential fatty acids, zinc, choline, vitamin K2, B12 and natural folate.  Over half the population has the MTHFR genetic snip that makes it difficult or impossible to use synthetic folate/B9.  Natural forms of folate are essential for those with the MTHFR polymorphism.  Liver is the most concentrated natural food source of folate.  

Your liver is a major organ of detoxification.  Much of your cellular energy and nutrients are used to detoxify harmful substances.  Your liver conjugates (changes) toxins so that your other organs can get rid of them through excretion. 

Why take Grass-fed Sheep Liver?

I recommend Supreme Nutrition Grass-fed Sheep Liver for clients with:

1. Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
2. Metabolic syndrome
3. High blood sugar 
4. MTHFR genetic snips

Supreme Nutrition offers a 100% grass-fed New Zealand sheep (ovine) liver glandular. 

I recommend 2-4 capsules per day taken with a meal for best absorption.

Grass-fed Sheep Heart 

Next to the liver, the heart is one of the most nutrient-dense organs in a mammal’s body.  Heart contains over 65% of your Recommended Daily Allowance for iron. Here is the nutrient profile for heart:

% of RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance):

• 68% Iron
• 22% Phosphorus
• 24%  Copper
• 2% Folate
• 48% Selenium
• 17% Zinc
• 61% Riboflavin
• 383% B12
• 17% Vitamin B6
• 36% Choline

The heart is the most abundant food source of natural enzyme CoQ10. Heart glandular supplements contain CoQ10 and the co-nutrient carnitine that is necessary for proper heart function. 

Why take Grass-fed Sheep Heart?

I suggest Supreme Nutrition Grass-fed Sheep heart for:

1. Heart-related symptoms
2. Athletes or to increase aerobic endurance
3. Restoring CoQ10 levels after statin drug use.  Statin drugs are well-known and proven to cause muscle weakness and wasting.  Learn about the dangers of low CoQ10 and my top strategy for improving CoQ10 levels in this blog: All You Need to Know About CoQ10 

Supreme Nutrition offers a 100% grass-fed New Zealand sheep (ovine) heart glandular. 

I recommend 2-4 capsules taken with a meal for best digestion and absorption.

Grass-fed Sheep Thymus

Thymus glandulars contain thymosin, thymopoietin and serum thymic factor.  Thymus nutrients modulate your immune cells and system.  This can increase or decrease immune cell response.  Thymus supplements can be useful for overactive or underactive immune function. 

Why take Grass-fed Sheep Thymus?

I suggest Supreme Nutrition Grass-fed Sheep thymus for:

1. Food allergies:  Histamine plays a big role in the “allergic response” we experience for both food and seasonal allergies.  Learn about reducing histamine through diet and supplements in this blog. 
2. Seasonal allergies can be debilitating.  Here is a primer about symptoms, prevention, and my top supplement recommendation. 
3. Autoimmune conditions (use caution)
4. Herpes
5. Psoriasis: I also recommend this topical remedy for relief. 

Supreme Nutrition offers a 100% grass-fed New Zealand sheep (ovine) Thymus glandular. 

Thymus glandulars are immune modulators so my motto is “low and slow”.  I recommend starting with 1 capsules once per day to determine how your immune system will respond. You can increase to 3 capsules taken 2-3 times per day as needed. 

Grass-fed Sheep Testicle

Hormone imbalances are widespread across both genders and all age groups.  This can be attributed to excessive hormone-disrupting compounds in our food, water, and air.  Men can suffer from high estrogen and low testosterone that may or may not be accompanied by diabetes or insulin resistance.  

Why take Grass-fed Sheep Testicle?

I suggest Supreme Nutrition Grass-fed Sheep testicle for:

1. Hormone imbalance/low testosterone

2. High estrogen in men

3. Muscle building alongside exercise
   

Supreme Nutrition offers a 100% grass-fed New Zealand sheep (ovine) testicle glandular. 

I recommend 1-3 capsules per day taken with a meal for best digestion and absorption.

FAQ’s

Why choose Supreme Nutrition Glandulars?

Glandulars are concentrated sources of nutrients and hormone pre-cursors.  When choosing a glandular you should look for high quality sources of animals and reliable quality control.  Supreme Nutrition uses only 100% grass-fed New Zealand sheep for their glandular supplements.  Other companies that do not utilize 100% grass-fed animals will expose you to pesticides, herbicides, hormones, antibiotics, and other unknown toxins.   

Conclusion

Eating the glands and organs of a healthy animal is a time-honored tradition.  If eating glands and organs doesn’t fit into your lifestyle and palate, a glandular supplement is an excellent option  If that sounds like a step on your healing journey that you’d like to take, schedule a consult with me, Carly Neubert BA, NC.