Jillian Wilson is the senior wellness reporter at HuffPost, where she covers mental health, physical health and debunks the health misinformation that's so rampant online.
In a deeply divided country, journalism is a safeguard. Members make it possible to question authority, investigate impact, and protect democratic accountability beyond the headlines.At the MAHA event, Kennedy said, “If you buy a Porterhouse steak or a strip steak, it is gonna set you back.
You can buy liver or the cheaper cuts of steak that are very, very affordable.”, and is sometimes served alongside onions on diner menus throughout the U.S., it’s not a protein that most Americans cook regularly — if at all.while lower-income Americans lose health care and food assistance as funding for Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP, is slashed. While Kennedy can spout off sweeping guidance encouraging people to eat more cheap liver, the reality is much more complicated than that. Plus, there are some health facts folks should know before going all in on liver. Here’s what dietitians say:“It’s rich in protein, iron, vitamin A, B12, folate and many other micronutrients,” she added. But, it also comes with health risks such as vitamin A toxicity and copper toxicity if consumed in high amounts. “Our body loves, loves, loves variety, and all of these micro and macronutrients have such specific jobs in our body,” said Previte.“So, I would say the risk here is really if we’re pumping one sort of protein, aka liver, then we are really missing out on all of these other great proteins,” Previte added., it’s not generally recommended for folks to consume liver daily or multiple times a week because of its very high levels of vitamin A and copper. “Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, and so we can reach vitamin A toxicity ... when consuming large amounts of liver or consuming liver pretty consistently throughout the week,” said Roberts.This can cause nausea, headaches, bone pain and in extreme cases, liver damage and vision issues, she said.This doesn’t mean that eating liver here and there will cause health problems. Once again, it can be a nutrient-dense food choice.But eating very high amounts of it can be a problem. This is particularly true for folks who follow a supplement-heavy routine or are pregnant, Previte added.It may also not be ideal for some folks with heart disease risk factors. “Liver is high in dietary cholesterol, which may be concerning for those who have a history of heart disease or are trying to manage cholesterol levels,” said Clara Nosek, a registered dietitian nutritionist.“But considering who is advocating for this protein, it is unsurprising that RFK Jr. recommends eating liver as a more cost-effective alternative as he has been a huge supporter of increased saturated fat intake,” Nosek said.More, while cholesterol is a necessary substance in the body, having too much of it can also increase your risk offor a few hours to remove its bitterness. It’s likely not something you learned how to cook from a parent or recipe influencer online. It’s also a food that’s known to be an “acquired taste,” said Nosek. Roberts added, “Personally, I don’t know a lot of people that are super stoked about wanting to eat liver ... I don’t know how many people are going to be wanting to add this to their weekly meal plan.”“Promoting a not-so-popular protein that is difficult to prepare, while Americans notably struggle to consume fruit and vegetables is intellectually offensive,” Nosek said. “Liver may be easier on the wallet, it assumes culinary skills, time wealth, and resources that many Americans may not have, which is very on brand for MAHA-related solutions,” added Nosek.Nosek said there’s also a dose of irony in Kennedy’s recommendation that folks eat more liver., reduced USDA inspections and rolled back safety requirements is a level of cognitive dissonance that only MAHA enthusiasts can support,” Nosek said.“I think this is a really important conversation about affordability and access to food,” Previte added.“If food costs are a concern, people may consider increasing plant-based sources of protein like beans and tofu, rather than focus on liver,” saidPrevite said you can also purchase shelf-stable proteins like lentils, canned tuna and salmon, peanut butter and other nut and seed butters. “These are accessible, versatile, can sit on a shelf ... and culturally familiar for a wide range of people,” Previte said.“Telling everyone to just eat liver is a very interesting narrowed-lens nutrition statement,” noted Previte. “Nutrition recommendations, those must be realistic. It needs to be rooted in evidence-based science and we also think about what the average consumer is purchasing and what the average consumer’s food preferences are,” Roberts said “And off the top of my head, I cannot think of a single person that would be like, ’yes, I want to eat so much liver now,” added Roberts.posted a photo on Xand, as a Kennedy and high-ranking government official, it’s highly unlikely that he is pinching pennies at the grocery store. “The recommendation may feel insensitive given the steps our government has taken to reduce access to a wide variety of foods,” Meehan said.“With rising costs of food, SNAP cuts and food apartheid, the suggestion to ‘eat liver’ feels unhelpful for many,” added Meehan.People are also frustrated around the disconnect coming from Kennedy and the MAHA movement as a whole, Roberts noted. “Them telling us just eat these things ... is cheap compared to the red meat cuts that we’re telling people to eat more of while also not acknowledging the higher cost of grocery prices and the adverse health effects that come from eating more meat ... or more whole milk dairy products, which has all been very much pushed by this administration,” said Roberts.“It’s sustainable habits, and then if we pull in also the determinants of health, health is impacted by so many things,” Previte added, “our medical care, our environment, our genetics and biology, our social circumstances as well as our individual behaviors.” RFK Jr. can advocate for “cheap” cuts of “healthy” protein, but that doesn’t paint a full picture of health.“And, right now, with the state of the world, when we look at our social circumstances — that also encompasses discrimination, safety in neighborhoods and our political climate — is not setting up a safe space for so many people who look a certain way and so that needs to definitely be addressed as well,” said Previte.Realness delivered to your inbox By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. 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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Make America Healthy Again
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