Animal liver is highly nutritious and rich in nutrients such as iron, zinc, and vitamin A, so it is beneficial to give your baby some animal liver in moderation. However, with some liver sources on the market being unsafe, can we still feed it to infants and young children?
Animal liver is an excellent source of iron
Animal liver is very nutritious. Compared to pork, animal livers like pork, lamb, chicken, and duck liver are much higher in iron, zinc, vitamin A, niacin, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, and more, making them a treasure trove of nutrients. The iron in liver is exceptionally high; for example, duck liver contains up to 23.11mg/100g, and its iron absorption rate is as high as 35%, whereas the absorption rate from regular pork is 15% and from plant-based sources is only 3-5%. Therefore, animal liver is an excellent source of iron.
Carrot and Pork Liver Noodles
Pay attention to the source safety when eating liver
Since the liver is the detoxification organ of an animal, if the animal's feed during its raising process is not safe, its liver may contain harmful substances such as hormones, pesticides, and heavy metals. This means there are risks associated with eating animal liver. Liu Changwei, a nutritionist at Nanjing Children's Hospital, reminds parents that if they want to feed animal liver to infants and young children, they must ensure it is from a safe source. If the safety of the source cannot be guaranteed, control the frequency and amount—no more than once a week, with a portion of 10-20 grams each time.
Animal liver is not a must-eat food
Some health professionals may suggest that parents add liver to their baby's complementary foods to supplement iron, and animal liver is indeed an excellent source of iron. But is it absolutely necessary to give it to your baby? Liu Changwei states that animal liver is not a must-eat food. Through a reasonable and safe diet, it is possible to get all the nutrients the body needs without eating liver.
How to cook liver for the most nutrition
For older babies, liver can be stir-fried or boiled and then served cold, but it should not be overcooked to prevent it from being too tough for the baby to chew. For younger babies, it can be made into a liver paste and mixed with complementary foods like vegetable purees and rice cereal.