Frequently Asked Questions
What is foundation - grass-fed beef liver + adaptogens?
Foundation is a health supplement combining grass-fed beef liver and adaptogens designed to support energy, immunity, mental clarity, and overall well-being.
What are the benefits of grass-fed beef liver?
Grass-fed beef liver is nature's multivitamin, full of nutrients that keep you strong, energized, and healthy. It’s packed with B Vitamins and Vitamin A, which helps keep your eyes, skin, and immune system working their best. The iron in liver helps your blood carry oxygen, making you feel less tired, and the protein supports strong muscles. It even has choline and omega-3s, which are great for your brain, helping you focus and remember things better.
Your product only contains 1.5g of beef liver, while most others contain 3-4.5g. Why?
Vitamin A Benefits and Safety: Beef liver is very high in Vitamin A, which is beneficial, but too much can be harmful. For most people, Vitamin A toxicity is only a concern with large doses. Your need for Vitamin A varies based on body size and activity level—a smaller, less active person requires less than a larger, more active one.
Iron Levels and Gender Differences: Liver also provides iron, which is often lacking in modern diets. Women generally need more iron than men, due to iron loss during menstruation, and childbirth. Our 1.5g dose of liver is designed to boost iron without causing excess.
The Right Weekly Dose: A daily 1.5g dose adds up to about 2 ounces of liver per week, which is enough for most people's nutritional needs.
Flexible Dosing for High Performers: We chose a 1.5g dose to allow flexibility. If you’re very active physically or mentally, you can take an extra serving during the day to meet your energy needs and double up on adaptogens for additional support.
What are adaptogens and how do they help?
Adaptogens are special plants and mushrooms that help our bodies handle stress and stay strong. Think of them like little helpers that keep our bodies calm and balanced, even when things get tricky or we feel tired.
How should I take your supplements?
If you are new to beef organs, we recommend starting with a half-dose (3 capsules), and gradually work up to a full dose. Preferably with food. If you have used organs before, simply take 1-2 servings a day, preferably with food. Try to avoid in the evening due to increase in energy.
Is foundation suitable for people with dietary restrictions?
Yes! What you see on the ingredients panel, is in fact what you get! If you are vegan or vegetarian, we still recommend you take it, as your body is missing out on essential nutrients that liver provides. Sorry, not sorry. :)
What Does the Science Say About Beef Liver and Adaptogens?
We’re glad you asked! Beef liver and adaptogens have not only been studied for decades, they have also been consumed for centuries, throughout various cultures!
Below are many citations to studies relating to liver and adaptogens.
Hsu, Tsung-Hsien et al. “Supplementation with Beef Extract Improves Exercise Performance and Reduces Post-Exercise Fatigue Independent of Gut Microbiota.” Nutrients vol. 10,11 1740. 12 Nov. 2018, doi:10.3390/nu10111740
Ershoff, B. H. “Beneficial Effect of Liver Feeding on Swimming Capacity of Rats in Cold Water.” Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, vol. 77, no. 1, 1951, pp. 488–491. JSTOR, doi:10.3181/00379727-77-18824.
van Stuijvenberg, Martha E et al. “Liver is widely eaten by preschool children in the Northern Cape province of South Africa: Implications for routine vitamin A supplementation.” Maternal & child nutrition vol. 16,3 (2020): e12931. doi:10.1111/mcn.12931
Haug, Anna et al. “Nutrient-Optimized Beef Enhances Blood Levels of Vitamin D and Selenium among Young Women.” Foods (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 11,5 631. 22 Feb. 2022, doi:10.3390/foods11050631
Shi, B, and J E Spallholz. “Selenium from beef is highly bioavailable as assessed by liver glutathione peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.9) activity and tissue selenium.” The British journal of nutrition vol. 72,6 (1994): 873-81. doi:10.1079/bjn19940092
Latoch, Agnieszka, et al. "Edible Offal as a Valuable Source of Nutrients in the Diet—A Review." Nutrients, vol. 16, no. 11, 2024, p. 1609. MDPI, https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16111609.
Chen, Shih-Yu, et al. "Effect of Cordyceps sinensis on Exercise Performance in Healthy Volunteers." International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, vol. 12, no. 3, 2010, pp. 327-339.
Nakamura, Kenji, et al. "Antitumor Effect of Cordycepin (3′-Deoxyadenosine) on Mouse Melanoma and Lung Carcinoma Cells." Japanese Journal of Cancer Research, vol. 83, no. 10, 1992, pp. 985-992.
Paterson, R. Russell M. "Cordyceps – A Traditional Chinese Medicine and Another Fungal Therapeutic Biofactory?" Phytochemistry, vol. 69, no. 7, 2008, pp. 1469-1495.
Li, Shun-Wen, et al. "Antioxidant Properties of Different Fractions of Polysaccharide Purified from a Cultured Cordyceps militaris." International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, vol. 27, no. 3, 2000, pp. 203-208.
Kiho, T., et al. "Hypoglycemic Activity of a Polysaccharide (CS-F30) from the Cultural Mycelium of Cordyceps sinensis and Its Effect on Glucose Metabolism in Mouse Liver." Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, vol. 19, no. 2, 1996, pp. 294-296
Yokoyama, Hiroshi, et al. "Effects of Reishi-Derived β-Glucan on Immune Function in Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial." Foods, vol. 12, no. 3, 2023, pp. 659. MDPI, doi:10.3390/foods12030659.
Jin, Xiangbo, et al. "The Efficacy of Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi Mushroom) for Cancer Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis." Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2016, doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007731.pub3.
Mayo Clinic. "Study of Ganoderma Lucidum (Reishi Mushroom) in Reducing Fatigue and Joint Pain in Breast Cancer Patients." Clinical Trials, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Mayo Clinic, Accessed 2024.
Brien, Sarah, et al. "A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Herbal Medicine for People with Cancer." Supportive Care in Cancer, vol. 17, no. 8, 2009, pp. 1001-1011. Springer, doi:10.1007/s00520-009-0592-8.
Reay, Jonathon L., et al. "Effects of Panax ginseng, Ginkgo biloba and Their Combination on Cognitive Function in Healthy Volunteers: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Investigation." Psychopharmacology, vol. 173, no. 3-4, 2004, pp. 353-365.
Kim, Hyun Ah, et al. "Effects of Panax ginseng on Lipid Profile and Glucose in Chronic Fatigue Patients." International Journal of Molecular Medicine, vol. 20, no. 3, 2007, pp. 327-332.
Scaglione, Francesco, et al. "Efficacy and Safety of the Standardized Ginseng Extract G115 for Boosting Immune Functions. A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study." Drugs Under Experimental and Clinical Research, vol. 26, no. 6, 2000, pp. 323-329.
Hong, Bong Hee, et al. "A Double-Blind Crossover Study Evaluating the Efficacy of Korean Red Ginseng in Patients with Erectile Dysfunction: A Preliminary Report." Journal of Urology, vol. 168, no. 5, 2002, pp. 2070-2073.
Ramesh, Tamilselvan, et al. "Panax ginseng Reduces Oxidative Stress and Restores Antioxidant Capacity in Liver and Kidney Tissues of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats." Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2012, 2012, Article ID 163971.
Kim, Hyeong-Geug, et al. "Antifatigue Effects of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial." PLOS ONE, vol. 8, no. 4, 2013, e61271.
Choi, Yeon Jin, et al. "Ginseng for Managing Menopause Symptoms: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials." Journal of Ginseng Research, vol. 37, no. 1, 2013, pp. 30-36. doi:10.5142/jgr.2013.37.30.
Darbinyan, V., et al. "Rhodiola rosea in Stress Induced Fatigue—A Double Blind Cross-Over Study of a Standardized Extract SHR-5 with a Repeated Low-Dose Regimen on the Mental Performance of Healthy Physicians During Night Duty." Phytomedicine, vol. 7, no. 5, 2000, pp. 365-371.
Shevtsov, V. A., et al. "A Randomized Trial of Two Different Doses of a SHR-5 Rhodiola rosea Extract Versus Placebo and Control of Capacity for Mental Work." Phytomedicine, vol. 10, no. 2-3, 2003, pp. 95-105.
Darbinyan, V., et al. "Clinical Trial of Rhodiola rosea L. Extract SHR-5 in the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Depression." Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 61, no. 5, 2007, pp. 343-348.
De Bock, K., et al. "Acute Rhodiola rosea Intake Can Improve Endurance Exercise Performance." International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, vol. 14, no. 3, 2004, pp. 298-307.
Panossian, A., et al. "Adaptogens in Mental and Behavioral Disorders." Psychiatric Clinics of North America, vol. 40, no. 1, 2017, pp. 87-95.
