The Original Whole Natural Animal Ratio
Why does Paleo-Plex and our 100% grass-fed bison liver & organ supplement blend feature the “Whole Natural Animal Ratio,” and what does such a ratio mean?
When formulating Paleo-Plex, I was comparing varying existing organ supplement products. All of them offered equal amounts of each organ, for example they might feature 600mg each of Liver, Heart, Kidney, Spleen, Pancreas, or some other components. I puzzled over the reasoning of this, and my only possible thought was that it was “nice and neat,” and/or a business convenience. Whatever the reasoning for these equal (and arbitrary) amounts, it certainly WAS NOT for the consumer benefit, or for the sake of human health.
I’ve been fascinated by Indigenous Cultures and Peoples from every era and geographical area on the globe. In my research of these peoples, I found an interesting method (that repeated itself commonly across cultures) of incorporating organ meats into the diet. Yes, there are cultures that immediately ate the organ meats raw and on the spot. There were still others that incorporated them into pemmican and other preserved foods. However, the most common and re-iterated practice was that of combining all of the organs into a single stew, and splitting the stew equally amongst the tribe—brilliant!
Perhaps my favorite iteration of this technique was done by some of the Plains Tribes of North America (namely the Blackfeet, Commanche, Kiowa, and other bison-eaters). The tribal members, following a successful hunt, would place all of the organs of the animal inside the stomach of the buffalo. Liver, heart, kidney, spleen, pancreas, and likely every other “bit” of internal organs—all together. They would then fill remaining empty space of the stomach with water, and tie the thing shut. The tribe hung the full stomach on a heavy-limbed tree, and configured a bonfire beneath it. Boiling the contents for a period of time, explorers remarked on their initially squeamish response to the practice—they were unaccustomed to eating all these organs. However, after tasting the stew, they remarked on its surprisingly good flavor and nourishing properties. Of course, the tribe already knew about all that.
So, while Paleo-Plex and Folsom Point Nutrition are responsible for implementing the Whole Natural Ratio in supplement format, this conceptual technology is at least hundreds of years old, and likely much older—perhaps dating back to the ice age or before.
I believe that this ratio of organs, featured in Paleo-Plex and naturally occurring in living, breathing bison, is the ideal way to consume organ meats. Some “experts” emphasize liver—and yes, liver is the most nutrient dense and impactful of the organs. However, incorporating other organs in the amounts that nature intended can confer unique benefits that one does not receive from consuming liver alone, or supplemental formulas featuring even or arbitrary amounts of organs.
Key Takeaways
Folsom Point Nutrition and Paleo-Plex were the originators of dietary supplements featuring the Whole Natural Animal Ratio of organs—each capsule contains the exact same ratio as a living, walking bison
The Whole Natural Animal Ratio was FIRST conceptualized by Indigenous Peoples and multiple tribes, likely independent of one another — Great Minds think alike!
Most Organ Complex supplements feature equal amounts of each organ, or otherwise arbitrary amounts. I encourage the reader to ask, “Why?”
Consuming the Whole Natural Animal Ratio is an ideal way to ensure adequate intake of vitamins, minerals, and other components often missing from the modern diet