Holistic Foods and Supplements Worth Knowing: Raw Milk, Organ Meats, Colostrum, Sea Moss, Mushrooms, Adaptogens, Iodine, and More

Raw milk, organ meats, colostrum, sea moss, black seed oil, medicinal mushrooms, adaptogens, iodine, parasite cleanses, and fenbendazole: why people choose each, what the research shows, and what to know before you start.

MK Wellness InsightsFounded by Danielle Cordova, Cypress, TX

Food is the foundation of the terrain, and some of the most talked-about holistic topics are foods and supplements that mainstream nutrition overlooks. This guide, part of our Holistic Health, Both Sides series, covers ten of them with what each is, why people choose it, what the research shows, and what to know before you start.

Raw Milk

What it is. Milk that hasn't been pasteurized (heated to kill bacteria) or homogenized, usually from small, grass-fed farms.

Why people choose it. Supporters value its natural enzymes, beneficial bacteria, and nutrients in their original form, its flavor, and support for local farms. Many people who feel unwell with store-bought milk say they digest raw milk more easily.

What the research shows. Some European studies have associated growing up on farms and drinking farm milk with lower rates of childhood allergies and asthma.

What to know. Raw milk can carry harmful bacteria, including Listeria, E. coli, Salmonella, and Campylobacter, and bird flu (H5N1) has been detected in raw milk from infected dairy herds in the U.S. The risk is highest for pregnant women, babies and young children, older adults, and anyone with a weakened immune system. If you choose raw milk, buy from a small, clean, regularly tested farm you trust, keep it cold, and know your state's laws. In Texas, raw milk may be sold directly from licensed farms.

Organ Meats and Desiccated Organs

What it is. Liver, heart, kidney, and other organ meats, eaten as food or taken as freeze-dried (desiccated) organ capsules.

Why people choose it. Organ meats are some of the most nutrient-dense foods on earth, and traditional cultures prized them. It's a core idea in Dr. Paul Saladino's animal-based approach.

What the research shows. Beef liver is exceptionally rich in vitamin A (retinol), vitamin B12, folate, copper, iron, and choline, in highly absorbable forms.

What to know. Liver is so high in vitamin A that a little goes a long way, and too much vitamin A is a concern during pregnancy. Choose grass-fed, pasture-raised sources. Capsules are an easy option for people who don't like the taste.

Colostrum

What it is. The first milk produced after birth, rich in antibodies, growth factors, and immune-supporting proteins. Supplements are usually made from bovine (cow) colostrum.

Why people choose it. For gut health, immune support, athletic recovery, and skin.

What the research shows. A study in athletes found bovine colostrum reduced the increase in gut permeability ("leaky gut") that normally happens with intense exercise in the heat. It's also rich in immunoglobulins and lactoferrin, which support immune function.

What to know. It's a dairy product, so avoid it with a milk allergy. Look for grass-fed, tested sources. See how to repair, then rebuild the gut.

Sea Moss

What it is. A red seaweed (often Irish moss), usually eaten as a gel added to smoothies.

Why people choose it. For minerals, including iodine, and for thyroid, skin, and gut support.

What the research shows. Seaweeds are a natural source of iodine and minerals, and sea moss contains fibers that may feed beneficial gut bacteria.

What to know. The iodine content of sea moss varies enormously from batch to batch, and too much iodine can disrupt the thyroid, especially with Hashimoto's or other thyroid conditions. Seaweed can also absorb heavy metals, so choose products that are tested. Talk with your provider if you have a thyroid condition.

Black Seed Oil

What it is. Oil from the seeds of Nigella sativa, used in traditional medicine for thousands of years and sometimes called "the seed of blessing."

Why people choose it. For immune support, inflammation, allergies, blood sugar, skin, and hair.

What the research shows. Its main active compound, thymoquinone, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, and clinical studies have reported improvements in blood sugar, cholesterol, and allergy symptoms.

What to know. It can lower blood sugar and blood pressure and may affect blood clotting, so talk with your provider if you take medications for these. Avoid large amounts during pregnancy.

Medicinal Mushrooms

What it is. Functional mushrooms like lion's mane, reishi, chaga, cordyceps, and turkey tail, taken as powders, extracts, or teas.

Why people choose it. Lion's mane for focus and brain health, reishi for calm and sleep, cordyceps for energy and endurance, chaga for antioxidants, and turkey tail for immune support.

What the research shows. Lion's mane contains compounds that stimulate nerve growth factor, and a small Japanese clinical trial found it improved cognitive scores in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. An extract of turkey tail (PSK) has been used alongside cancer care in Japan for decades.

What to know. Quality varies widely. Look for extracts made from the mushroom's fruiting body with tested beta-glucan content, rather than products that are mostly grain. Chaga is high in oxalates, so be cautious with kidney stones. Reishi may affect blood clotting.

Adaptogens

What it is. Herbs believed to help the body adapt to stress, including ashwagandha, rhodiola, holy basil (tulsi), and eleuthero.

Why people choose it. For stress, energy, sleep, focus, and hormone balance.

What the research shows. Clinical studies of ashwagandha have reported lower stress, anxiety, and cortisol levels and better sleep. Rhodiola has been studied for fatigue and stress.

What to know. Ashwagandha can affect thyroid levels and has rare reports of liver injury, and it's not recommended during pregnancy. Talk with your provider if you take thyroid, blood pressure, diabetes, or sedating medications, or have an autoimmune condition.

Iodine

What it is. An essential mineral the thyroid needs to make hormones, found in seafood, seaweed, eggs, dairy, and iodized salt.

Why people choose it. Some holistic practitioners, following the work of doctors like Dr. Guy Abraham and Dr. David Brownstein, recommend higher-dose iodine protocols for thyroid, breast health, and detoxification, believing many people are low.

What the research shows. Iodine deficiency is a real and well-documented cause of thyroid problems worldwide, and many people who avoid iodized salt and seafood get less than they think.

What to know. Too much iodine can also cause thyroid problems, and people with Hashimoto's or other thyroid conditions can be especially sensitive. Test before supplementing, and work with a practitioner experienced in iodine protocols, since they often include supporting nutrients like selenium.

Parasite Cleanses

What it is. Herbal protocols, often including wormwood, black walnut hull, clove, oregano oil, and mimosa pudica, taken for several weeks, often around the full moon, to clear intestinal parasites.

Why people choose it. Many holistic practitioners believe parasites are more common than recognized and contribute to digestive issues, fatigue, skin problems, and cravings. Many people report feeling better after a cleanse.

What the research shows. Some of these herbs have anti-parasitic properties in laboratory and traditional use, and parasite infections do occur in the U.S., including from travel, pets, and undercooked food.

What to know. A stool test through a functional practitioner can help identify what's actually there. Wormwood contains thujone, which isn't safe in high doses or during pregnancy. Cleanses aren't for children or during pregnancy or breastfeeding without guidance, and prescription anti-parasitic medications are available when an infection is confirmed.

Fenbendazole

What it is. An inexpensive anti-parasitic medication made for animals, which became widely discussed after Joe Tippens shared his story of using it during his cancer journey.

Why people choose it. Supporters see it as a low-cost, repurposed option alongside other approaches, much like ivermectin.

What the research shows. Laboratory and animal studies have found fenbendazole affects cancer cells in several ways, including disrupting their structure and glucose use.

What to know. It's a veterinary product, not approved for human use, so dosing and quality are not standardized for people. Elevated liver enzymes have been reported, so liver monitoring matters. If you're considering it, work with a practitioner and let your whole care team know. See our Changing the Terrain checklist.

More in This Series

• Holistic practices: oil pulling, dry brushing, cupping, acupuncture, sound healing, Reiki, breathwork, and more
• Part 1: Chlorine dioxide, hydrogen peroxide, colloidal silver, and DMSO
• Part 2: LDN, NAD+, chelation, coffee enemas, castor oil packs, and grounding
• Browse the full Holistic Health, Both Sides guide

MK Wellness services are non-medical and not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition. MK Wellness does not sell or recommend specific doses of any product in this article. This is general education, not medical advice. Talk with a qualified provider before starting any supplement, especially if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, take medications, or have a medical condition.

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