Tuesday, 27 March 2012
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January Jones Eats Her Placenta--Would You?
My good friend Robin sent me a MSN tidbit about Mad Men actress January Jones, which shares that the new mother--brace yourself--has been consuming her own placenta in a capsulated form. Jones told People: "Your placenta gets dehydrated and made into vitamins. It's something I was very hesitant about, but we're the only mammals who don't ingest our own placentas. ... It's not witch-crafty or anything! I suggest it to all moms!"
And if you think the beautiful actress is alone in this off beat practice, think again! The act of eating your child's placenta, aka placentophagia, has been in the headlines in the past two years and can almost be seen as a trend. What's more, virtually every land mammal is known to eat their placenta after birth. Although, for full disclosure, that reason doesn't cut it for me: A lot of mammals also lick themselves clean so does that give me a free pass to do the same? I didn't think so.
What exactly compels people to consume their afterbirth? The so-called health benefits. The alleged advantages (let me specify that there is no scientific evidence backing up these claims) include relieving postpartum depression, pain relief and placenta is said to be a rich source of iron and Vitamin B-12.
While there is little research, literature and publications that back up the benefits of placentophagia, the anecdotal evidence from those who have been brave enough to try it claim that it has its perks. In fact, a behavioral neuroscientist at the University of Buffalo, Mark Kristal, believes that there must be a biological advantage to consuming placenta if so many other species engage in the act.
Regardless of whether the results are psychosomatic or real, if you're interested in encapsulating your placenta or a loved ones, you can purchase an encapsulation kit from acupuncturist Jodi Selander at her website placentabenefits.info.
All this research got me thinking on whether I would ever consume placenta or not. I guess I won't know for sure till my time comes, but I think I would be okay if it was in a capsule in a tablet form, but I don't think I'd have the stomach for it served any other form. But this is assuming I was convinced the benefits were worth it. Currently, in my books, they're not.
What do you think? Would you ever consume placenta for health benefits? Have you ever tried it?
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- From: larabs@xanga
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Comments (30)
Oh hell no.
Uhummm if I could find legitimate studies showing that it gives any benefits that normal meat doesn't. Otherwise, I have better things to do.
If I could produce my own placenta, I'd wonder how the hell it got there before I'd even consider eating it.
It's not my thing, but hippies, neo-hippies, and other new age types have been doing it forever. Sometimes it is just the mother to replenish nutrients, sometimes its the whole family for a spiritual bonding experience. My rule is once it is out of me, it can stay out of me. I am not going to put it back in.
Personally, "we're the only mammals who don't..." isn't a guiding influence in my life. We're unique from other mammals in quite a few ways. I know this is just a part of an entire statement, but I find myself annoyed with half-reasoned....reasons such as this.
Off the cuff, I would say that "other" mammals are eating the placenta in order not to pass up the protein source. That makes sense. For them.
MMM placentas.
well, the placenta is the thing through which the fetus gets its nutrients, so it's filled with the nutrients you're supposed to have-- why not? it's like this one time someone asked why some people get so grossed out thinking about drinking breast milk, but it's ok to drink cow milk. all cultural perception i guess.
Sure, in pill form only!
Yes, I would. I plan to come May, after my son is born. It does help prevent PPD, which I'm terrified of getting as I've had prenatal depression the entire pregnancy thus far, and helps to enhance your milk supply. They're only capsules. It's not as though I'm sitting down to dinner, cutting up the placenta and chewing the damn thing.
Just so you know - your third paragraph cuts off early.
I totally would, it has a ton of benefits for mothers! I know someone that made tacos with her placenta as the taco meat, but that's a bit hardcore for me. I'd probably only consume it in capsule form.
I suppose if they did studies to prove that it was actually beneficial, I might. But other than that, no way.
I am going to vomit! That's worse than finding a toe in your soup can. Actually... it might be the same thing. LMFAO!
http://youtu.be/86nhXtV4wEU
http://gigieatscelebrities.com
There is a reason women do this! It's suppose to help with the after effects. I did not do it because the thought made me sick but I know quite a few women who have done it.
sure, in capsule form.
i just love how this is on ireallylikefood
I did it. It's painless really. You take capsules just like any other vitamins. My midwife
also blended a sliver of it into a fruit smoothie an hour after my daughter was born. I drank it,(I know, eww right?), but you know what? didn't taste anything. It's not like I ate it raw, or for dinner or something. Also, I didn't do it with my first daughter,... and I suffered severe PPD for 6 months.With my second daughter I did... NO PPD WHATSOEVER. I realize there could be other factors involved, but I'm just saying.I don't know.... seems a bit cannibalistic to me...
This is very interesting.
Animals lick themselves clean because it's the only method of cleaning available to them. Apples & oranges. The placenta is filled with vitamins that are extremely beneficial to the mother because they replace what she's been losing the whole pregnancy. I heard it really makes your hair, nails & skin shine. So yea, I would probably try it in capsulized form.
Should I ever have children, I would totally do this.
Something you didn't mention is that it's supposed to boost milk production in newly breastfeeding mothers. Mothers don't consume it for the protein source, but for the nutrients and hormones- including those that boost breastmilk production- that are unique to the placenta. I personally wouldn't EAT it, but I definitely would consume it in pill form. Your body looses a ton of nutrients and blood and your hormone levels plummet post-partum. Add that to having a new baby sapping up your sleep hours, and your body is just very drained. I think it's cool that nature kind of provided a "pick-me-up" to restore women post partum in the form of the placenta. That being said, I'm pregnant and I probably won't do it, because it's still very expensive to have the pills made. But if it becomes more popular and accesible, I totally would.
As "for it" as I am, the picture attached to the article makes me want to vomit.
Yes, we're the only mammals who don't. We're also the only mammals who are HUMAN! However, I had my placenta encapsulated after my last birth. It's supposed to help relieve post-partum depression, increase milk supply, and generally help with recovery. I didn't notice any shocking benefits, but would do it again. The drawing and some of the phrasing in this post seem deliberately designed to inflame. It's not as horrible as it's being made to sound.
If one googles "placenta encapsulation" one can find some info on it. There are books written too.
No thanks.