Eating any kind of human body part is considered taboo, but there are few who prefer to consume their own placenta after child birth.
In some cultures they believe that eating the placenta will prevent post-partum depression and some health problems that are associated with childbirth.
Many mammals practice Placentophagy (eating their own placenta) because it helps them to produce more milk and it is known to shrink and clean the uterus after child birth.
These days there are contradictions regarding placentophagia because others believe that there is no need for healthy mothers to eat their own placenta, but there are some who believe that placenta eating has lots of benefits and medicinal power.
It is also known that placenta contains vitamins and minerals that help the mother to recover after giving birth.
It also helps balance hormones and can help prevent baby blues, also known as postpartum depression.
If the mother can't take eating the placenta there are available forms that do not need cooking.
Dry powdered placenta capsules are available in different online stores and drug stores.
The capsule can be taken as a supplement.
With all the marvel of the miracles of fetal development and wonders of birth, little attention is given to the miraculous organ that helped the growing fetus to get enough nourishment.
The placenta starts to grow during the beginning of fetal growth to take over the hormone productions that are needed to support the pregnancy around twelve weeks of gestation.
It helps nourish the baby and plays an important role in the elimination of waste.
Though the placenta is a disposable organ it helps the development inside the mother's womb.
Other cultures have different beliefs and ceremonies regarding the placenta that are totally foreign to others.
Some of this ceremonies and beliefs are burying of the placenta in the ground in dedication of bringing the placenta back to earth.
It is believed that planting a tree on the ground where the placenta is buried will nourish the plants growth.
The benefits of placenta eating Placenta contains vitamin B6 that is known to reduce postpartum depression.
It is believed that eating the placenta will reclaim the vitamins and nutrients that are lost in the body during the child birth.
It also increases the blood levels and a hormone known as Corticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH) that acts as a stress reducer.
Since the level of CRH decreases post-partum, it results in depression that will affect the role of a woman as a mother to her child.
Eating of their placenta will increase the level of CRH and reduce symptoms of the postpartum depression.
Human placenta is also rich in protein and iron which are important nutrients in the body, placentophagia also replenishes nutrients that are lost because of blood loss, and is also a known practice among vegan mothers that are experiencing low blood iron levels.
For mothers who are having difficulty in producing milk, placentophagia will help increase breast milk production which is vital for a healthy baby.
My Favorite Placenta Recipe The placenta is an organ that is expelled by a woman after giving birth.
It has springy chewy texture that is similar to a heart but it is more sponge-like.
Human placenta has a taste similar to chicken liver.
Most women are unaware of the benefits of eating placenta but many mothers enjoy eating their own placenta after birth because of the benefits it is capable of giving.
Eating placenta is common to other cultures and to the animal kingdom.
In many countries consuming placenta is socially acceptable because it is known to be rich in vitamins and minerals and particularly in vitamin B6 which is known to fight depression.
The practice of consuming placenta was fashionable during 1970's among what they called earth mothers.
But because of the criticism placenta eating has received, it is considered by some as taboo.
Some even consider it to be a form of cannibalism.
Not all mothers are willing to take their placenta home but to others eating their placenta is just a normal thing.
However whether you choose to eat it or not, the placenta is still a part of the mother and it plays a very important role to make the baby healthy inside the mother's womb.
Since eating placenta is somewhat common these days, there are several placenta recipes available and there are even placenta capsules available in different drug stores and online.
There are different ways on how to cook the placenta and how people choose to consume it varies greatly.
Some use placenta as a substitute for liver or beef.
You should treat the placenta as you would an animal meat.
You may tenderize or ground it if you wish, or cut it into slices or cubes.
However when cooking placenta you must remove the umbilical cord and the membranes.
Below is one my favorite placenta recipes that i'm sure you will enjoy.
Placenta smoothies are one of the easiest and most common ways to prepare placenta for consumption.
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups of any kind of berries (strawberry is my favorite.
Sometimes I like to use 1 cup strawberries with a 1/2 cup of blueberries.
You can use any combination you like.
) 1 cup of your favorite 100% pure fruit juice.
(I like to use cranberry juice.
) 3 oz.
raw placenta or about a 3x3 in.
piece, the fresher the better.
1/2 cup of plain yogurt Combine everything together in your blender and blend on high for about 30 seconds and that's it! You can't even taste the placenta.
You can use more or less fruit juice to achieve your desired consistency.