Health trends come and go, but today, a new post-birth fad is gaining popularity in the United States among new mothers who believes on the health benefits of eating their own placentas.
The practice is slowly gaining limelight as many are convinced that it helps boost energy, produce more healthy milk and battle postpartum depression among new mothers.
NDTV reports that the new trend is called 'placentophagy' which is characterized by ingesting your own placenta in any form including liquid, solid or even via pills. The placenta is a spongy organ designed to provide the needed vitamins by the fetus in the womb. Nutrients, oxygen and hormones enter the placenta to the fetus in the whole nine months of pregnancy.
According to BBC News, the placenta that has provided the fetus the needed nutrients for nine months and the bloody organ which is still packed with nutrients and vitamins should not be wasted. It can provide the needed nutrients of the mother as she recovers from childbirth and begins breastfeeding. This can be done through eating it.
"Placenta helps to restore your body with vitamins, minerals and hormones," midwife Claudia Booker told AFP. "Not rejuvenate you so you can go to parties... just restore you when you feel like a used machine," she added.
Booker prepares the placenta by making it into capsules lasting for several weeks and sells it for $270. The process of turning placentas into capsules is through drying and grinding it to be placed into capsules. Others enjoy it as a fruity smoothie.
Many stars have done this including Alicia Silverstone and say it is indeed effective. Furthermore, January Jones has sworn this is one fad that helped her through motherhood. Believe it or not, it has already invaded cook books and mom blogs where they used the placenta in many recipes including lasagna, tacos or chocolate truffles.
However, many experts and health enthusiasts are still questioning this health fad because it has no approved therapeutic claims yet.