Today, I’m bringing you a rather unexpected recipe idea. After childbirth, a woman’s body goes through a lot, and interestingly, the placenta can play a role in restoring iron and hormonal balance. Now, you might wonder, why on earth would anyone eat that? Good question.
Placentophagy, the practice of eating the placenta after childbirth, is something many mammals do. The placenta is rich in prostaglandins, which help the uterus return to its normal size and clean itself after delivery. It also has small amounts of oxytocin, which can reduce stress and help with milk production.
Some studies on rats have shown that eating the placenta can increase pain tolerance during birth. This effect is linked to natural opioids produced in the body. When combined with ingested placenta, these opioids significantly increase pain tolerance. Interestingly, rats that ate regular meat instead of placenta didn’t have the same increased tolerance.
Research by medical anthropologists in the U.S. found that most new mothers who tried eating their placenta reported feeling more energetic, in a better mood, and having improved milk production.
Today, there are professionals who can encapsulate the placenta by cleaning, steaming, dehydrating, and grinding it into pills. This method makes the idea of eating it more palatable. However, this process can be pricey and takes a few days, meaning mothers miss out on the early benefits.
But here’s a quicker way to try it: Placenta Pot Roast. This recipe lets new moms eat the placenta within 12 hours of giving birth, mixed with healthy herbs and veggies to satisfy post-labor protein cravings. It’s easy to make, and leftovers can be frozen for later.
Sound odd? Well, it actually has a gentler taste than liver or other organ meats, and with the right seasoning, it’s easy to eat. Remember, though, this dish is meant just for the new mom.
Just kidding! This is actually an April Fools’ joke. Thanks for reading along! Please share this post if you want to prank your friends and let me know if you were surprised! While I’ve tried placenta encapsulation myself out of curiosity during my last pregnancy, I can’t say I’d be brave enough to actually cook it as a pot roast.
Ever given it a try? Were you fooled by my joke, or did you think it was serious? Let me know your thoughts!
