Following Gaby Hoffmann‘s announcement regarding the berry-banana-placenta breakfast smoothies she sucked down following the birth of her daughter, we got to wondering about all the different ways people make use of the stuff. Turns out that—while there’s little scientific rationale for consuming placenta—there’s also no lack of reliable resources that say it’s really, really good for you, from helping to normalize postpartum hormones to supporting milk supply and re-toning the uterus. That sounds pretty good to us, so if you’re thinking about adding placenta to your post-natal food supply, we found some good ways to get your fix (as well as a couple of commemorative options!).
1. Placenta Pills. Encapsulating your placenta is one of the more common practices for new moms: It takes a bit of the edge off ingesting it, and is said to have the same benefits as cooking or other consumption methods. One of the oldest-known ways to prepare placenta for encapsulation is the Chinese Medicine Method. The placenta is cleaned and then steamed over boiling water with fresh, organic herbs like lemongrass, ginger, and a spicy green pepper. It is then dehydrated for 7-10 hours and ground into a powdery substance before being packaged as a pill. Many women will consult a doula to help with the encapsulation bur women dry out the placenta themselves and do it on their own (that’s what YouTube is for, right?).
2. Placenta Pizza. Who needs pepperoni when you’ve got your very own placenta? Give Domino’s a run for its money by frying up some placenta and using it as a yummy substitute on top your favorite pie: Just dice it, sauté in a pan with olive oil, garlic, oregano, and other spices before placing on top of some pizza dough.
3. Placenta Lasagna. This easy classic is one dish everyone can get behind. Search your fave lasagna recipe (Ina Garten, FTW) and simply substitute the meat component with placenta bits. It’s a more subtle way to work placenta in for the day and (bonus!) can be layered up with all the other goodness lasagna is made of. See: cheeeeeeeeese.
4. Placenta Cocktail. Sans vodka (or not, you earned it) this cocktail treat is a great refreshment post delivery. Also, for the placenta-less among us, it just generally sounds like a great sub for a 3pm coffee.
Recipe:
¼ cup raw placenta
8oz V-8 juice
2 ice cubes
½ cup carrot
Blend together at high speed for 10 seconds, sip, and enjoy!
5. Art Project Placenta. No joke: Some people actually use placenta to make commemorative art and even jewelry. You can have your placenta cast in bronze, made into varnished beads, or plasticized and framed. If you’re not up for a crafternoon (there is probably a new baby in your life, after all), we found one more option…
6. Placenta Planting. Is there a more ceremonious way to celebrate new life than to mirror it with the planting of a tree or something otherwise green? We love the idea of burying placenta in the backyard, or another meaningful location, as a way to connect to the earth and celebrate a new human being.
Image courtesy of theblaze.com
