No Proven Benefits, Several Risks to Eating Placenta

The trend of eating placenta after childbirth "borders on cannibalism" and is only lining providers' pockets, rather than offering any benefit to women or their newborns. 

That's according to researchers of a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, which finds "no known scientifically proven benefits" to placentophagy, per the Independent

There are, however, several risks, including of viral and bacterial infections in mothers and their babies. The risk of infection may remain even when placenta is heated, freeze-dried, or turned into pill form, as there are no regulations on placenta preparation, and certain viruses, like HIV and hepatitis, are only killed when heated at high temperatures for hours, reports Live Science.

Read the full story on Newser.com

More From Newser

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content