New mothers who consume their placenta after birth could be putting their health at risk, experts claim.
A panel of health experts led by an obstetrician from New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City studied the consumption of this organ in various forms – including pills and it being cooked – and found inadequate preparation could be insufficient to eradicate infections such as Zika, hepatitis and HIV.
Consuming the placenta has become increasingly popular among new mothers because of the many benefits proponents have claimed it has on the body including less risk of getting postpartum depression, increased mood and energy levels.
Experts found no evidence that there are health benefits to consuming placenta and went as far as to urge doctors to warn their patients against it.
In June, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that newborns were developing a form of sepsis from contaminated breast milk due to placenta capsules.
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