The Kardashians are known for their over-the-top lifestyles and their willingness to share even the most intimate details of their lives on their reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians. One of the most controversial things they’ve done on the show is when several of the Kardashian sisters decided to eat their placentas after giving birth. The trend of placenta consumption, known as placentophagy, has become increasingly popular among celebrity moms despite a lack of proven benefits. Eating the placenta is claimed to help balance hormones, increase milk supply, and prevent postpartum depression. However, there is no scientific evidence to back up these assertions. The episode where the Kardashians eat their placentas highlights the extremes they go to in their quest for youth, beauty, and wellness.
When did the Kardashian sisters consume their placentas?
The first incident of placenta consumption by a Kardashian sister on the show was when Kourtney Kardashian ate her placenta in pill form after giving birth to her daughter Penelope in 2012. She stated that she had read about the health benefits of placentophagy and wanted to try it as a way to replenish nutrients and hormones after childbirth. She worked with a company to have her placenta steamed, dehydrated, and encapsulated into pills to make the process easier. Kourtney claimed the placenta pills helped with her mood, energy levels, and milk production after welcoming Penelope.
The next sister to jump on the placenta bandwagon was Kim Kardashian after she gave birth to her son Saint West in 2015. She also had her placenta steamed, dehydrated, and put into pills by the same company that worked with Kourtney. Kim stated that she noticed a huge difference in her recovery from the birth compared to her first pregnancy when she didn’t consume her placenta. She claimed the pills helped increase her breast milk production and energy levels dramatically.
Kourtney Kardashian
- Ate placenta pills after birth of daughter Penelope in 2012
- Said it helped with mood, energy, milk supply
Kim Kardashian
- Ate placenta pills after birth of son Saint in 2015
- Said it increased milk supply and energy
How did they consume their placentas?
The Kardashian sisters who ate their placentas after giving birth – Kourtney and Kim – both opted to have their placentas encapsulated into pill form by a placenta encapsulation specialist. This process involves:
- Steaming the placenta to clean it and remove any blood clots
- Dehydrating the placenta either using a food dehydrator or low-heat oven
- Grinding the dried placenta into a powder
- Placing the placenta powder into gelatin capsules
Taking placenta pills is seen as an easier and more palatable way to consume the placenta rather than eating it raw or cooking it. The placenta encapsulation process reduces the risk of bacterial contamination compared to just consuming it straight after birth without preparation. However, there are still no regulations around safe placenta encapsulation procedures.
Placenta Encapsulation Process
- Steaming
- Dehydrating
- Grinding
- Encapsulating
What did other Kardashian family members think?
When Kourtney and Kim first revealed they were consuming their placentas after birth, the other Kardashian family members had mixed reactions about the unusual practice:
Kris Jenner (mom)
Initially thought it was “crazy” but came around to the idea after hearing Kourtney’s reasons for trying it. She was supportive of both her daughters’ decisions.
Khloe Kardashian (sister)
Said she thought it was “gross and disgusting” when she first heard but wasn’t going to judge her sisters for their choices. Decided she personally did not want to eat her own placenta.
Kendall Jenner (half-sister)
Couldn’t understand why someone would want to eat their placenta and said it freaked her out. Not something she would ever consider.
Kylie Jenner (half-sister)
Also thought the concept was strange at first but ultimately was open-minded and non-judgemental about her sisters’ decisions to consume their placentas.
What were the purported benefits?
Kourtney and Kim Kardashian claimed several benefits from eating their placentas in pill form after giving birth, including:
Hormone regulation
They believed consuming their placentas helped balance their hormones and prevent severe “baby blues” or postpartum depression after birth. Some theorize placenta contains hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and oxytocin that help stabilize mood.
Increased milk supply
Both Kourtney and Kim said taking placenta pills noticeably increased their breast milk production. Some suggest placenta contains hormones that boost lactation.
More energy
They claimed placenta pills gave them much more energy compared to their previous births when they didn’t eat placenta. However, these are anecdotal reports.
Quicker recovery
The sisters said they felt their recovery from labor and delivery was faster after taking placenta pills. This could also be attributed to placebo effect.
| Claimed Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Hormone regulation | Help stabilize mood and prevent baby blues/PPD |
| Increased milk supply | Boost breast milk production |
| More energy | Increase energy levels postpartum |
| Quicker recovery | Faster physical recovery after birth |
Is there any scientific evidence to support placentophagy?
Despite the benefits claimed by the Kardashians and other celebrity moms who have eaten their placentas, there is currently no scientific evidence from human clinical trials to support the practice of placentophagy. Some key points about the lack of evidence:
- No large, controlled studies on effects of placentophagy in humans postpartum
- Existing animal research does not translate directly to humans
- Potential risks not well-understood due to lack of research
- Any benefits likely placebo effect rather than biological mechanism
- More research needed to make conclusions on safety and efficacy
The main claims around placentophagy – like regulating hormones, increasing milk supply, and boosting mood – stem primarily from anecdotal reports that are subject to bias. While few risks have been reported, the lack of safety regulations for processing and preparing placenta is also concerning. More research in humans is needed before the practice can be endorsed based on solid scientific evidence.
Key Points on Evidence for Placentophagy
- No large human studies
- Animal research can’t be directly applied
- Lack of safety data
- Purported benefits likely placebo
- More research needed
What do medical experts say?
Despite the hype around placentophagy, most medical and health experts do not recommend the practice due to the lack of evidence of benefits and potential safety concerns. Here are the positions of several key medical organizations:
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
ACOG released a statement disapproving of placentophagy, saying: “Placentophagy has potential risks and no documented benefits. There are no studies that prove maternal or infant benefits and there are potential risks including infection if consumed raw.”
The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
The CDC does not advise placentophagy, warning that handling and consuming placenta could spread bacterial or viral infections to mom and baby. They state: “There are no proven benefits, and it could be unsafe.”
The American Pregnancy Association
The American Pregnancy Association recommends against placentophagy as there is no scientific research on its benefits or risks to mother or infant. They state: “There is no evidence it contains nutrients not found elsewhere.”
The Mayo Clinic
The Mayo Clinic advises against placentophagy as there is no research to support health benefits and there are potential risks of bacterial infection. They conclude: “There’s no scientific evidence that placentophagy is safe or that it offers health benefits.”
Are there any risks or downsides?
Despite the lack of evidence on the risks of placentophagy, there are some possible safety concerns medical experts have raised:
- Infection risk – Consuming uncooked placenta could transfer bacteria like group B streptococcus or viruses like hepatitis to mom. Proper handling and steaming may lower but not eliminate risks.
- Imbalanced nutrients – Placenta may not contain optimal ratios of nutrients needed for postpartum recovery and lactation.
- Hormonal effects – Placenta hormones likely degraded by processing; unknown if remains have desirable or adverse hormonal impacts.
- Individual reactions – Those with allergies or sensitivities could have bad reactions, e.g. to gelatin capsules.
- Lack of screening – No safety screening or standards for placental encapsulation companies.
While risks appear low, a lack of data makes it difficult to conclusively determine the safety profile of placentophagy. More research is needed to establish potential downsides. The placenta does contain beneficial nutrients and hormones but destruction during processing calls into question whether measurable benefits remain.
Conclusion
The Kardashians helped bring placentophagy into the spotlight by sharing their experiences eating placenta pills on their reality show. However, their glowing anecdotes are not backed by scientific evidence. More research is needed to establish safety guidelines and determine if there are true benefits for mood, lactation, energy, and postpartum recovery. While risks appear minimal, experts recommend caution until more data is available. Given the lack of proven benefits and the limited data on potential downsides, most medical professionals advise against the practice outside of clinical trials. Pregnant women or those who have recently given birth should speak to their doctor before consuming their placenta.