# Career opportunity in cannibalism **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 9, 2010, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/career-opportunity-in-cannibalism/556617 "2010-10-09T17:40:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/career-opportunity-in-cannibalism/556617/1 "2010-10-09T17:40:13Z")
Well, we shouldn’t call it cannibalism…try _placentophagy_. You too can help new moms eat their baby’s placenta after giving birth - by becoming a [Certified Placenta Encapsulation Specialist](http://blog.placentabenefits.info/index.php/2010/05/certified-placenta-specialist-why/). For only $295 you can be trained to make placenta capsules in your home, following the right recipe and using proper food handling techniques for safety. Learn the tricks of the trade, like making sure Mom doesn’t accidentally eat someone else’s placenta. :eek: True, there remain doubters regarding the nutritional, emotional and esthetic issues surrounding placentophagy, and a lack of research showing it’s worthwhile. But you’ll be Certified and can overcome all that. I may have to get into this work. We’ve got no shortage of placentas here at the hospital. All I need is to convince Mrs. J. to share her kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/career-opportunity-in-cannibalism/556617/2 "2010-10-09T19:09:16Z")
Perhaps you can go the the market and buy some “placenta helper” It is next to the" hamburger helper". ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/career-opportunity-in-cannibalism/556617/3 "2010-10-09T21:39:59Z")
If I was going to eat placenta - highly unlikely, but let’s assume some bizarre reason for it - why would I put it into _capsules_ instead of, oh, I don’t know, making stew out of it or something like that? If you’re doing it for the health benefits (which I’ve heard from some crunchy-granola hippie types) I seriously doubt stuffing it into little capsules will _improve_ anything. And if you’re that revolted by the idea that you can’t choke it down without turning it into medicine maybe you shouldn’t eat it at all. Try some vegetables or fruit, maybe, as those are both good nutrition choices. ---
**Author:** ![Nancarrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c37758/32.png) [@Nancarrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nancarrow)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/career-opportunity-in-cannibalism/556617/4 "2010-10-10T17:44:04Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Try some vegetables or fruit Now that’s just _gross_. ---
**Author:** ![may\_be\_ignorant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c5a1d2/32.png) [@may\_be\_ignorant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/may_be_ignorant)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/career-opportunity-in-cannibalism/556617/5 "2010-10-10T19:06:44Z")
Actually, I prefefer my placenta fresh, plain, and raw. I generally try to slurp it up. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/career-opportunity-in-cannibalism/556617/6 "2010-10-10T19:17:45Z")
Here are some [placenta recipes](http://pregnancy.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=pregnancy&cdn=parenting&tm=30&gps=170_652_1003_592&f=10&su=p504.3.336.ip_&tt=2&bt=1&bts=1&st=30&zu=http%3A//www.gentlebirth.org/archives/etplcnt2.html) for those who don’t want to lose any of the yummy goodness through making capsules. It’s bizarre (beyond the bizarreness of placentophagy itself) that recipes refer to cooking the “meat” of the placenta. There is no meat as most of us would understand it in a placenta - it’s almost entirely spongy little sacs filled with blood. Placenta steak is bound to disappoint. If nothing else, I hope that this thread has helped some people follow their diet plans due to appetite reduction. ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/career-opportunity-in-cannibalism/556617/7 "2010-10-10T20:00:32Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > If nothing else, I hope that this thread has helped some people follow their diet plans due to appetite reduction. I am eating wads of shaved deli turkey with my fingers, pinched straight from the bag, while reading it. Not done yet. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/career-opportunity-in-cannibalism/556617/8 "2010-10-11T00:15:57Z")
> [@may\_be\_ignorant](#): > > Actually, I prefefer my placenta fresh, plain, and raw. I generally try to slurp it up. The mental image that this post has just raised in my mind is not making my lunch sit all that well… I guess it might be the “just _how_ fresh are we talking…” part. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/career-opportunity-in-cannibalism/556617/9 "2010-10-11T01:44:04Z")
> [@Apollyon](#): > > > [@may\_be\_ignorant](#): > > > > Actually, I prefefer my placenta fresh, plain, and raw. I generally try to slurp it up. > > The mental image that this post has just raised in my mind is not making my lunch sit all that well… I guess it might be the “just _how_ fresh are we talking…” part. :eek: Straight from the mom’s vagina to his mouth? 😉 He can slurp it up like a piece of spaghetti! ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/career-opportunity-in-cannibalism/556617/10 "2010-10-11T06:24:49Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Straight from the mom’s vagina to his mouth? 😉 He can slurp it up like a piece of spaghetti! Get out of my head! 🙂 (And yes, that _was_ the disturbing image). ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/career-opportunity-in-cannibalism/556617/11 "2010-10-11T06:44:45Z")
Fill in the blanks: Little Jack Horner sat in a corner, eating… Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet, eating… Peter, Peter, … eater. ---
**Author:** ![Ninja\_Lauren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/46a35a/32.png) [@Ninja\_Lauren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ninja_Lauren)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/career-opportunity-in-cannibalism/556617/12 "2010-10-11T12:10:03Z")
I can’t remember what I was watching, but the other night on t.v. I saw a craigslist ad from a woman looking for someone to prepare her placenta so she could eat it later. Blech! I don’t care what it’s good for, I think I’ll pass. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/career-opportunity-in-cannibalism/556617/13 "2010-10-11T12:12:09Z")
Do I have to ask why anyone does this in the first place? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/career-opportunity-in-cannibalism/556617/14 "2010-10-11T16:38:12Z")
Why do people have goldfish eating contests? People are strange, and some of them eat strange stuff. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/career-opportunity-in-cannibalism/556617/15 "2010-10-11T16:53:18Z")
> [@may\_be\_ignorant](#): > > Actually, I prefefer my placenta fresh, plain, and raw. I generally try to slurp it up. That’s the only way it would be of any value. The placenta contains pitocin, a compound that helps the uterus clamp down and stop bleeding. Pitocin is also available in an IV form, much easier to administer properly, as in enough to stop excessive bleeding, but not so much as to rupture the friable uterus. Animals chew, or eat the placenta for this reason. Your cat is smarter than you are in knowing how much to eat/chew. Just sayin’ ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/career-opportunity-in-cannibalism/556617/16 "2010-10-11T19:32:25Z")
I think the same rules apply to placentas here as well… don’t be a jerky. ---
**Author:** ![may\_be\_ignorant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c5a1d2/32.png) [@may\_be\_ignorant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/may_be_ignorant)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/career-opportunity-in-cannibalism/556617/17 "2010-10-11T19:40:01Z")
> [@Apollyon](#): > > > [@may\_be\_ignorant](#): > > > > Actually, I prefefer my placenta fresh, plain, and raw. I generally try to slurp it up. > > The mental image that this post has just raised in my mind is not making my lunch sit all that well… I guess it might be the “just _how_ fresh are we talking…” part. :eek: Yeah, its still gotta be hot if you catch my drift. ---
**Author:** ![Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fried_Dough_Ho)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/career-opportunity-in-cannibalism/556617/18 "2010-10-11T19:42:13Z")
Which begs the question (à la oysters…): Who thought of eating one in the first place and WHY? \* Note: I know several people who have.\* ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/career-opportunity-in-cannibalism/556617/19 "2010-10-11T19:48:52Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > > [@may\_be\_ignorant](#): > > > > Actually, I prefefer my placenta fresh, plain, and raw. I generally try to slurp it up. > > That’s the only way it would be of any value. The placenta contains pitocin, a compound that helps the uterus clamp down and stop bleeding. Pitocin is also available in an IV form, much easier to administer properly, as in enough to stop excessive bleeding, but not so much as to rupture the friable uterus. > > Animals chew, or eat the placenta for this reason. Your cat is smarter than you are in knowing how much to eat/chew. Excuse my possible pharmacologic ignorance, but I thought pitocin (at least whatever form might be in a placenta) is destroyed by digestion in the G.I. tract, which is why it’s customarily given intravenously. Anyway, to answer **Marley** , the reasons I’ve seen given for placentophagy relate to nutritional factors, supposed calming/anti-depressive effects and mystical significance (being at one with Nature/the rest of the mammalian world etc.). There are surely more dependable, effective and palatable ways to get your vitamins and iron than eating a placenta. As to mood enhancement, there are no studies I know of to show that placenta capsules/Placenta Spaghetti Bolognese are better mood enhancers than Roast Placebo. As an aside: I routinely examine and section (cut up) placentas for pathologic examination in our lab. In a fresh state they are among the slimiest, bloodiest and all-around ickiest specimens that we get. Labor & Delivery generally send them to us in tubs containing maybe a teaspoonful of formalin, not nearly enough to fix/preserve them properly before they get to us. ---
**Author:** ![Morella](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Morella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morella)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/career-opportunity-in-cannibalism/556617/20 "2010-10-11T20:02:07Z")
> [@](#): > > Animals chew, or eat the placenta for this reason. Your cat is smarter than you are in knowing how much to eat/chew. Umm…my sister had a dog that would chow on cat turds out of the litter box. Should we all be eating cat shit? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/career-opportunity-in-cannibalism/556617.md?page=2)