Made up of the fetal membranes, amniotic sack, and umbilicus, the placenta supports the growth of a fertilized egg into a fully-formed infant. A fertilized egg emerges from the fallopian tube as a group of rapidly dividing cells called the embryo. When the embryo reaches the uterine wall several of these cells embed themselves into the mother’s tissue. These cells will grow into the placenta, while the cells that remain inside the uterus will become the fetus. (3)

Technically, the placenta does not belong to the mother. Her body may create it, but it is part of the developing child... it is made up of 50 percent genetic material from the father. Created from just sperm and egg, the placenta develops without any nerve cells… that means that the placenta functions on its own without being controlled by the mother’s brain... Incredible!

In order to support the growing baby the placenta is able to perform the tasks of multiple organs. It can essentially function as the baby's lungs to supply oxygen, kidneys to filter out waste, and as the gastrointestinal and immune systems by delivering nutrients and antibodies. It also functions as the baby's endocrine system, secreting hormones including estrogen, progesterone, and growth factors (IGF-1). These hormones and endorphins also help to keep the mother’s stress level in balance. With such an elegant design in form, function and fitness, it's clear as day that we need to bring this wise tradition (i.e. consuming placenta) back home.

The placenta supports both mother and child during pregnancy and postpartum as well. During birth, a mother will lose about 10% of her body’s blood supply (blood loss during cesarean section births can be significantly more). Consuming placenta benefits a new mother by supplying her with heme iron, amino acids, essential fats, stem cells and growth factors. Our functional healthcare practitioners have reported that mothers who consume placenta after birth bleed significantly less, have an elevated mood, and more energy.

• Nutritional support for after birth
• Postpartum support: mood, milk production, energy
• Nursing mothers
• Menopause
• Dry skin/skin elasticity

Contrary to the immediate cord cutting that takes place in modern medical facilities, leaving the placenta attached to the newborn for some time after birth allows more nutrients, vitamins, minerals, & antimicrobial peptides to travel through the umbilical cord to nurture the infant. Many women also believe that leaving the placenta attached for a few hours up to a few days after birth, allows the infant more time to transition into this world while still attached to its womb mother.

Our Grass Fed Beef Placenta is a whole food dietary supplement that provides 100% pure grass fed bovine placenta and liver. The suggested use of this supplement is to take 6 capsules per day (even though it technically is food) or as directed by a healthcare professional — for added support, the dose can be doubled. If consuming more than six capsules at once, the doses should be separated by at least three hours to improve tolerability.

Most customers tolerate our supplements without incident; however, approximately 5 to 10% of customers (usually with an autoimmune condition) may experience a detoxification reaction. Detoxification reactions go by many different names including healing reactions, healing crises, cleansing reactions (or) Herxheimer reactions with hallmark symptoms of nausea, headache, lethargy, dizziness and other flu-like symptoms. In this instance, detoxification reactions are generally an indication that detoxification pathways in the body are back online... cells suddenly have an opportunity to release an even greater than normal quantity of stored toxins, metabolic wastes, pathogens and unwanted material. 

A detoxification reaction is more likely to occur when starting with the full suggested serving size of 6 capsules per day. If you know that you are sensitive to supplements and/or you have an autoimmune condition, you may wish to start slow when adding this product to your current regimen. Tolerability can be greatly improved by starting with just 1 (or) 2 capsules a day and increasing by just 1 capsule every couple of days — this method may take a full two weeks to achieve the desired serving size of 6 capsules per day.

For customers that are highly sensitive to supplements and/or have an autoimmune and/or methylation SNPs, I suggest that you "play it safe" by introducing just one new capsule per week. In other words, just 1 capsule during the 1st week... 2 capsules during the 2nd week... 3 capsules during the 3rd week and so on... yes, this will take some time to reach the suggested dosages but this greatly helps to ensure tolerability of this deep nourishment so that it has a chance to do good.

Organs and glandulars were a staple of our early ancestors' diets as the ultimate superfood, for good reason. It turns out, this nourishing tradition is backed by science... "Radioisotope labeling studies in animals have shown conclusively that, when eaten, organs and glands selectively travel to the corresponding organs and glands in high concentrations. This research, done at the University of Scotland in Edinburgh, lends credence to the ancient practice of eating animal organs to help ensure health in one’s corresponding organs..." - Dr. Ron Schmid, ND.(4)

Placenta is rich in heme iron, vitamins D3, B6, B12, E, selenium, stem cells, growth factors, cytokines, and hormone cofactors. The daily requirements for these essential vitamins and minerals increase during pregnancy, and each plays an important role in speeding postpartum healing, stimulating lactation, and supporting overall health.

  Heme Iron
  Grass Fed Beef Placenta is a rich source of bioavailable heme iron. For women, there is a clear link between low iron status and poor pregnancy outcomes... such as low birth weight, preterm birth, and miscarriages. Iron requirements during pregnancy are considerably higher than usual; yet, over 20% of women in developed countries enter pregnancy with extremely low iron stores, with figures in developing countries likely even higher.

Depending on whether we are female or male, we have about 2-4 grams of iron in our bodies. Iron comes in two forms: heme and non-heme. More than 95% of functional iron in the human body is in the form of heme. Heme iron is only found in animal food sources (muscle meat, organs, blood, etc.). Non-heme iron is found in plant foods like whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, and leafy greens. Heme iron is more bioavailable (absorbed more efficiently) than non-heme iron, thus the body is more likely to absorb iron from animal products than iron derived from plant foods.

If you are interested in learning more about heme iron supplementation, be sure to check out our Blood Vitality page and read the section titled Iron Management.

Vitamin D
Other than the skin, liver, and kidneys, the only other organ which metabolizes vitamin D is the placenta, where it is synthesized into the active metabolites involved in bone growth and fetal development.

For pregnant women and those planning to become pregnant, vitamin D is of particular importance as it helps to mitigate glucose regulation, develop healthy bones and even helps to tone the uterus – helping the uterus to contract properly during labor. For women suffering from polycystic ovarian disease, vitamin D is helpful as it offers beneficial effects on insulin resistance.

For the good of your placenta and growing baby too, get your daily dose of midday sunshine and enjoy vitamin D-rich foods like Wild Caught Fish Eggs, pastured animal fats (including our Pure Marrow, and Tallow) and raw Grass Fed dairy. One tablespoon of fish eggs supplies even more Vitamin D3 than a midday dose of daily sunshine! This is the vitamin D3 boost that the Inuit and traditional mountain-dwelling tribes of South America used to feed children, pregnant women, and their elders when sunlight was not a readily available option.

B VITAMINS
Several B-vitamins help the body metabolize fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. They also help the nervous system function properly and are necessary for a healthy liver, skin, hair, and eyes. Grass Fed Beef Placenta is a whole food supplement that is rich in B vitamins, which support fundamental health, positive mental outlook, iron status, immune function, and cardiovascular health.(5)

B6 (pyridoxal)
Grass fed beef organs, including liver and placenta, are some of the richest sources of bioavailable vitamin B6, which is an important catalyst for over 100 different reactions in your body. (6) Pregnant women with low levels of B6 are at high risk to suffer preeclampsia or eclampsia, which is usually also associated with folate and vitamin D deficiency.(7) Vitamin B6 is also an ingredient for all three of the important neurotransmitters in the brain: dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. Imbalances of these neurotransmitters are connected with specific symptoms of major depressive disorder and may also contribute to postpartum depression.(8) The human body neither produces nor stores vitamin B6 so it is essential to get enough in your diet every day by eating grass fed beef liver, pasture-raised poultry, wild-caught seafood, and whole food supplements like Grass Fed Beef Placenta.

B12 (cobalamin)
Vitamin B12 works synergistically with folate to synthesize DNA and red blood cells. It assists in the production of myelin, which protects your nerve cells (neurons) and regulates nerve impulse transmission.(9) Vitamin B12 deficiency during pregnancy is associated with neural tube defect (NTD) and preterm delivery. That said, many other B12 deficiency symptoms that can occur in anyone including anemia, cognitive decline, memory loss, brain fog, depression, cardiovascular problems, peripheral neuropathy (numbness, tingling, burning in the hands, legs, and feet), impaired immune function, infertility, developmental and learning disabilities. Unfortunately, B12 deficiency is often missed by physicians and diagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis.

A common myth among vegetarians and vegans is that it’s possible to get B12 from plant sources like seaweed, fermented soy, spirulina, and brewer’s yeast. The truth is, there are almost no vegan sources of vitamin B12. Nearly all seaweed tested has been revealed to contain vitamin B12 analogs (that is, chemically similar) called cobamides that actually block the intake of—and increase the need for—true B12.(10)

B12 is also known as Cobalamin because it contains the trace element cobalt. Cobalamin is produced in the gut of animals and is found almost exclusively in animal foods. Some of the best sources of B12 are liver, clams, oysters, mussels, fish eggs, octopus, crab, lobster, beef, lamb, cheese, and eggs. We can avoid all forms of anemia, cognitive decline, cardiovascular and immune issues simply by consuming the foods of our ancestors.

Selenium
Selenium deficiency is a modern health issue...common in people worldwide who are dependent on food grown in low-selenium soil, and also those with digestive disorders, HIV, or who are undergoing dialysis. A high serum level of selenium has been shown to decrease the risk of breast cancer, lung cancer, esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, and prostate cancer.(11) So you don’t want to mess around with not getting enough.

Due to farming practices, soil conditions, and climate, plant-based sources of this essential mineral are notoriously random, with the actual amount of selenium ranging from 11% to 288% of the recommended daily amount in one study of Brazil nuts.(12) Even in deficient environments, all animals have homeostatic systems to regulate the amount of selenium and other micronutrients in their organs.(13) Grass Fed Beef Placenta is an ideal candidate for a bioavailable whole food dietary source of selenium.

Placental Opioid-Enhancing Factor (POEF)
The ingestion of placenta produces pain-relieving effects in mammals. According to a recent study, this is due to the ‘Placental Opioid-Enhancing Factor’ (POEF) which is present in the placenta of humans and related species.

To be fair, the native inhabitants of North and South America and Ancient Egyptians would not be very impressed with these “modern medical breakthroughs.” Whether the molecular mechanism was perfectly understood is purely academic, our ancestors knew all about the pain-relieving qualities of high-quality animal placenta for thousands of years.

Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH)
CRH is secreted by the hypothalamus and placenta to release hormones and endorphins which work together to reduce stress and elevate mood. The hypothalamus in the brain is the only source of CRH for most women and all men. During pregnancy, however, the placenta begins to release large amounts of a special kind of CRH to keep the expectant mother’s stress hormones in balance. The placenta increases CRH production threefold during the late stages of pregnancy.(14) Following childbirth, the placenta retains a large amount of CRH, however, the mother’s level now drops to below normal.(15) This is important because CRH stimulates the production of both cortisol and β-endorphin, the latter binds with opioid receptors to elevate mood and relieve stress. Cortisol releases stored glucose, stimulates fat metabolism from adipose tissue and modulates the immune system to maximize the healing response. CRH seems like a good candidate for why consuming placenta may have a positive effect on postpartum depression and stimulating healing after childbirth.(16)

Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant that is essential for the production and maintenance of healthy skin. Consuming Vitamin E rich foods provides our sebum with the raw materials to hydrate and nourish our skin. It's interesting to note that topically applying nourishing fats, like Pure Marrow, can also supply the skin with specific vitamin E forms that we don't absorb when we eat them.

According to the National Institutes of Health, Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that may help reduce free radical damage and slow the aging process of your cells. Vitamin E can also absorb the energy from ultraviolet (UV) light. It plays an important role in photoprotection, preventing UV-induced free radical damage to skin.

Grass fed liver holds the nutritional keys to overall health as it is particularly rich in vitamin A, B12, K2, choline, folate, riboflavin and many other powerful nutrients that most people are deficient in.

Vitamin A is one of several fat-soluble activators necessary for the assimilation of minerals in the diet and its many functions include forming and maintaining healthy teeth, skin, mucous membranes, skeletal and soft tissues. Vitamin A also plays a key role in the function of the unborn child’s immune system and is vital for the healthy development of the unborn child's vision, in addition to other organs and the fetal skeleton.

Vitamin K2 is one of the fat-soluble activators, a super nutrient that enables our bodies to absorb and utilize all of the minerals from the foods we eat. Unsurprisingly then, Vitamin K2 is essential for conception, fetal development and hormone production. "It is possible to starve for minerals that are abundant in the foods eaten because they cannot be utilized without an adequate quantity of the fat-soluble activators.” - Weston A. Price.

Choline plays a crucial role in placental development and exponential fetal organ growth. Choline also supports tooth development, as well as brain development, and significantly decreases the chances of cognitive dysfunction.

High-quality desiccated beef liver supports our fertility as well as our connective tissue systems (skin, hair, gums, ligaments, tendons, etc.), energy metabolism, immune, hormone, heart, and brain health.

Whether from grass fed beef, bison, or lamb, grass fed liver is one of the most nutrient-dense, health-promoting foods you could possibly eat. Our genome has evolved with the nourishment of liver since the beginning of time… Hunters all over the world, for uncounted thousands of years, would first eat the raw livers of the animals they killed. Lions and other predatory animals will also eat the liver first.

Okay, you're convinced! You're going to start incorporating like-supports-like nourishment in your routine because, well... you're educated now... you understand, just as our early ancestors did, that they provide superlative health benefits that are missing in our modern diets. The next step is sourcing it. It's important that you source the highest quality because not all organs, glands and cartilage are created equal. Consider the source. 

• Should Come from An Unpolluted Geographical Region — Isolated, Healthy, Pristine Lands and Waters
• Should Come from Pasture Raised or Wild Caught Animals
• Should Come from Grass Fed & Grass-Finished Animals
• Should Come from Animals That Are Hormone, Pesticide & GMO-Free
• Should Also Be Ultra-Pure... Absolutely No Fillers (or) Flow Agents, No Allergens
• Should Be Non-Defatted
• Should Be 100% Freeze-dried... Freeze Drying Preserves Heat Sensitive Biological Activity

In stark contrast to the fertility issues of overabundance in today’s world, the biggest issue for our ancestors was a lack of food and lack of body fat, coupled with too much activity. The body has finite resources, and it can’t spend them on reproduction if it thinks you are starving.

The renowned scientist Bruce Ames put forth the Triage Theory to explain this phenomenon. Essentially, short-term survival is favored over long-term health and reproduction when there is a shortage of nutrients. If you aren’t getting enough fat-soluble vitamins and minerals, as could easily happen in our ancestors’ unpredictable times, then what you do get will go towards keeping you alive, not towards fertility.

This resulted in many cultures valuing certain foods for fertility, consuming them in preparation for pregnancy. Both men and women took part — these foods were non-negotiable additions to the diet to purify the body and prepare the womb.

Weston A. Price knew early on that they were rich in mineral and fat-soluble vitamins (called fat-soluble activators at the time):

“One of the serious human deficiencies is the inability to synthesize certain of the activators which include the known vitamins… I have shown that the primitive races studied were dependent upon one of three sources for some of these fat-soluble factors, namely, seafoods, organs of animals, or dairy products. These are all of animal origin.”

Fish eggs, shellfish, and fatty fish are rich in several fat-soluble vitamins, minerals, and essential fats. These foods were staples among the Inuit of Alaska, the Maori in New Zealand, the islanders of Northern Australia, and the native tribes in the various archipelagos of the South Pacific. Even our Native American ancestors would go to great lengths to obtain fish eggs, be it through trade or their own accords:

“It was, accordingly, a matter of great interest to discover that these Indians used regularly dried fish eggs from the sea… When I inquired of them why they used this material they explained that it was necessary to maintain the fertility of their women. I was informed also that every exchange depot and market carried these dried fish eggs so that they were always available.”

Organ meats were consumed in virtually every indigenous culture. Liver, especially, is known as nature’s multivitamin and the most nutrient-dense food on the planet. In fact, our Native American ancestors would commonly favor organ meats over muscle meat, feeding that to their dogs.

“I found the Indians putting great emphasis upon the eating of the organs of the animals, including the wall of parts of the digestive tract. Much of the muscle meat of the animals was fed to the dogs.”

Among the organ meats, thyroid gland was especially important for fertility. Our ancestors living far North would gorge on moose thyroid glands during winter months and have most of the children born during summer months as a result. Perhaps we can learn something from them about the importance of thyroid health for reproduction.

“For the Indians of the far North [fertility] reinforcement was accomplished by supplying special feedings of organs of animals. Among the Indians in the moose country near the Arctic circle, a larger percentage of the children were born in June than in any other month. This was accomplished, I was told, by both parents eating liberally of the thyroid glands of the male moose as they came down from the high mountain areas for the mating season, at which time the large protuberances carrying the thyroids under the throat were greatly enlarged.”

Raw dairy products like fresh milk, cream, and butter were regularly eaten among cultures that herded mammals. This includes the Swiss in the high Alps, the Arabs (using camel's milk), and the Asiatic races (using milk of sheep and musk ox). The best butter comes from cows eating rapidly growing green grass in the spring and fall.

“I have referred to the importance of a high vitamin butter for providing the fat-soluble activators to make possible the utilization of the minerals in the foods. In this connection, it is of interest that butter constitutes the principal source of these essential factors for many primitive groups throughout the world.”

Eggs and bone marrow were consumed opportunistically among those tribes that had access. After all, not all of our ancestors regularly hunted big game or scavenged for eggs. But when these foods were available, our ancestors made sure to stock up.

“It is important that skeletons are rarely found where large game animals have been slaughtered by the Indians of the North. The skeletal remains are found as piles of finely broken bone chips or splinters that have been cracked up to obtain as much as possible of the marrow and nutritive qualities of the bones.”

You can find the full-length article here...