Tag: Craving dirt

According to a 2017 study in the journal *Nutrients*, iron deficiency can trigger a powerful and unusual craving for non-food items, a condition known as pica. These strange cravings, along with other symptoms, can be an indicator that your iron levels are low, and it is crucial to recognize these signals for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Medically known as geophagia, the practice of eating soil is a recognized form of the eating disorder pica and has been documented across cultures for centuries. From a health perspective, what does eating soil indicate and when should it be a cause for concern?

Studies show that pica, the compulsive craving for non-food items, affects a significant portion of pregnant women and children. These soil cravings, or geophagia, often indicate an underlying nutritional deficiency that your body is attempting to address, with one particular mineral being the most common culprit.

According to a 2017 study in South Africa, over half of pregnant women surveyed reported experiencing geophagia—the craving and eating of earthy substances. While this practice is sometimes rooted in cultural norms, a persistent desire for earthy foods or smells can be a sign of underlying physiological or psychological issues, including specific nutrient deficiencies or a condition known as pica.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, pica, the compulsive eating of non-food items, can be linked to nutrient deficiencies like low iron or zinc. If you find yourself thinking, "why do I crave dirt so much?", it could be a sign of this underlying issue, known specifically as geophagia.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, people who show signs of pica often have mineral deficiencies, such as iron, calcium, and zinc. So, what vitamin are you lacking when you crave dirt, or is this unusual craving pointing to something else entirely? The truth is, it’s most likely a mineral, not a vitamin deficiency, at play.

Approximately 24.3% of the global population is affected by anemia, and in many cases, it is caused by low iron levels. A common and often perplexing symptom that arises is the intense craving for unusual non-food substances or specific items—a condition known as pica. Understanding what foods do you crave when you have low iron is key to identifying and addressing this deficiency effectively.

Iron deficiency affects millions globally, and one of its most unusual symptoms is the development of strange and persistent cravings for things that are not food. This condition, known as pica, can lead anemic individuals to crave everything from ice and dirt to clay and starch. In contrast, some anemic people may experience a heightened desire for specific nutrient-dense foods.

According to a 2014 meta-analysis published in the *Journal of Nutrition*, individuals exhibiting pica, the compulsion to eat non-food items, were 2.4 times more likely to be anemic than those without the behavior. For those asking, "why do I have a craving for dirt?", this medical symptom warrants professional evaluation to identify the root cause.

According to a 2025 review in *BMC Oral Health*, craving non-nutritive substances like soil is strongly associated with underlying nutritional deficiencies, particularly anemia. This unusual compulsion, known as pica, can cause a person to crave soil and is often linked to the body's attempt to self-correct a mineral imbalance.