Tag: Geophagia

Studies have shown that geophagia, the craving and eating of earth or clay, has been practiced across cultures for centuries. Understanding what causes a person to crave clay requires looking beyond a simple explanation and exploring a range of medical, psychological, and environmental factors.

Over centuries, humans and animals have occasionally practiced geophagia, the eating of earth, often due to mineral deficiencies or cultural beliefs. However, the direct ingestion of unprocessed rock is extremely dangerous and offers no meaningful nutritional benefits for humans, with the potential for severe health consequences. This article will delve into why you should never eat rocks, despite historical or anecdotal claims.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, pica is a relatively common mental health condition where a person compulsively eats non-food items, affecting certain populations more frequently. This behavior is known as the eating disorder in which people crave foods such as dirt or ice, and it can affect individuals of any age, though it is more common in children and pregnant women.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the practice of consuming earth, soil, or clay is an ancient habit, yet in modern contexts, it is medically known as pica. Pica is an eating disorder characterized by eating dirt or clay, along with other non-nutritive, non-food substances for at least one month. The behavior can be a sign of underlying nutritional deficiencies or other medical issues.

Though practiced for centuries in some cultures, in a 2017 study 54% of 597 pregnant participants in a South African study practiced geophagia. Experts caution against the assumption that this practice is harmless. Learn how much clay is safe to consume—or if any amount truly is—by understanding the significant health risks involved.

Reports show a significant prevalence of geophagia, the compulsive eating of earth, among certain populations, including pregnant women and children. The medical term for this behavior is a form of pica, and there are several potential underlying causes that drive cravings for dirt.

Archaeological evidence suggests that humans have consumed earth-like substances for millions of years. The craving for edible clay, known as geophagia, persists globally today, driven by a complex interplay of physiological, psychological, and cultural factors.

Between 30% and 50% of people experiencing pica, the craving for non-nutritive substances, have iron-deficiency anemia. This is an important symptom to understand.

According to a meta-analysis, 30-50% of people with unexplained pica cravings—especially for ice, clay, or starch—have iron-deficiency anemia. These unusual cravings for iron deficiency are a medical phenomenon known as pica, where individuals compulsively desire to eat non-food items.

According to a meta-analysis, individuals who report pica, the eating of non-nutritive substances, are 2.35 times more likely to also be anemic. A craving for soil, or geophagia, is a specific form of pica, and its origins are surprisingly complex, spanning physiological and psychological factors.