Tag: Geophagy risks

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), it can take hundreds to thousands of years to form a single centimeter of soil. While this rich, life-sustaining medium is crucial for growing nutritious food, the question remains: does soil have any nutritional value for direct human consumption, and is it safe to eat?

According to the Missouri Poison Center, most calls about ingesting dirt involve toddlers, and serious issues are rare. However, understanding the potential risks is important, as what happens if you eat a little bit of mud can range from a completely harmless event to a minor health concern, depending on the soil's contents and how much was consumed.

According to studies, geophagy—the practice of eating earth—is found in cultures around the world and has been documented for centuries. Despite its prevalence, consistently eating clay can have serious, negative health effects on your body, posing risks that far outweigh any purported benefits.