Tag: Sensory cravings

According to the National Institutes of Health, the craving for non-food items like starch can be a symptom of a condition known as pica. Understanding why do people eat pure cornstarch often involves looking beyond simple cravings and delving into potential underlying health and psychological factors.

According to a 2015 meta-analysis, individuals who practice amylophagia, or the compulsive ingestion of starch, are 3.1 times more likely to have anemia compared to those who do not. This craving to eat cornstarch straight is often a sign of an underlying medical or psychological issue, rather than a simple food preference.

While most people use cornstarch to thicken sauces and gravies, a rising trend on social media features individuals consuming it directly. This phenomenon has led many to ask, **Why are people eating cooked cornstarch?** The answer, however, reveals a deeper issue often tied to a craving for the *raw* powder rather than the cooked version.

According to research, the compulsive consumption of non-food items or food with no nutritional value is called pica, and an intense craving for cornstarch is a specific type known as amylophagia. This behavior often points to a potential underlying health issue, and understanding the root cause is the first step toward finding a safe resolution.