The Truth About the Benefits of Taking Ayilo and Its Significant Dangers

December 24, 2025 •

4 min read

According to a 2017 study in South Africa, 54% of pregnant women surveyed reported eating soil, a practice also common with ayilo consumption. While many people believe there are benefits of taking ayilo, a baked kaolin clay, the scientific evidence points toward significant health dangers that far outweigh any anecdotal or unsubstantiated claims.

Quick Summary

This article explores the anecdotal benefits attributed to consuming ayilo clay and provides a critical, evidence-based review of the serious health risks. It examines why people develop cravings and offers safe, medically-approved alternatives.

Key Points

Ancecdotal Benefits: Traditional use claims include relief from nausea and digestive discomfort during pregnancy, but these are largely unsupported by modern science.
Heavy Metal Contamination: Ayilo is often contaminated with toxic heavy metals like lead and arsenic, posing severe risks of poisoning, especially to pregnant women and children.
Nutrient Absorption Blockage: Clay binds to essential minerals like iron and zinc, leading to deficiencies and anemia, a common problem among consumers.
Gastrointestinal Dangers: Large consumption can cause serious intestinal blockages and severe constipation.
Pica and Addiction: The craving for ayilo is a form of pica, a condition that can become addictive and indicates a potential underlying issue, like a mineral deficiency.
Safer Alternatives: For those with cravings, consulting a doctor for professional advice and exploring safe, medically-approved alternatives is the best approach.

What Is Ayilo?

Ayilo, also known by various local names such as 'shile' or 'agatawe' in Ghana, is a baked kaolin or bentonite clay. It is traditionally consumed by pregnant women and others, often molded into egg-shaped balls and baked. The practice of eating earth or clay is scientifically known as geophagy and is prevalent in many parts of the world, driven by a range of factors from cultural beliefs to nutritional deficiencies. Craving and eating non-food items, including clay, is a condition called pica.

Traditional and Anecdotal Claims of Benefits

For generations, the consumption of ayilo has been linked to a number of perceived health advantages, particularly for pregnant women. These beliefs are often passed down through cultural tradition rather than supported by modern medical science.

Relief from Nausea and Morning Sickness: One of the most frequently cited reasons for taking ayilo is its ability to soothe stomach distress and morning sickness during pregnancy. Some believe the clay's texture and neutral flavor provide comfort.
Alleviating Digestive Problems: Ayilo is traditionally used to prevent diarrhea and general gastrointestinal discomfort. Its absorbent properties are thought to bind to and remove toxins or irritants from the digestive tract.
Supplementing Minerals: While not a reliable source, some consumers believe they are absorbing beneficial minerals like calcium, magnesium, and iron from the clay. However, research shows that clay often inhibits nutrient absorption rather than aiding it.
Detoxification: Some proponents suggest that clay acts as a natural detoxifier by adsorbing unwanted substances from the digestive system. This theory is based on limited animal and in vitro studies and lacks conclusive human evidence.

Serious Health Risks Associated with Ayilo Consumption

Despite the anecdotal claims, numerous studies and health warnings have highlighted severe risks linked to consuming ayilo, especially when sourced from unregulated markets.

Heavy Metal Poisoning

One of the most significant dangers is contamination with heavy metals. Uncertified clay products are not regulated and can contain toxic levels of substances like lead, arsenic, and mercury. UNICEF and other organizations have reported high lead contamination in clay from certain regions. Lead poisoning can cause kidney damage, impaired cognitive function, and is particularly harmful during pregnancy, potentially leading to brain impairment and growth retardation in the fetus.

Nutrient Deficiencies and Anemia

The very properties that make clay appealing for some—its ability to bind to substances—also make it dangerous. Clay can bind to essential nutrients, such as iron and zinc, preventing their absorption in the intestines. This can lead to serious nutritional deficiencies and anemia, a risk amplified during pregnancy when nutrient needs are higher.

Gastrointestinal Complications

Consuming large quantities of clay can lead to severe gastrointestinal problems.

Intestinal Blockage: Ingesting large, indigestible quantities of clay can cause dangerous intestinal obstructions requiring surgical intervention.
Severe Constipation: Clay's absorbent nature can cause or worsen constipation.
Parasitic and Microbial Infestation: Unsanitary clay from uncontrolled sources can contain harmful parasites like parasitic worms and bacteria such as Clostridium tetani, the cause of tetanus.

Comparison of Ayilo Claims vs. Scientific Evidence


Feature	Traditional/Anecdotal Claims	Scientific Findings and Warnings
Soothes Nausea	Widely used by pregnant women to relieve morning sickness.	Anecdotal; risks (heavy metal exposure, anemia) far outweigh any short-term relief.
Treats Diarrhea	Believed to stop diarrhea by absorbing toxins.	Some studies on specific medicinal clays support anti-diarrheal effects, but unprocessed ayilo lacks consistent proof and carries contamination risks.
Detoxification	Thought to bind to and eliminate toxins from the body.	Limited evidence, primarily from animal studies. Ingesting unregulated clay could introduce, not remove, toxins like lead.
Mineral Supplement	Considered a source of beneficial minerals.	Scientific evidence shows clay binds to nutrients like iron and zinc, inhibiting absorption and potentially causing anemia.

Safe and Proven Alternatives

Instead of taking ayilo, a number of safe and effective alternatives exist for addressing the issues that trigger geophagy:

For Nausea: Healthcare providers can recommend safe and effective treatments for morning sickness, such as vitamin B6 supplements or anti-nausea medications. Ginger tea is a natural remedy often used to calm upset stomachs.
For Mineral Deficiency: If cravings are linked to anemia or other deficiencies, a doctor can prescribe a specific, regulated iron or zinc supplement. A balanced, nutrient-rich diet is the best long-term solution.
For Cravings (Pica): If the crunch is what you crave, alternatives like ice chips, sugar-free crunchy snacks, or even supervised edible dough can be safer options. Behavioral therapy and medical consultation are crucial for managing pica.

Conclusion: Prioritizing Health Over Traditional Beliefs

While traditional practices often hold cultural significance, the scientific evidence regarding ayilo is unequivocal. The severe health risks, including heavy metal poisoning, nutrient deficiencies, and gastrointestinal complications, make unregulated clay consumption extremely dangerous. Anecdotal benefits for nausea or digestion are not a justification for the potential for irreversible harm. It is crucial for individuals experiencing cravings, particularly pregnant women, to consult a healthcare professional to identify and address the root cause safely. The dangers of contaminated clay are real, and prioritizing proven medical advice and safe alternatives is the only responsible course of action for one's health.

The Risks of Ayilo During Pregnancy

For pregnant women, who are already in a vulnerable state, consuming ayilo presents even greater risks. The potential for heavy metal contamination, especially lead, is a serious threat to the unborn child's development, with risks ranging from neurological damage to growth retardation. Furthermore, clay's ability to inhibit iron absorption can worsen pregnancy-induced anemia, leading to low birth weight and other poor birth outcomes. Pregnant individuals experiencing cravings for non-food items should seek immediate medical advice rather than risking their health with unverified substances.

Visit PubMed Central for more research on the risks of ayilo

Frequently Asked Questions

No, consuming ayilo is highly unsafe for pregnant women. It poses significant risks including heavy metal poisoning (especially from lead, which can harm fetal brain development), nutrient deficiencies, and anemia, which can lead to low birth weight.

The craving for ayilo is often a symptom of pica, an eating disorder involving non-food items. It may be triggered by nutritional deficiencies, such as low iron or zinc, or by traditional beliefs and the satisfying taste and texture.

While traditional claims exist, the scientific evidence is limited and inconclusive for unprocessed clay. More importantly, the risks of contamination and intestinal blockage far outweigh any potential benefit. Safer, medically-proven alternatives exist for digestive issues.

Long-term consumption of ayilo can cause chronic health problems, including lead poisoning, anemia due to nutrient malabsorption, kidney damage from heavy metal accumulation, and intestinal issues.

For cravings, try safe substitutes like chewing ice or consuming fiber-rich foods. If a mineral deficiency is the cause, your doctor can recommend safe, regulated supplements. For nausea, ginger tea or prescribed medication can help.

You cannot determine contamination simply by sight or taste. Heavy metals like lead and harmful bacteria are often invisible. Since ayilo is unregulated, assume it is unsafe unless from a verified, medically-approved source, which is rare.

It is crucial to consult a healthcare professional immediately. A doctor can test for heavy metal poisoning (like lead) and nutritional deficiencies, such as iron-deficiency anemia, and provide a safe management plan.