You may have pica as a child or get the condition later in life. People in some cultures eat dirt to relieve ulcers, diarrhea, or menstrual pain. These beliefs are rooted in earlier times when soil was used to soothe digestive problems.
Certain cultures believe eating dirt can be good for you. While soil does contain minerals and nutrients, it’s not a safe way to get them into your body.Ĭultural beliefs. If you have iron deficiency anemia, you may want to eat dirt. Dirt eating happens more often in places where there is famine and poverty. Some believe eating dirt is good for the baby, but there can be harmful effects when the soil contains pollutants or parasites. There are medicinal, cultural, and religious reasons behind this practice. Pregnant women in parts of Africa commonly eat dirt. You will also likely eat large amounts of these things. You might crave dirt, clay, chalk, and/or starch. With pica, you have the strong urge to eat items that aren’t food. In most cases, people eat dirt to help ease stomach troubles or nutrient deficiencies. Some experts have suggested it happens because of famine and poverty. Scholars have studied the act of eating dirt in contemporary urban South Africa. In the 18th century, Roman physicians reported on the effects of eating dirt. Children sometimes do it, and it has also been linked to pregnancy, some psychological conditions, and nutrient deficiencies. Dirt eating, also known as geophagia, is when you have the urge to eat dirt.
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