why do pregnant women eat dirt

Dirt eating is most prevalent during times of high susceptibility to parasites including childhood and early pregnancy. Pica is a condition that can also occur outside of pregnancy.

Why Pregnant Women Eat Dirt The Week

When I asked them why they were eating dirt they they told me it soothed their morning sickness boosted their appetite and relieved stress.

. Eating soil is also known as geophagy which is the terminology uses for the act. In Africa where the habit is most common around 30 to 80 of women have done it and some even eat up to 400g of the earthy stuff per day. There is currently no identified cause. Its believed that the unusual cravings women get to chew on ice or drink icy beverages during pregnancy commonly referred to as Pagophagia 1 is because of a condition called pica.

This twin action helps explain the prevalence of the practice in certain demographics. In fact many pregnant women often crave dirt possibly because of the potential protection dirt can provide against some toxins and parasites according to research. So I started joining them and I saw my stress. You might be shaking your head and wondering why on earth being pregnant would lead you to the back garden for a nibble of the brown stuff but these unusual cravings for non food items known as pica are often down to a.

Across the African continent kaolin clay sourced from termite mounds is sold in markets. Why do pregnant women eat dirt. Common pica cravings include dirt chalk stones charcoal ice baking soda and sand. Why Do Pregnant Women Crave Ice.

Joiner describing her favorite treat. The reason that some women develop pica cravings during pregnancy is not known for certain. I would see a lot of pregnant women coming out of clinic taking packets of soil from their hand bags and eating it. Scientists havent pinned down an exact reason writes Young but its either a response to mineral deficiencies or an instinctual effort to protect against.

Pregnant women and children are especially vulnerable. These were worries for me at the time as I didnt have much appetite. New research from Cornell University suggests that eating dirt can help prevent disease. The neurological damage can be overwhelming says Bernstein.

I used to have the cravings but I would avoid it by eating sweets instead. When ingested clay lines the stomach it hinders access to the body by bacteria and viruses and also facilitates nutrient absorption. During the last month of my pregnancy I could not help myself any longer so I gave in and would eat. Looking at the world at large geophagy has been practiced for over.

Some speculate that pica cravings are the bodys attempt to obtain. However according to the Journal of American Dietetic Association there may be a connection to an iron deficiency. People with pica experience cravings to eat non-food substances with no nutritional value. Why do pregnant women eat dirt why do pregnant women eat dirt httpsyoutubeheNOLuocSG8 why do pregnant women eat dirtRead More Results Why pregnant Cake Baking Menu.

Ive had women and their babies develop lead poisoning from eating dirt during pregnancy. The good stuff is. Another woman who also developed an addiction for eating dirt is Judith Sambo 26 who gave in to her cravings for soil during the third trimester of her pregnancy. Experts say the craving to eat odowa results mainly from a lack of important minerals like calcium in the body during pregnancy.

The act of eating soil is often related to lack of irons in the body and this is commonly seen among women who are pregnant. In fact some women even report cravings to eat things that are not actually food at all. It Might Be Good for You. 3 2005 -- It melts in your mouth like chocolate says Ruth Anne T.

Not all dirt is created equal. It is mainly the urge and craving that makes many of the pregnant women to long for soil. Pica is defined as the craving to eat non food items and substances during pregnancy such as clay plaster chalk and glue just to name a few. Up to 30 grams of clay is regularly eaten especially by pregnant women.

Experts are not entirely sure what causes pica but many. Kaolin belongs to a specific group of clay. Around the world geophagy or the practice of eating dirt is not just the result of childhood games but rather a widespread and surprisingly common cultural practice. In fact three key explanations have been proposed for why people eat dirt and Moniques answer touches on one of them.

The desire to eat dirt during your pregnancy is by no means strange even if it makes you feel like youve finally hit maximum pregnancy.

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