What happens if you eat clay

Although geophagia may not begin as a mental health concern, over time, eating dirt could come to resemble an addiction. Some people report finding it difficult to stop, even after they start having health problems associated with eating dirt. Some may also spend money and travel significant distances to find their preferred clay or soil. Not being able to find or afford a specific type of soil or clay can also lead to distress.

Eating dirt may not always cause harm, but it could contribute to a number of health concerns. Some research also suggests geophagy can interfere with your ability to digest necessary nutrients, since clay in your stomach may bind to iron, zinc, and other nutrients.

In other words, eating dirt could increase risk for anemia. Eating dirt can expose you to parasites , bacteria, and toxic heavy metals. Dirt that contains a lot of potassium could lead to high blood potassium, increasing your risk for cardiac arrhythmia or cardiac arrest.

Constipation is a common side effect of soil consumption. An intestinal obstruction or perforation is also possible, though these side effects are somewhat less common. Many pregnant women crave dirt or clay. One theory links pica cravings to iron deficiencies. Another theory suggests these cravings develop as an adaptive response to the way the immune system changes during pregnancy.

Changes in immune system function could slightly increase your risk of being affected by toxins and foodborne illness, such as listeria. But multiple animal studies have suggested clay consumption offers protection against a range of toxins. Whatever the cause for dirt cravings during pregnancy, eating dirt can create health risks not only for you, but also the developing fetus.

Even if the dirt you eat is free of toxins and has been baked or prepared safely, it can still bind in your stomach to the nutrients you get from other sources, preventing your body from absorbing them properly. This can put your health at risk. If you want to stop eating dirt, or your cravings bother you and cause distress, these tips may be helpful:.

You may worry about how to mention the topic to your healthcare provider. Without treatment, these issues could become serious. Signs to look out for include:. Tetanus can be life-threatening, so see a doctor right away if you experience:. Therapy can also help you work through addictive behaviors, so if you find it difficult to stop eating dirt, or think frequently about eating dirt, a therapist can offer support and help you learn how to cope with these thoughts.

This taste can be delicious if it satisfy their cravings! Eating dirt, especially over a long period of time, can increase risk for a number of problems, including: parasites. Some of the side effects of eating soil include constipation and faecal impaction. Soil may also interfere with the absorption of nutrients, and can also suppress appetite which may cause the foetus to receive insufficient nutrients for developing well in utero.

Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Skip to content Clay can help absorb toxins, so many support earth eating as a way of relieving stomach issues, such as food poisoning. Can you live off dirt? Can you eat clay dirt? Can you survive off eating dirt? What happens if you eat clay mask? Can you eat sand to survive? Is Bentonite Clay safe to ingest? What Clay is edible?

Bentonite clay Does eating soil affect your womb? Is gardening dangerous when pregnant? Can you get parasites from eating dirt? What does Clay taste like? Can you get sick from eating dirt? More on that later, but PSA: The body is able to "detoxify" all on its own -- your liver and kidneys do that for you.

Pretty cool, right? Also, one time a cab driver told the actress that pregnant women in his community we do not know where, he is referred to only as "African" ate clay -- a practice known to researchers as geophagy. Perhaps her driver was referring to the uncommon pica cravings some pregnant women experience.

Or the practice in some indigenous communities, where food sources are scarce, of eating soil as a nutrient supplement. Roshini Raj. Indeed, women in communities that don't include calcium-rich dairy in their diets are more likely to eat clay , research suggests.

But there are better ways to get calcium, iron and minerals, doctors agree. And while eating clay is mostly harmless, there are some concerns about both a pregnant woman and her fetus , actually being exposed to arsenic, lead and other toxicants that naturally occur in soil. The same goes for non-pregnant people.

That's the opposite of the intended effect of so-called "healing clays," which are taking off as a bit of a wellness trend , to remove toxins, heavy metals, impurities, and chemicals that are thought to have been ingested.