Eating Soil - Effects Of Eating Soil During Pregnancy

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Are you one of those who craved eating that sweet-smelling, red-soil earthen pot during your pregnancy? Despite the old wives’ warning that it could prove detrimental to you, it was hard to resist its earthy flavor, isn’t it? But have you ever wondered what made you crave for it in the first place? Don’t worry, for you are not alone in this. You’ll be surprised to know that this tendency to eat soil has a terminology – geophagy (1). Geophagy is the act of consuming soil which is generally considered a form of Pica – the craving for and ingestion of a substance that is non-nutritive.

In This Article

Is Eating Soil A New Phenomenon?

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Remember those childhood days when either you or one of your siblings would dig the soil out of the walls or from the playgrounds to eat? Soil-eating hasn’t been restricted to those childhood indulges alone. As a matter of fact, geophagy has been around for ages now. This tendency has been more global than we thought and varies in each country. What is also notable is the fact that it is found to be more common among women, especially those who are pregnant. But despite geophagy being an age-old practice, which was earlier widespread in Asia and Europe as well, there hasn’t been much research done with respect to the reason behind it.

Why Eat Soil In The First Place?

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Earlier, the act of eating soil was largely believed to be associated with iron or vitamin deficiency. A recent study conducted on the women of Uganda, however, threw light on some interesting facts about eating soil during pregnancy (2). The study was carried out by the researchers from MedUni Vienna. They found that nearly 30% to 80% of people in Africa, mostly women, ate approximately 100 – 400 gm of clayey soil on a daily basis. In fact, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers regularly ate some amount of soil every day. The researchers attributed this to a craving similar to that of chocolate craving during pregnancy. This is probably why eating soil is largely associated with women among many ethnic African groups and is often considered a sign of pregnancy when women indulge in it.

So, Is Eating Soil Safe?

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Another reason why soil-eating is so popular is that soil contains the toxin-binding clay and could influence the pH balance of the stomach acids and combats heartburn, which is common during pregnancy. This is the reason why pregnant African women often eat clay as a snack in between meals. According to one of the researchers, some indications were also found where eating soil helped with the morning sickness in pregnant women as well. Another interesting discovery was that African men too had increasingly started eating soil as clay is believed to be a natural stimulant. And overall, not all types of soil are eaten – only certain carefully selected types were considered fit for consumption for both women and men.

Should You Try Eating Soil Then?

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Although you may never expect a doctor’s recommendation for it, there are some nutritionists who believe in its health benefits. Here are a few things that you need to keep in mind about soil eating before considering it:

  • The body’s mineral requirement substantially increases during pregnancy. With its rich mineral content like iron, calcium, magnesium, and copper, the soil can act as a mineral supplement.
  • The amount of mineral content in soil differs from region to region.
  • How harmful or harmless a soil is depends entirely on its source. For instance, soil that is contaminated by industrial or human waste can be hazardous.
  • Finally, some more research in this area is needed before soil-eating during pregnancy can be considered completely safe.

The research and facts about soil-eating apart, you need to remember that this act is rampant in regions which generally do not have access to modern medical facilities. Like vitamin supplements. And also, what might be good for one, especially ethnically, may not suit the other. So, make sure you discuss your choices with your doctor and make an informed decision before trying out something new during your pregnancy.

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