Would you Like a Little Soil With That?

We've all done it – each of us ingests (usually accidentally) several pounds of soil in a lifetime. What you may be more surprised to learn, though, is that purposely eating soil, a practice known as geophagia, is common throughout the world.

What on Earth Makes People Eat … Earth?

Medicinal reasons: Eating clay is a folk-remedy for diarrhea and stomach discomforts. Kaolin – a fine, white granite clay – in particular is known for its absorptive qualities. In Ghana and South Africa, clay tablets are sold to treat stomach upset. And even in North America clay is used as a stomach remedy, though packaged in a more palatable form: kaolin is one of its main active ingredients in Kaopectate.

Cultural reasons: In some parts of Central America and Guatemala fertility icons are made of clay and are eaten by women who believe they will increase their chances of becoming pregnant. And carvings or "cupmarks" found on the walls of churches in Europe in the 19th century were attributed to people who had shaved off and eaten the stone as a curative for disease. For the same reason, Zapotec Indians in Oaxaca, Mexico consume clay tablets in the shape of religious images. It's likely these cultural traditions have medicinal roots.

Physiological reasons: When deficient of specific nutrients, animals tend to seek out those foods that will meet their needs, which can explain why some mineral-deficient pregnant women crave and consume soil and/or clay. Both can be an excellent source of minerals: a 100 gram "serving" of white copper belt clay contain approximately 15 mg of calcium, 48 mg of iron, 42 mg of zinc, and small amounts of copper, chromium nickel, and molybedenum.

Psychological reasons: Some healthcare professionals view geophagia as an eating disorder or as a sign of a mental disorder. And some people eat soil and clay simply to relieve anxiety.

Famine: Poverty and scarce food may trigger geophagia. Soil is dense and can makes a person feel full and also fulfil some dietary requirements.

So why don't more people eat dirt?

Aside from getting dirt in your mouth, there are risks associated with eating soil. Some soils can actually deplete certain nutrients, which can cause deficiencies. Earth can harbor the eggs and larvae of parasites, which, once ingested, are free to make themselves at home in your intestinal tract. (Not that this is always a bad thing. According to Dr. Joel Weinstock, director of the Center for Digestive Diseases at the University of Iowa College of Medicine in Iowa City, Iowa, worms and parasites could help us battle illnesses of the immune system, like Crohn's disease (to learn more, read Creepy-Crawly Therapies).

Another risk is lead poisoning, or, if aluminum is in the soil, an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. But even if you locate clean, parasite-free, lead-free, aluminum-free soil, the simple act of chewing it can cause excessive tooth wear. In the most extreme case, eating soil can even kill you. In 1687, Jamaican slaves committed suicide by deliberately eating excessive amounts of the stuff.

So, if you choose to indulge your soil-tooth, just remember … everything in moderation.

Would you Like a Little Soil With That?

What on Earth Makes People Eat … Earth?

So why don't more people eat dirt?

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Laura Crane

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