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Why We Sometimes Want to Eat Ice: It Says Something About Our Health
01.08.2024 15:50
Probably, each of us at least once in our life has tasted a piece of ice.
Indeed, on a hot summer day an ice cube seems like a desirable “treat”, but if you want to eat ice on a regular basis, this may indicate health problems.
There is even a special medical term that describes the obsessive consumption of ice as food, and it is called pagophagia.
Let's quickly move on to listing the reasons why this very pagophagia could have arisen.
Iron deficiency anemia
Scientists have collected a lot of evidence that there is a direct link between iron deficiency and cravings for ice cream or something cold.
A lack of red blood cells in the blood means that the body's tissues do not receive enough oxygen. Without iron, red blood cells cannot form.
Important: Although this phenomenon is common, it does not mean that it occurs in all patients with anemia.
Pica (parorexia)
It is an eating disorder in which people who suffer from it eat anything that has no nutritional value, including ice.
Children and pregnant women are at risk.
The exact cause of this condition is still unknown, but it is often found in people with autism, those who suffer from malnutrition or those who are under severe stress.
