Pica - Unusual Food Cravings

Pica is the name for unusual food cravings (Latin - pica = magpie, a bird known for its unusual appetites). The condition is the basis for jokes about the yearning for odd combinations of foods, such as pickles and ice cream. In fact, women with pica often eat substances like clay, dirt, laundry starch, baking powder, baking soda, ashes, or ice.

Nobody quite knows the reason for pica. Some researchers speculate that it is caused by nutritional deficiencies, including iron. Some women say it helps with nausea and vomiting. Other women find it relieves nervous tension. In some cultures, pica is passed on from mother to child, although pica is not limited to any particular geographic areas or cultural groups. What is clear about pica is that it can lead to nutritional deficiencies, especially iron-deficiency anemia.

A few simple suggestions may help you overcome your pica habit. Think of things you might do when you get the urge-go for a walk, go to the movies, call a good friend. You can try chewing sugarless gum. These are techniques people use in conquering any harmful habit.

Pica is a health problem, not a cause for embarrassment. If you have pica, even pica for ice, which may not seem at all unusual, tell your physician or midwife, who can assist in making sure that your nutrition remains adequate.