For some, this is wild, for many it is a common occurrence, and someone may not know about it. But there are lovers of this business. What are we talking about? Today you will find out why people eat chalk?
When we have a desire to eat foods that are not intended for this, in this case chalk, this usually means a lack of any substances. If we are talking about chalk, then it is of course calcium. And also, according to doctors - iron.
Pregnant women are often affected by this. It is in them that calcium is consumed in large quantities, for the formation of the bone tissue of the child. Also, during pregnancy, it is not uncommon for a decrease in hemoglobin levels, and as a result, anemia caused by iron deficiency.
They are afraid of such symptoms, or rather, desires, it is not worth it. There is nothing terrible in this situation. This is just a signal from the body that requires replenishment of the missing substances.
But even here you need to use common sense. For example, someone starts using blackboard chalk, or some other non-food products. It is absolutely impossible to do this, as it contains dyes, and various additives that may be toxic to the body.
In this regard, mineral chalk can be considered a food product, and it will not cause any harm to health.
But it is best to purchase calcium supplements at the pharmacy, after consulting with your doctor. As a rule, after their application, no desire to eat chalk arises.
There are not many people who can be surprised by the fact that someone nearby is chewing on chalk. But to answer the question: where does such a desire come from, not everyone can. The question of the benefits of edible chalk is also far from idle.
Food chalk: what is it? Chemical analysis of the product
Natural chalk is a type of limestone or sedimentary rock formed due to the zoogenic factor. This white mineral has a soft, crumbly structure that does not dissolve in water.
Natural (natural) chalk consists of calcium carbonate with a small amount of magnesium carbonate. The presence of metal oxides, small particles of quartz and calcite is also possible. Prehistoric fossils are very common.
Such chalk, of course, is not suitable for food. Also considered inedible is a product that is used in school, construction and industry. Food (medical) chalk is cleared of harmful impurities.
Why do people eat chalk? What is the use of it?
The habit of chewing chalk, which is unusual for many, actually has a well-founded explanation. The reason for this strange behavior could be:
- lack of iron in the blood(iron deficiency anemia, anemia).
- Another reason for addiction to chalk is low calcium in the body. Such a deficiency can be explained by malnutrition, in particular, an unbalanced diet.
- More often than others, pregnant women can be caught consuming chalk. And such "food" should not be attributed to the strange addictions of this category of people. The body of a woman carrying a fetus in herself requires an increased amount of calcium to form the skeleton of the unborn child.
- Changes in the endocrine system also provoke a desire to consume natural calcium. In diseases of the "thyroid gland" there is an increased excretion of calcium from the body.
- Lack of calcium in the body It also affects the external appearance of a person: tooth disease, dullness and brittle hair, exfoliating nails. Such symptoms are a signal of a lack of a mineral for the functioning of internal organs.
Attention! Food (medical) chalk is not a drug. This is just a food supplement that can give the body the missing mineral.
Sometimes a natural source of calcium is consumed by people with high stomach acidity. The mineral quickly eliminates the discomfort caused by heartburn. However, to eliminate these symptoms, it is not at all necessary to use chalk.
The pharmaceutical industry produces drugs that can be used to normalize the acid-base balance in the stomach. These same drugs, which have antacid properties, are prescribed for the treatment of duodenitis and stomach ulcers.
Sometimes you can catch a small child eating chalk. This action can be a manifestation of children's curiosity, because kids love to taste everything new. If the child liked such “food”, and he shows a pronounced interest in it, then this is already an alarming signal to parents.
This behavior shows that the body of a small person needs additional calcium. The reason for this may be a low hemoglobin in the blood.
A small piece of chalk, washed down with freshly squeezed citrus juice, will definitely bring much more benefits, since under these conditions the body will absorb it more easily.
On the topical question of what exactly the use of food chalk gives: benefit or harm, doctors do not give an unambiguous answer. A small amount of chalk, of course, will not harm your health.
However, this mineral should not be taken either as a drug or as a safe product that can be eaten without any norm.
Harmful properties of the product
Food (pharmaceutical) chalk is undoubtedly rich in calcium and some other minerals that have a beneficial effect on human health. Moderate consumption of this product helps to form the skeleton of the child, strengthen the bone tissue of the elderly.
At the same time, chalk can be useful (in crushed form) for the health of teeth, nail plates and hair. However, this product can cause harm to the body. Negative consequences can be expressed in the following:
- Natural calcium, which enters the body from natural material, hard to digest. Sedimentary rock does not completely dissolve in water. In the same way, it behaves inside a person. This property is a prerequisite for the formation of sandy deposits and stones in the kidneys.
- The most complete assimilation of the product occurs only if it is used along with vitamin C or juices high in this vitamin.
- For ingestion, only specially made food grade chalk. All other types of this product are unsuitable for food. This category includes fodder chalk (for animals), construction and school. Various additives used for the manufacture of these species are not included in the category of edible.
- Excessive consumption of the mineral can lead to disorder of internal organs. In addition, the dry product is deposited on the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. There is a risk of damage to tooth enamel, leading to subsequent dental disease.
The lack of minerals in the body can be established by analysis. Only the attending physician has the right to decide whether the patient needs a natural component or whether it should be replaced with drugs suitable for treatment.
Sometimes people catch themselves thinking that they want to eat chalk. This desire can overtake them at any time of the year. It is worth understanding the reasons for this phenomenon, and finding out if the desire to use a natural mineral indicates the presence of diseases.
Chalk composition
Chalk is a mineral of organic origin, one of the types of limestone. It was formed about 90 million years ago from the remains of algae and mollusk shells.
The main component is calcium carbonate (about 98%). Other components: magnesium carbonate, oxides of iron and other metals.
The substance has a white or grayish color, does not dissolve in water.
Chalk is mined in special quarries. Deep layers are considered especially valuable, but it is not easy to get them, because the rock is wet and it sticks to equipment.
Causes
Doctors believe that there are several main reasons why you want to eat chalk:
- Iron-deficiency anemia;
- lack of vitamins;
- lack of calcium in the body due to pregnancy, unbalanced diet or various diseases.
Some conditions can be eliminated with a special diet, others require drug therapy. To determine the cause, it is advisable to visit a doctor, take tests and find out why you want to gnaw on chalk. Perhaps everything is in order with a person, and this is an individual feature of the organism.
If weakness, palpitations and shortness of breath, pallor of the skin, poor condition of nails and hair join the desire to eat a natural mineral, then most likely the doctor will diagnose anemia of moderate severity. She is treated with dietary modification and iron supplements.
With iron deficiency anemia, there is not enough iron in the body, as a result of which the level of hemoglobin decreases. Immunity falls, and the body ceases to resist infections.
Causes of iron deficiency anemia:
- improper diet;
- transferred serious operations with a large loss of blood;
- persistent bleeding;
- congenital predisposition;
- chronic diseases;
- taking a group of drugs that affect the absorption of iron.
Why you constantly want to eat chalk is usually found out after passing a general blood test. It is he who will show a decrease in hemoglobin. Further, the doctor will prescribe treatment based on the results of the analysis.
Vitamin deficiency
What vitamin is missing if you want chalk? Calcium, which a person consumes with food, must be fully absorbed. This does not happen if the body does not have enough vitamins C, D, E. The absence of vitamin D especially affects the absorption of calcium, then it is excreted without having time to participate in the construction of bones and teeth.
With the desire to eat a natural mineral, the body gives a signal that it lacks calcium and vitamins. You can make up for the deficiency by taking a vitamin complex containing all of the above components. In summer and autumn, you can eat fresh fruits, berries, vegetables, which is much healthier than synthetic vitamins.
- peaches, apricots;
- raspberries, strawberries, wild strawberries;
- rose hip;
- red sweet pepper;
- onion, parsley, dill, sorrel;
- fish, mushrooms;
- cereals, nuts.
Many pregnant women like the smell of wet plaster, gasoline, paint. They want to eat the most incredible foods, including chalk and clay. During pregnancy, this symptom indicates a calcium deficiency, since almost all of it goes to building the skeletal system of the unborn child.
If the mother does not receive the element in sufficient quantities, this may affect the intrauterine development of the child: he lags behind in height and weight, may be born with congenital diseases.
Other signs of Ca deficiency are:
- muscle pain and cramps;
- feeling of "goosebumps" under the skin;
- increased hair loss;
- fragility of nails;
- a sharp deterioration in the condition of the teeth.
What to do if a pregnant woman wants chalk? First, she needs to undergo an examination, and receive recommendations from a gynecologist or therapist in this matter. Perhaps she will be prescribed a vitamin complex or a diet with a high content of calcium-containing foods.
But if everything is in order, then a woman may well gnaw a piece of chalk when she wants to. Too zealous is also impossible, an excess of Ca is just as dangerous as its deficiency.
Other reasons
If you really want to eat chalk, the reason may lie in diseases of the liver and thyroid gland.
Some diseases of the thyroid gland (thyrotoxicosis, damage to the parathyroid glands) lead to the fact that calcium is washed out without having time to be absorbed. The body signals this by the requirement to gnaw on a natural mineral.
Improper functioning of the liver can cause meloedenia. When eating the wrong food: fatty, spicy, fried foods, smoked meats and sweets, the body ceases to cope with its functions. There may be bloating, heartburn, a feeling of bitterness in the mouth and an irresistible desire to eat chalk. If you change the diet, all unpleasant symptoms usually disappear on their own.
Norms of use
We have already found out what is missing in the body if you want to eat chalk. But when the tests are in order, and the desire to use it does not disappear, it is recommended to comply with the norm. It is equal to three small pieces per day. When ground, it is about 20-25 grams (one tablespoon).
Excessive consumption of the mineral is dangerous to health! Excess Ca begins to settle in the organs: kidneys, pancreas, vessel walls. This leads to diabetes, pancreatitis, kidney and gallbladder stones, and other diseases.
When liming vessels, problems arise in the work of the cardiovascular system. Calcifications are very difficult to dissolve, and often have to resort to surgical intervention.
You can only eat a natural mineral without impurities, which is specially mined for this purpose and sold in specialized stores. School, technical, building chalk is strictly forbidden to eat! It contains impurities and chemical additives harmful to the body (dyes, glue, gypsum, etc.).
Chalk replacement
What can replace chalk if you want to eat it all the time? There are several options:
- With mild iron deficiency anemia, you can start using iron-containing vitamin complexes. But if a person has an allergic reaction to them, then doctors advise replenishing the iron supply with products: beef and chicken liver, offal, apples, meat, fish, oranges, sauerkraut. Of the berries, you can use black currants, blueberries, strawberries, cranberries. Pomegranate juice is a good source of iron.
- From pharmaceutical preparations, you can use calcium gluconate.
- Traditional medicine recommends the use of eggshells. First, it must be thoroughly washed, boiled, dried and ground in a coffee grinder, or ceiling in a mortar. The powder can be poured into ready-made dishes or consumed in its pure form, washed down with water. Dosage for adults - one teaspoon per day, for children - ⅕ of a teaspoon (can be measured by pouring on the tip of a knife). Calcium obtained from eggshells does not have the ability to be deposited in organs, therefore dietary supplements are made on its basis, but their prices are not the lowest. Why pay more when you can make your own at home.
- We have already found out that if you really want chalk, it means that the body lacks vitamins, calcium, or there is a pathology. But sometimes the reason can be purely psychological: on a nervous basis, you want to chew on something. In this case, you can replace the chalk with nuts, seeds, apples.
- If you start eating right, then the problem will disappear by itself. To draw up a new diet, you need to contact a nutritionist. The basis of nutrition will be: cottage cheese, greens, milk, sea fish, meat products.
- An excellent alternative would be the use of edible types of clay. It contains useful substances, helps to get rid of many types of diseases. You also need to purchase it on specialized sites or in stores.
We found out why you really want to eat chalk, whether it is harmful, in what dosages it is recommended to use the mineral, and whether there is an alternative to the product. If you follow all the recommendations indicated in the article, then eating chalk will not cause harm.
Is it possible to eat chalk, or is it a bad habit? First of all, it is a symptom of a lack of certain trace elements, which in itself is not good.
“Are your crayons edible?” is a question that salespeople in stationery stores hear more often than you might think. Customers say this in a whisper, embarrassed by their strange taste preferences, as if expecting to be laughed at ... In fact, there is nothing to be ashamed of. "Shallow eating" is just a sign of a lack of calcium or iron in the body. If you are constantly drawn to chewing on chalk, this is an occasion to think about your health.
Why do you want to eat chalk?
Let's see why you want to eat chalk. Which of the two microelements you are missing depends on the choice of treatment method.
It's no secret that all food in modern stores is by no means of the highest quality. Therefore, almost every city dweller suffers from the lack of microelements and the problems that accompany it. It is almost impossible to find natural milk, cheeses, sour milk on the shelves of supermarkets - and they are the main source of calcium for humans. Not getting enough of it, you feel an irresistible desire to gnaw on chalk: we all remember from the school chemistry course that it consists almost entirely of calcium.
Symptoms of calcium deficiency - (including hypothermia), deterioration in the condition and appearance of hair, nails and teeth, as well as less noticeable signs - bones become brittle, blood coagulates worse. With a slight deficiency of this microelement, it is enough to know which foods contain calcium and use them more often: it’s all the same dairy, but also fish, nuts, legumes, rose hips, citrus fruits, cereals, vegetables ... With a strong deficiency, you can enhance the effect by taking special supplements or calcium gluconate tablets.
Even meloids should be regularly examined by a dentist - at least once every four months. When teeth lack calcium, their enamel becomes brittle and brittle. During chewing of coarse food, microcracks form on it, into which putrefactive microorganisms enter, causing the development of caries. And the sooner the doctor detects and cures caries, the less suffering will fall on the patient. And the cheaper it will cost him the services of a dentist. But if, as a result of calcium deficiency, your teeth have already been seriously damaged, get ready for significant expenses. In this case, it is especially important to find a good dental office with fair prices. Here is the website of the Eva-Dent clinic - they do their job in good faith, but the cost of treatment is acceptable for people of any income level.
In addition, people suffering from iron deficiency (anemia) constantly want to eat chalk. They are given out by dry pale skin, fatigue and drowsiness, in some cases early gray hair, rapid pulse, shortness of breath. In this case, not calcium-containing, but iron-containing products are needed - this is primarily red meat (better), beef liver, hematogen. If you do not eat animal products, you should take supplements or vitamin cocktails. Eating chalk with iron deficiency is useless, and moreover, it can be harmful.
Is it harmful to eat chalk?
Many meloeders are interested in: is it harmful to eat chalk? In what quantities does it not pose a health hazard? I will answer these questions.
There is an opinion that chalk, eaten, provokes the formation of kidney stones. This is true only under one condition: if you use it in unimaginably large quantities, literally kilograms. Then not only the kidneys will suffer - the entire intestines, blood vessels and even the lungs will be covered with a layer of limescale. But two or three small pieces of pure chalk a day will not bring any harm - but it is worth emphasizing: it is pure.
Can I eat school chalk sold in stationery stores? Better not - it contains gypsum, glue, sometimes dyes, and all this certainly will not benefit your body. Uncleaned chalk from a quarry or from a hardware store, as well as whitewash, may contain bad impurities of a very different nature. Not too thoroughly purified and calcium for animals. Truly high-quality, pure chalk can only be bought at a pharmacy, in the form of calcium gluconate tablets. It tastes a little different from ordinary crayon, but you can be sure of its safety. This drug costs a penny - unlike more expensive dietary supplements. Which are sometimes no better - except that they are packaged in prettier and brighter packages.
Is it harmful to eat chalk - figured it out, but is it useful - the question remains open. The fact is that calcium is rather poorly absorbed by the human body, especially in its pure form. Eating crayons and whitewash, even in large quantities, does not fully solve the problem of micronutrient deficiency. Roughly speaking, it is more expedient to eat one hundred grams of cottage cheese than one hundred grams of chalk: in combination with other substances, in particular with acids and vitamin C, calcium is absorbed better. Therefore, nutritionists advise drinking calcium-containing preparations with citrus juices. And of course, optimize nutrition.
Calcium for pregnant women is one of the most important trace elements, since the skeleton of the child is formed from it. A woman can feel its lack for all nine months, and even after childbirth, so gynecologists advise taking special mineral-vitamin complexes from the first trimester. Whether they are so good is also a moot point: pills still do not replace a balanced diet, but can only serve as an addition to it. Among adherents of naturalistic motherhood, there is an opinion that taking medications for pregnant women can cause a lack of lactation after childbirth. And given the fact that fewer and fewer women have been breastfeeding in recent years, this statement no longer seems unambiguously absurd.
There is one folk recipe against calcium deficiency - egg shells ground in a coffee grinder to a powder state are added to food or taken dry, washed down with juice of sour fruits (orange, lemon, cranberry ...). Unlike pure chalk, it does not lead to the formation of limescale on the walls of internal organs, and therefore the eggshell as a source of calcium is a cleaner and harmless product.
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If a person feels like chewing on chalk, or is ready to enjoy the smell of fresh whitewash for hours, this is a rather alarming signal of the body. It means that a person is catastrophically lacking some trace elements. The nutrition of modern man cannot be called complete. Despite the abundance of products on store shelves, it is almost impossible to find among them absolutely natural, without additives, milk, as well as cottage cheese and cheese. Namely, these dairy products are the main source of calcium for humans. If the body does not receive it, it “gives a signal” by which a person can guess where to get the missing trace element: after all, natural chalk is 99% calcium carbonate. This is where this pathological need to eat chalk comes from.The second cause of painful cravings for chalk is iron deficiency anemia. Therefore, if a person consumes a sufficient amount of dairy products, and the craving for chalk does not disappear, it makes sense to donate blood for analysis and check hemoglobin. It is possible that a reduced iron content will be detected and, as a result, a low level of hemoglobin.
Is chalk harmful to the human body
Firstly, if you use an excess amount of chalk. Even the purest chalk can be harmful to health if eaten more than 1 piece daily for a long time. With such “overdoses”, the risk of calcium salt deposits in the kidneys and vessel walls increases, which creates life-threatening situations. At the same time, the calcium contained in the chalk is practically not used for its intended purpose - it is not deposited in the bones, since its absorption requires various acids and the presence of vitamin D in an accessible form. It is much more useful to eat 100 g of natural cottage cheese containing calcium and vitamin D, with sour cream and berries containing acids - then the mechanism for assimilation of a valuable element will work correctly, and calcium will be in the bones, and not in the kidneys.
Secondly, if the chalk contains all sorts of impurities. As a rule, even unpainted (white) chalk, called school or office chalk, contains, in addition to calcium salts, a whole range of various substances that are harmful to the human body. It can be gypsum, glue, impurities of other trace elements. And certainly you should not try colored chalk - the dye can be toxic.
A small amount of pure white chalk, without foreign smells and tastes, will not bring the body any significant harm or special benefit. If there is a real problem of micronutrient deficiencies, the right solution would be to use pharmaceutical preparations of calcium and iron, as well as optimize nutrition.
