Earthy Hunger: Why Do People Eat Dirt?

Spiegel Online ^ | December 28, 2007 | Jörg Blech

[forkinsocket]

People in many parts of the world indulge in the curious practice of eating dirt, also known as geophagy. But why they do so has remained something of a mystery. Now a new study aims to show whether loam in the earth can be vital in protecting pregnant women from harm.

The inhabitants of the east African island of Pemba rejoice when one of the young women there starts eating earth -- this unusual food supplement can only mean one thing: that she is expecting a baby.

"The daily portion is about 25 grams of dirt," says Sera Young, who works full-time on research into geophagy, or the practice of eating earth. The 30-year-old anthropologist is soon to transfer from Cornell University to the University of California in Berkeley.

On every continent with the exception of Antarctica, there are people who snack on chalk, loam or marl. But it's only now that Young and her colleagues are gradually beginning to understand what force brings them to do this. Whether people are eating loam from natural sources or buying "healing clay" at the drugstore and eating it, they are clearly following some ancient craving that has been shaped over the course of evolution.

It is not only humans who indulge in a bit of dirt every now and then -- parrots, cattle, rats, elephants and chimpanzees also partake. Even prehistoric man shared this passion for eating earth -- an archaeological dig in Africa uncovered powdered loam that had clearly been used as marching rations two million years ago. But the question remains: why?

[forkinsocket]

In her field studies on the island of Pemba, which belongs to Tanzania, Young observed that it is mainly pregnant women who experience cravings for earth. "It's like an addiction. There is even a word for it: vileo," she says.

[Resolute Conservative]

My mom used to say, “you’ll get worms...”

[LonePalm]

Because it tastes so good.

'La bonne cuisine est la base du véritable bonheur.' - Auguste Escoffier
(Good food is the foundation of genuine happiness.)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[Brett66]

Dirt seems to be on Hillary’s menu lately. :)

[ArrogantBustard]

Some people eat dirt.

Some people eat dried nasal mucus. Some people drink urine.

Doesn't make any of these practices a good idea.

[A CA Guy]

Love of parasites perhaps.

[jdm]

Sometimes I get cravings for Earth ... rare Earth.

[patton]

You say that like it a bad thing.

Worms are a treatment for Chron’s, eg.

Perhaps we should all eat a little dirt.

[Resolute Conservative]

My mom said I had a tape worm :)

[TexasCajun]

"Yummmm Chocolate. "

[netmilsmom]

Too true. Disgusting but true.

[patton]

“The emergence of autoimmunity, including Crohn’s disease (CD) where
the immune relationship with commensal bacteria is corrupted, has been
linked to hygiene.1,2 A gradual decline in endoparasites is but one
argument that might explain this phenomenon.3 Weinstock and colleagues
have successfully tested the pig whipworm, Trichuris suis, in patients
with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).4,5 However, repeated
inoculation was required and concern has been raised that aberrant
migration could occur.6 The haematophagous hookworm, Necator
americanus (NA), is proposed as an alternative. We have tested if CD
patients tolerate hookworm infection, and the practical issues
associated with establishing reservoir donors (RDs). “

[Fractal Trader]

GGG?

[CougarGA7]

My father’s cousin was prescribed dirt by a doctor when they were kids.

My dad’s aunt was a nurse and was obsessive about everything being sterile. Plastic over the couches. Everything bleached constantly. Her son (dad’s cousin) was always coming down with every cold and flu that came through the school. The doctor told her “Let that boy go eat some dirt”. In other words let him go out and play, and get dirty and get some immunities.

So the doctor literally prescribed dirt.

[fanfan]

Dirt is good for you.

[wolfcreek]

Not a Biologist nor do I play one on TV.

My guess would be the trace minerals and others one might lack in their diets. With urine, I would drink it if I were dying of thirst.

[SunkenCiv]

· join list or digest · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post a topic ·
	Gods Graves Glyphs	Thanks Fractal Trader. Contemplating the ramifications of this made me soil myself. :') Whether people are eating loam from natural sources or buying "healing clay" at the drugstore and eating it, they are clearly following some ancient craving that has been shaped over the course of evolution... an archaeological dig in Africa uncovered powdered loam that had clearly been used as marching rations two million years ago. But the question remains: why? The question remains: why would anyone think this has any good reason behind it at all? Why would anyone think that powdered loam was clearly used as marching rations two million years ago? Did Og leave it in a labeled jar? To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. GGG managers are Blam, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach
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[Free Vulcan]

My dad has that album. Love those guys and their early 70’s super wacka wacka guitar sound.

[ASOC]

Ahem, before you go ‘bottoms up’ so as to speak- you might want to check out
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_still

I’m just say’n

[Hacksaw]

Science exercise: Look up "nematode".