We’ve covered pica here on the blog before — any one of a number of conditions in which people are compelled to eat things that aren’t food — but compulsively eating urinal cakes or snacking on match heads seems a world away from today’s topic, geophagy — eating dirt. The reason is that, despite a fair amount of disagreement among experts, there are a lot of people who believe eating dirt can have some health benefits. An ingredient found in clay from the Southern US is also one of the main active ingredients in many anti-diarrheal medicines, for instance, and a Science Digest recently recommended swallowing dirt as a quick-fix antidote for people who’ve accidentally ingested Paraquat, a potent weed killer.
What’s more, people have done it for thousands of years, from the Native Americans of California and Peru to developing nations where pregnant woman eat clay to ward off nausea and possibly aid in fetal development (lots of calcium!) and African slaves in the US, where in some parts of the old South they were nicknamed “clay-eaters.” The practice continues in the rural South still, where you can buy baked, cut and processed clay dirt at flea markets. In Haiti, rising food prices have encouraged the practice, and you can buy super-cheap cookies made from dirt, salt and vegetable shortening — more useful for warding off hunger than for their nutritive value. (Pictured at left: Haitian dirt cookies.)
Eating dirt has long been associated with iron deficiency, and while no one can say for sure whether geophagy is a cause or an effect of needing iron, iron supplements have been shown to reduce the urge. If you simply have a taste for it — well, that’s another matter.
if you feel like trying it out for yourself, you can buy some “Georgia white dirt” here, from a website that notes humanity’s long and proud tradition of eating dirt, points out that said white dirt is an important additive in Kaopectate, toothpaste, Rolaids, Mylanta and Maalox, but labels their product with the following warning: “Not suggested for human consumption.” That’s because there are some no-duh dangers associated with eating dirt, the foremost of which is that, you know, there could be poop in it. Specifically, poop that contains parasite eggs which will give you worm infestations in your gut, or random toxins or lead or weird bacterias or a host of other nasty things. Given that, I’d much rather buy a bottle of Maalox from the store than make my own at home, but to each his own.
Shhh…super secret special for blog readers.
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Mmmm, terrior
posted by Florida on 7-14-2008 at 1:46 pm
There are so many Thai legends about how the mothers of famous Thai warriors would always want to eat dirt from the heart if some enemy stronghold. Apparently, it was a sign of the baby’s impending greatness. :)
posted by Anna on 7-14-2008 at 10:47 pm
I eat it every day. It is like the rain and melts like chocolate. Have some water nearbye, at times your mouth will instantly dry out. But it is so good, I am addicted to it. I am not female so it has nothing to do with needing it or craving it during pregnancy. I also get plenty of iron, so it isn’t about a vitamin deficiency. No I just love the taste of the Earth, and this is the best to satisfy that. In fact I feel 100% better now that I eat it all the time. It is not for everyone, but it is for me. Cheers
posted by Scott on 2-3-2009 at 2:58 pm
Where can I purchase some dirt to eat. Please seen imformation.
posted by Charles on 2-17-2009 at 9:23 pm
I eat it everyday too!!!! I can’t stop at all. I feel a little better to know that I’m not the only one. I just love the taste too. It’s wonderfully grimy and perfect. And it really does melt in your mouth. I like the idea of eating the earth. I think that makes me weird, but whatever. It’s for me too.
posted by Jo on 6-13-2009 at 1:23 pm
hey guys l also used to eat dirt, still craving it a lot esp when it rains but my mom said not to ..so on an obedience streak :) l like the dirt from the bark of trees made by termites! now that is a taste and a half….but the egg thing in the mud could be true hey thats why l find it hard to eart dirt again-health issues!..lol..\
cheers
i didnt know men also crave for mud? …l guess its everyones world..lol
posted by Vicky on 10-9-2009 at 7:17 am
i too love eating mud
posted by jayashree on 6-5-2010 at 5:37 am
I’m so happy too know im not alone,i go on dirt roads and get cups of dirt all the time, its sorta salty but its so good, ive been eatting since i can remember (6 or 7 years old) i love sand and chalk as well! OMG!!!! IM GONNA GO GET SOME NOW!
posted by AshleyMakers on 6-18-2010 at 2:46 am
I lovr eating dirt…. especially fuller’s earth clay the indian multani mitti is what we call it. , look at the pictures and all the dirt lovers doesn’t it look delicious….
http://www.vknfsalt.com/full-images/675086.jpg
http://product-image.tradeindia.com/00226771/b/0/F
http://www.henna.theindiancenter.com/gifs/multani-
and this is kaolin clay almost similar to multani mitti(fuller’s earth indian)
http://product-image.esuppliersindia.com/00262218/
i love yellow smooth dirt…. and i have bought some white dirt ( kaolin clay) and going to try that soon….. hope it taste as good as the dirt…..
oh my god my mouth is watering, but one thing is for sure i only crave it so badly when i have anemia low in iron……. i have fibroids sometimes i would bleed for two months and i get anemia and i just want to eat dirt…. but if i take my iron pills after a few months the cravings go away i still love the taste of dirt but i don’t even eat it cuz i don’t crave it…..
but dirt does taste really good
posted by anju on 10-26-2010 at 1:50 pm
Nice article, Ransom. One of the terms used in the South that you refer to is “Sandlapper.” As a matter of fact, the word Sandlapper was used to refer to poor, dirt-eating South Carolinians so often that it’s become somewhat of a state mascot. You can visit the web site of the Sandlapper society if you want:
http://www.sandlapper.org
posted by Kevin on 3-30-2011 at 12:14 pm