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Well … not really. But among the strange things that people munch on compulsively — like dirt, dust from venetian blinds, glass and air freshener blocks — ice has to be one of the most innocuous. (Check out our piece on a condition they call pica.) Lots of people chew it, but not many people know why. (As Neatorama recently pointed out, there’s a whole website devoted to answering this question.) The old-standby answer that I’ve always heard is that “it relieves sexual tension,” which holds about as much water as that green M&M urban legend. However, there is considerably more evidence to support the idea that ice chewing (otherwise known as pagophagia) is a response to an iron deficiency, and indeed a quick scan of online ice-chewing forums reveals that some of the most obsessive chewers are anemic. (Why do some iron deficient people reach for ice to chew rather than, say, a length of re-bar to suck on? Seems there hasn’t been a lot of research done on this.)
A few juicy excerpts from the ice chewing forums, after the jump.
“I almost feel guilty about my GALLON + of ice I crunch on a day. I take a gallon ziploc bag to work with me (filled) and run out by the time I drive home. My husband shudders at the noise of the ice maker!” – Bellie
“Like everyone I love my ice. My problem is my tongue and insides of my mouth are so cut up … I can’t eat anything that has spice. yet I keep chewing.” – aireloom
“When I was pregnant I chewed ice like crazy! I also ended up with two broken teeth before it was all over.” – Gina
“hey..i eat ice like crazy and…its like the onlything i eat..i have stopped craving food and when i do feel hungry i eat ice…” – Anon
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“hey..i eat ice like crazy and…its like the onlything i eat..i have stopped craving food and when i do feel hungry i eat ice…” – Anon
Is it possible that these people don’t chew ice compulsively because they are anemic, but rather they are anemic because all they eat is ice? Just a thought.
posted by EV on 5-9-2007 at 8:13 am
When the ice forms, the iron in the water is concentrated and gives a brief systematic “boost”. the body continues to crave that boost (much like chocolate, or cigarettes), hence the craving to eat more ice.
btw – sonic/hospital ice rocks!
posted by lzb on 5-9-2007 at 9:09 am
Hey! I was just chewing ice and stumbled upon this… I have one problem with the anemic scenario. A few months ago I was diagnosed with HIGH iron. I hope chewing ice causes anemia!
posted by Chris on 5-9-2007 at 12:12 pm
FYI, I enjoy chewing raw pasta much more than ice…
posted by Chris on 5-9-2007 at 12:14 pm
My 3 year old neice LOVES chewing ice. Any resteraunt we go to, she begs for ice!! She has been known to pass up a sugary sweet in order to chew on ice
posted by Claire on 5-18-2007 at 2:21 pm
hi well welcome to the club i eat so much ice to istead of watching a movie and eating popcorn like normal people i eat ice and yes i am anemic but i wonder sometimes i dont crave ice as much does that mean i am not sick any more?
posted by Erica on 10-3-2007 at 9:14 am
i chew ice, shaved chips, i really like any kind of ice not to hard i dont wanna break my teeth, everyone says in crazy i like it a a snack
posted by cb on 7-2-2009 at 11:02 am