Expert: Ryan Hale - 2/13/2010

Question
I apologise for asking this question to you, since your profile clearly states that you handle queries regarding athletes, but, you were the only health expert available. My doubt is pretty simple. I have a habit of eating chalk. Have had it since primary school. I am now 21 years old. I had given it up for about 3/4 years in between, but lately have resumed the habit. The websites give mixed answers in this regard. What could be the health issues because of this habit of mine?

Answer
Jolene- you may already know much of what I am going to tell you, and my knowledge in this is limited but here goes.  It is called geophagy and it is characterized by eating "earthy" substances such as sand, dirt, rocks, and chalk.  It is thought that your body may crave theses things due to a mineral deficiency.  In fact, animals do it all the time if they don't have access to nutritious food (that's why farmers put out salt licks and other things in the field for livestock to eat since they are confined and can only eat what is available).  Since it is chalk you crave, there is the possibility that you have been experiencing upset stomach, heartburn or ulcers?  The substances in chalk are similar to those found in antacids.

I would go to your doctor and see if you have a mineral deficiency or gastrointestinal tract.  That's a good place to start.