Craving for Soil and uncooked Rice:

Craving for Soil and uncooked Rice: Have you ever thought, Why do some adults, especially women or growing children experience craving for soil and uncooked rice? Yes, there is a rationale behind it. We as humans generally want things we do not have. Exactly, our body wants the things that it is deficient in; craving for such unusual things is due to iron deficiency in the body. And in medicine, this term is known as PICA.

What is an iron?Craving for Soil and uncooked Rice:

 Iron is an important element, which is needed in our body to make a protein called hemoglobin; an important part of red blood cells, the function of red blood cells is to carry oxygen from the blood to other cells of the body.

How does it function? Craving for Soil, Chalks, and uncooked Rice?

Irons bind with a protein known as globin in the circulating blood and bind oxygen with themselves and carry oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. So it is necessary to have a proper amount of iron in the body to make enough healthy red blood cells. So that the red blood cells could perform their function properly.

What are the symptoms of iron deficiency?Craving for Soil and uncooked Rice:

The patient may exhibit symptoms if there is an insufficient amount of iron in the body.

Forgetfulness/poor memory:

Lack of concentration

Lack of sleep /insomnia

Depression

Dark circles

Burning tongue/pain and swelling:

Cracked lips

Lack of appetite

Cool soles and palms

Craving for uncooked rice, ice, chalk, soil:

Dry hair /hair fall.

Breathlessness/shortness of breath:Craving for Soil and uncooked Rice:

As, one of the function of iron in to bind oxygen with it any transport to other parts of the body, if there is less iron, red blood cells with not be able to attach oxygen molecule with them and due to with there will be less oxygen in the body cells, in this case body cells with demand for more and more oxygen to fulfill their oxygen requirement, and hence brain will give signal to breath fast, this will result in fast breathing to take more and more oxygen.

Dry skin: Skin dryness may occur in iron deficiency. So, taking care of your skin by applying a good moisturizer can reduce dryness. Skin may also look pale due to less hemoglobin.

How to overcome/treat the iron deficiency medically?

It is very important to treat iron deficiency to carry out body functions properly.

Iron deficiency may be corrected medically as well by taking food that contains iron, as well as iron supplements. The supplements should be started after a consultation with your health care provider.

What could be the side effects of iron supplements?

The following are some side effects of iron supplements

Constipation: Most of the iron supplements cause hard stools. You may overcome constipation by drinking more fluids and eating a healthy diet.

Dark colored stool:Craving for Soil and uncooked Rice:

 Your poop color may seem dark greenish or blackish due to the following reasons

• Unabsorbed iron may mix with stool and turn the stool color black
• Some gastric content can interact with iron and give a blackish color

Nausea: Craving for Soil and uncooked Rice:

Iron supplements may cause nausea, vomiting, and sometimes abdominal cramps. This is due to the irritation of the gastric lining. You may reduce these symptoms by taking the medication with food.

What should I do if I cannot tolerate oral iron supplements?

In some cases, if the oral tolerance is difficult, the intravenous route is recommended, especially during pregnancy, to prevent further complications. However, the intravenous infusion should be under the supervision of a specialized medical professional. As the intravenous iron could cause a severe allergic reaction.

Which foods are rich in iron?

Both animals and plants are sources of iron, such as follows

Red meat: Red meat, such as beef and lamb, is a good source of iron and is easily absorbed

Poultry: Chicken also contains iron. The darker parts, such as the leg, contain more iron than the white parts, such as the chest.

Turkey is also a good source of iron.

Organ Meat: Organ meat, such as liver of goat, cow, lamb, and chicken, is a good source of iron.

Spanish, seeds and nuts, legumes, see food, and some fortified foods such as fortified cereals are good sources of iron.

Which population is at high risk for iron deficiency?

Iron deficiency may occur in the following age groups.

Young children and adolescents: As children grow day by day. So, their body’s metabolism becomes faster due to growth. So, it is very important to give your child a rich diet.

Pregnant women: Iron deficiency is very common in pregnant women. Iron demand increases during pregnancy due to increased blood volume and fetal growth. Therefore, pregnant women should take iron supplements along with dietary intake; however, dietary intake alone cannot fulfill the requirement.

Older age: Older people are also at high risk for iron deficiency due to poor intake.

People with other chronic diseases:Craving for Soil and uncooked Rice:

People with chronic diseases such as Irritable bowel disease or liver or kidney disease are at high risk for iron deficiency. In such cases, iron supplements are necessary to take regularly after consultation with your healthcare provider. So, that risk of complication could be minimized.

Vegetarian: 

People who do not consume enough meat or animal products are at higher risk of iron deficiency. Most of the iron comes from animal products. However, vegetarians should take iron supplements regularly to fulfill the requirement.

People with poor diet:

Iron deficiency is a common problem in developing countries, as people do not take a balanced diet, which leads to iron deficiency, which further leads to growth retardation in growing children.

Girls and women of fertile age: Menstrual bleeding during periods every month can lead to iron deficiency in women and girls

What factors affect iron absorption?

Iron absorption is affected by many factors, such as

Calcium supplements or food containing calcium: foods that are rich in calcium, such as milk and other calcium supplements, inhibit or decrease the absorption of iron.

Can I take iron supplements with calcium?

 You can take calcium and iron supplements, but with at least 12 12-hour gap. For example, if you have to take the calcium supplements in the morning hours, then take iron supplements in the evening, there should be at least 12 hours difference in the administration time, which will help in the absorption of both elements.

Which food enhances iron absorption?

Vitamin C, found in citrus foods such as lemon, increases the absorption of iron. Therefore, use food containing vitamin C, with iron-containing food.

Secondly, it is also thought that cooking food in cast-iron pots can enhance the iron content of food.

What are the warning symptoms of severe iron deficiency?

If your child eats chalk, uncooked rice, or soil, you should be alert to an iron deficiency and seek medical help. Your healthcare provider will diagnose it on the basis of your symptoms, such as pale skin, lethargy, craving for chalks, soil, or uncooked rice. Early detection of iron deficiency can save you from complications.