Geophagia (/ ˌ dʒ iː ə ˈ f eɪ dʒ (i) ə /), also known as geophagy (/ dʒ i ˈ ɒ f ə dʒ i /), [1] is the intentional [2] practice of consuming earth or soil-like substances such as clay, chalk, or termite mounds.

Geophagy is the habit of consuming clay soil such as chalk or kaolin. Though it is globally practiced, the safety of those involved is yet to be fully established. It is thought to be highly prevalent in pregnant women because of its antinausea or therapeutic effects.

Oct 24, 2020 · Geophagy is a traditional practice of eating clay or dirt which actually does provide nutrients to the body. In Africa, pregnant and lactating women eat clay.

Aug 20, 2019 · Geophagia, the practice of eating dirt, has existed all over the world throughout history. People who have pica, an eating disorder in which they crave and eat nonfood items, often consume dirt....

Aug 25, 2023 · Geophagy is the intentional eating of earth. It’s a type of pica, the craving for and consumption of non-food items. Pica is often considered a rare psychological disorder, yet the consumption of soil, dirt, clay, sand, chalk, and other forms of earth is …

Jun 16, 2016 · The practice of geophagy – eating earth – is surprisingly common, and while in some parts of the world it is regarded as an eating disorder, in others it is actively encouraged.

The meaning of GEOPHAGY is the practice of eating earthy substances (such as clay) that in humans is performed especially to augment a scanty or mineral-deficient diet or as part of a cultural tradition.

Geophagy is defined as the intentional ingestion of earthy substances, such as soil or clay, practiced by humans and animals for various reasons like protection against parasites and pathogens. AI generated definition based on: Encyclopedia of Geology (Second Edition), 2021

Nov 12, 2020 · Geophagy (or geophagia) can be defined as the habit of eating clay or earth, a practice about which there is a great deal of misunderstanding.

Apr 1, 2023 · Geophagy or geophagia is related to the voluntary and continuous ingestion of earthy materials, that include rocks, soils/sediments, and clays, both by humans and animals (Kambunga et al., 2019a and references therein).