Your teeth can also become weak and extremely sensitive to cold or hot foods and drinks. Dental work such as crowns and fillings may also be damaged by crunching on ice. This could lead to your teeth cracking or chipping, and result in cavities. Eating ice causes severe damage to teeth and gums: By constantly chewing on ice, you’re putting pressure on your teeth and you risk wearing down the enamel, the thin outer coating that protects the delicate internal tissue. Regularly chewing on ice can cause harm to your dental health, or lead to more serious issues:ġ. Side Effects of Eating IceĬan eating too much ice make you sick? Well, there are many reasons why eating ice is bad for you. The reasons given for ingesting ice included quenching thirst, cooling internal and external temperatures, medicinal purposes, as well as enjoyment of its texture. While the study focused on low-income women living in both Mexico and southern California, only those living in the States recorded data as Mexican participants did not have access to ready-made ice. Ice was the main choice of participants in a study of pica behavior among Mexican-born pregnant women. Heartburn and overheating are additional pregnancy symptoms that may benefit from ice.
Eating ice while pregnant: Is eating ice bad for you while pregnant? Chewing or sucking on ice chips may also be a favorable choice for the estimated 75% of pregnant women with morning sickness who cannot keep down fluids. This method is often used to manage nausea from motion sickness, influenza, cancer, and basic food poisoning, and might also alleviate headaches accompanying nausea.ĥ. Sucking on ice chips may help to settle an upset stomach while keeping you hydrated. Nausea: For some people, chewing ice may provide a cooling sensation to relieve nausea.
This can eventually turn into an obsession.Ĥ. Habits/obsession:People who are bored, or constantly crave something to chew on, may chomp on ice cubes. However, the effects on weight loss are negligible.ģ. Some people also eat ice in between meals as an appetite suppressant-although there is no evidence that shows this will help with weight loss.Įxperts believe the body burns a very small amount of calories upon consuming ice or ice-cold beverages to bring them up to a comfortable temperature. Weight loss: In an effort to lose weight quickly, some people eat ice to prevent themselves from eating other foods. In the 13 participants with pagophagia symptoms, oral iron was found to successfully curb the ice craving.įurther research into the development of pagophagia is required however, this study suggests that iron deficiency has a role in the condition.Ģ. Research shows that when iron supplements are used to treat anemia, pagophagia disappears, with little chance of reoccurrence.Ī study on the link between pagophagia and iron deficiency anemia focused on a group of 81 patients with the iron-based anemia condition. In fact, pagophagia has been linked with iron deficiency.įor example, the texture from ice may reduce tongue inflammation, which is a symptom of low iron. Several studies have shown that people who consume the necessary amounts of iron per day are less likely to chew ice. Iron deficiency: On average, an adult should consume between eight to 18 mg of iron per day in their diets. People may chew ice for a variety of reasons:ġ. Ice Benefits People with Iron Deficiency Anemia, as per Studies.
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Complications of the disorder also include dental problems.Īre there any proven health benefits of eating ice? We’ll take a closer look at this and the various side effects of eating ice, as well as share some healthy tips for how to stop eating ice. This compulsive need to chew and eat ice is seen with eating disorders and nutritional deficiencies. If you find that you’re relying on ice to quench an insatiable thirst, you may have the medical condition known as pagophagia. Ice chips can contribute to your overall fluid intake, although in small amounts.
servings of water daily for proper functioning. That being said, the body requires at least eight 8-oz. Ice is essentially frozen water and holds no added nutritional value. However, ice cubes also carry the risk of choking, and an unusual craving for ice chips can indicate an underlying health condition. It can also be a great way to maintain hydration when an illness or injury is preventing a sufficient intake of fluids. On a hot summer day, or when you’re experiencing a sore throat, the soothing sensation of a cool ice cube may be the ideal remedy.