Soil eating among women global phenomenon

BABOKI KAYAWE
Staff Writer | Monday October 4, 2010 00:00

One thing that comes out clear when she speaks of soil eating is its equivalence to a well-cooked, mouth-watering meal, that is according to her taste buds or maybe it is just psychological?

She further described her best types of soils as ‘tasty’ and ‘delicious’. Some, she said are a bit salty or sugary; and it takes knowledge and experience in the practice to source good soil.

“Most good flavours are not on the surface, you have to dig deeper,” said Tene Ramontshonyana of Ramotswa. Ramontshonyana, 43, has been eating soil for almost 23 years. It all started back in 1987 after it had rained, the smell of moist soil lured her into the habit until she could not survive a day without feeding from what some people see only as a beautifying physical feature - the termite mount.

Eventually she began to crave the soil just like a cigarette smoker does without his/her daily dose of nicotine.Ramontshonyana, whose favourite flavours are termite hills and a form of clay, which she called lempu, said there are times when she eats huge amounts of soil. She is a worried woman though; because of the quantity she ingests and the fact that the craving can awaken her even at night.

As much as these may be just one of nature’s creations, to many they (soils)are like mineral supplements to her. They are loaded with minerals, chief among them iron. Her doctor told Ramontshonyana her habit of dirt eating, better known scientifically as geophagy, emanated from an iron deficiency problem.  

“I have seen a doctor and was told I have an iron deficiency, I was given iron supplements and encouraged to eat lots of beetroot and fruits,” she said.

However, Ramontshonyana explained that immediately after the tablets get finished she develops a huge ‘appetite’ for the soils and could go to an extent of taking a bowlful. She also knows the inherent dangers, for instance, the infection of the intestines and constipation. As an antidote she has made it a habit to drink plenty of milk to avoid complications like constipation.

“I have sought spiritual intervention, my pastor has prayed for me, it’s a bit better. I want to stop this though it’s difficult to do so,” she said.

Surprisingly, despite being a common practice among many expectant women, she does not eat dirt during pregnancy. She said she feels nauseated when doing so during pregnancy.  

Another person in the habit, though not on many occasions and consumes smaller amounts is Sharon Tshipa who simply characterised the taste of soil from the termite hill as ‘butter’ and creamy.

Asked how she developed the habit, Tshipa said she does not recall exactly what led to her geophagy but believes it had something to do with curiosity and wanted to experience it all for herself.

“I think I just did it out of fun as I kept on seeing others do it,” she said. 

She added that the urge was part of her inheritance in a sense because her mother was an habitual dirt eater, and it surprised her that while she had disapproved of the habit then she followed suit.

Tshipa said she has cravings, especially when it is raining.

“But I don’t like the feeling generated by the gritty stones on my teeth,” she said.

These are some of the many citizens of the world, particularly women who have the habit of dirt eating. Geophagy is described as the practice of eating earthy or soil-like substances such as clay, and chalk, in order to obtain essential nutrients such as sulphur and phosphorus from the soil.

This practice is said to be widespread among animals in the wild, as well as in human societies. Human geophagy is closely related to pica, a classified eating disorder characterised by abnormal cravings for non-food items.

Research has shown that worldwide, different societies have always had this practice commonly found but not limited to women.

Hunter, John M in Geophagy in Africa and in the United States: A Culture-Nutrition Hypothesis wrote that people around the world eat clay, dirt or other pieces of the lithosphere for a variety of reasons. Commonly, it is a traditional cultural activity, which takes place during pregnancy, religious ceremonies, or as a remedy for disease.

Most people who eat dirt live in Central Africa and the Southern United States. While it is a cultural practice, it also fills a physiological need for nutrients.

“In Africa, pregnant and lactating women are able to satisfy the very different nutritional needs of their bodies by eating clay, as clays commonly ingested in Africa contain important nutrients such as phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, copper, zinc, manganese, and iron,” he writes. 

Katherine Eichler, who has worked as a gynaecologist and paediatrician for 13 years, said she has encountered a number of pregnant women in Botswana who crave sand or soil.

“It must have something to do with a lack of minerals and especially iron which pregnant women need more than non-pregnant women - because of the growing baby,” Eichler said.

She advised pregnant women to get supplements from their doctors when going for antenatal care as those who do not get supplements and without a good balanced diet feel the urge to eat sand or soil because they know that it contains the necessary minerals.

Eichler said they are health implications associated with the habit as in some cases the sand and soil can be contaminated with dangerous substances and germs and can lead - if taken in bigger amounts - to infections of the gastro intestinal tract.

“Therefore antenatal care with the doctor is important to support the pregnant women with all the necessary vitamins and minerals, to give them advice regarding diet and to discuss with them the importance of a healthy lifestyle.”

ABC News Health reporter, Marc Lallanilla reported in 2005 that experts claim the habit of eating clay may be beneficial for pregnant women, though the practice is rarely if ever recommended by medical professionals, some nutritionists now admit the habit of eating clay may have some real health benefits.

“It is possible that the binding effect of clay would cause it to absorb toxins,” said Dr David L. Katz, nutrition expert at the Yale School of Medicine and a medical contributor to ABC News.Additional information: Online research