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How To Manage Your Ice Cravings you’re up to here craving ice, the first thing you need to do is figure out the underlying issue – that means checking in with your doctor to see if you’re anemic or have pica.ġ. But for you to be diagnosed with pica, the behavior has to be consistent for at least a month. Yeah, according to a review published in 2023, over ¼ of patients with iron-efficiency anemia also have an ice craving that qualifies as pica. Pica is common in children (up to 2 years) and is associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder, a pediatric developmental disorder, or nutritional deficiencies such as iron deficiency anemia (seeing a pattern here?). When the craving is for ice, it’s known as pagophagia, which might include craving ice chips, ice cubes, or from your freezer.

The National Eating Disorders Association describes pica as a mental health condition (eating disorder, really) that involves craving nonnutritive foods such as chalk, clay, dirt, ice, hair, paint chips, pencil shavings, and paper. You Could Be Struggling With Pica Or Pagophagia There isn’t enough evidence to show a connection between diabetes and craving ice. Nonetheless, experts suggest that diabetes patients are often just thirsty, unlike ice cravings linked to anemia or pica. People with poorly controlled diabetes might also have poor absorption of micronutrients such as iron, which can trigger iron deficiency anemia and lead to craving ice. It is typically your body’s way of signaling that it needs to expel the excess sugar through urination and needs more fluids and ice. Studies have found that if you feel thirsty and dehydrated all the time, you might be pre-diabetic. You Might Have Diabetes Photo credit: clevelandclinic Pregnant women have increased metabolic rates and broader blood vessels, making them feel excessively hot and triggering significant ice cravings. Other factors at play include dehydration from nausea and morning sickness and being too hot?.
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However, if you’re craving ice when pregnant, it’s best to seek professional advice to rule out any underlying nutritional deficiencies. Sometimes, it’s just one of those world wonders. It can be caused by abnormal bleeding and poor diet. However, according to one study, pregnancy ice cravings can result from hormonal changes or a sign of low iron levels (iron deficiency anemia), which is common during pregnancy.

So, ice doesn’t really seem too out there. Termite-infested dirt, chocolate bar dipped in avocado sauce, cigarette ash, and sand straight from the beach. Pregnancy is the one “condition” where cravings aren’t a big deal. Other symptoms of iron deficiency anemia include:

In a recent study, 81 individuals with anemia were asked about their eating habits, and 16 revealed an insatiable ice craving.Īnother study showed that people with iron deficiency anemia chew on ice because it gives them a mental and mood boost. Iron is essential for forming hemoglobin, a key component within red blood cells responsible for oxygen transportation and removing carbon dioxide from your body. Red blood cells play a crucial role in transporting oxygen to body tissues. You Have An Iron Deficiency your craving ice is more than just a need to chew on the cubes at the bottom of your Long Island tea, iron deficiency anemia might be the guilty party.Īnemia is a medical condition that occurs when your blood doesn’t carry enough oxygen to your body. Sometimes, especially when the cravings are persistent and intense, they can be a symptom of underlying health problems and shouldn’t be shrugged off. Still, experts warn not to write off craving ice as a dry mouth symptom. Crunching ice can help moisten a dry mouth and hydrate a thirsty system.

The most common reason why people crave ice is dry mouth. Here are expert-backed reasons for craving ice cubes or freezer frosts: You Have Dry Mouth/Or Are Dehydrated Photo credit: creakyjoints There are numerous reasons why you might be craving ice rather than just an impulse to crunch on something icy. 5 Science-Backed Reasons Why You’ve Been Craving Ice Well, unless it’s one of your pregnancy cravings.īelow, we discuss all the medical reasons why you constantly find yourself crunching on the ice cubes in your Long Island cocktail or snacking on a heap of ice chips (instead of potato chips). And it has nothing to do with your sexual health. In fact, according to a bunch of recent studies, craving a glass of ice cubes signifies underlying health issues. You’ve probably heard the old wives’ tale that craving ice (and chewing on it) means you’re sexually frustrated.
