Many people know the feeling of an irresistible desire to eat a piece of chalk. And some cannot do without a daily portion of this supplement at all. What caused such a need of the body, and what kind of chalk can be used? Food chalk is ideal for eating, which does not contain harmful substances in its composition and is purified.
What causes the desire to eat chalk?
Such an oddity in taste preferences, as an unexpected desire to eat chalk, most often indicates a malfunction in the body. It should be understood that a piece of white matter will not get rid of the true cause of desire. Experts say that the problem may lie in iron deficiency anemia (anemia). Iron deficiency causes a decrease in hemoglobin. This condition leads to rapid aging of the body.
Calcium deficiency is another reason for eating chalk. Not receiving this microelement in the required quantities, the body begins to give such peculiar “signals”. To normalize the state, it is necessaryreview your daily diet and start taking supplements such as food chalk.
Just 10-15 years ago, people used to write on the blackboard with lumpy chalk, which can even be eaten. It was this chalk that many managed to taste. It does not contain any harmful substances in the composition, but it also does not have any special benefits for the body.
Calcium carbonate is the main component of lump chalk. It is used for the production of medicines to compensate for the lack of trace elements in the body, improve the condition of hair, nails and bone tissue.
Can I eat chalk during pregnancy?
During the period of bearing a baby, the female body experiences a huge load. Almost every pregnant woman suffers from a deficiency of trace elements and nutrients. Such a problem can be expressed in an irresistible desire to gnaw a piece of chalk. Pregnant women may also like the smell of soap, whitewash.
Experts say that small amounts of chalk (food) during pregnancy can be used by a future mother. However, such a "delicacy" should be selected carefully. Drawing crayons contain various additives and are completely different in taste from the original. It is better not to eat them.
A piece of natural chalk for a pregnant woman will be a good source of calcium. Before using such an unusual product, it is recommended to consult a doctor. Perhaps the expectant mother will need to undergo an examination to find out the reason for such a desire.
Food chalk: benefits and harms fororganism
According to the opinion of doctors, only pharmaceutical chalk, purified from various harmful inclusions and impurities, is suitable for use. It will bring exceptional benefits to the body: it will strengthen the walls of blood vessels, make up for the deficiency of calcium ions. It is necessary to take such chalk according to the age dosage.
For lovers of chalk, the most delicious is the food, purified product. A few small pieces a day will definitely not cause harm to the body. Although, on the other hand, one should not expect much benefit from this “delicacy”. Food chalk will not affect the lack of nutrients in the body.
Food chalk: application
Most meloeaters can't live without their favorite treat and day. Each of them has its own "dose". How much can you use chalk, so as not to harm the body? Experts recommend not to get involved in eating this substance.
Chalk helps some people cope with high stomach acid. To do this, it is ground into powder and consumed one teaspoon per day. Some pharmaceutical preparations designed to lower the level of gastric acidity contain calcium carbonate. The substance has antacid properties and can be used for peptic ulcer disease.
Can I give chalk to children?
Unexpected taste preferences can also be observed in children. For parents, this is a kind of signal that the growing body lacks nutrients. If the baby began to eat chalk, you should think aboutthat the child's diet is not balanced. Calcium deficiency during the period of active skeletal growth poses a serious danger to the normal physical development of the child. The trace element is necessary to strengthen muscle and bone tissue, is involved in the formation of strong teeth.
Craving for chalk can develop in a child with low hemoglobin. Iron deficiency anemia in children is a dangerous disease. The body begins to suffer from a lack of oxygen, which leads to fatigue, dizziness. With such problems, you should definitely contact your pediatrician.
You shouldn't deny your child the desire to eat a piece of chalk. However, the safest product should be chosen for this purpose. School chalk, or one designed for drawing, is not at all suitable for use as a dietary supplement.
Pharmaceutical chalk is considered harmless. It is produced in the form of calcium gluconate tablets. The dosage is calculated depending on the age of the baby. Purified chalk (food) can also be given to a child to gnaw. It is rarely found in pharmacies. Most often, such a “delicacy” is purchased through online stores.
Additional measures
Constantly eating chalk (even food) is not an option. To make up for the lack of trace elements in the body, the diet should be adjusted. For anemia, it is useful to eat foods fortified with iron. These include:
- liver (pork and beef);
- buckwheat;
- garnet;
- prune;
- bananas.
With a strong desire to eat a few pieces of chalk, of course, you can. Only it must be a quality product. It should be remembered that only white chalk (food grade) purified from various harmful substances can be used. A photo of such a product is in our article. Please note: the chalk pieces must have an irregular shape. Sometimes you can find sawn chalk in the form of sticks. On their surface, grooves from sawing with tools are visible.
