Has anyone heard of health benifits of eating dirt?

Question

We have a organic farm and one of the customers came in asking for dirt to eat to replenish her bodies healing defenses. Is this wacko or based in truth?

Answer 1

This is based in truth. Microorganisms from soil help heal the gut, because they are considered good bacteria (probiotics) needed for healthy digestion. Also, soil contains minerals, and some people crave dirt because they have an underlying mineral deficiency that they're not aware of.

Garden of Life has a soil-based probiotics product. The founder of Garden of Life says soil-based probiotics helped save his life, after Crohn's disease.

Answer 2

In the south, they call it "pica" and I have know several people that have eaten it. They even used to sell it at the farmers market. It was actually clay -- two choices red or white. Years later I learned that people ingest kaolin clay to rid the body of toxins - evidently kaolin is also an ingredient in Kaopectate. If someone wants to try it they should make sure they get clay that can be consumed internally. As far as eating dirt is concerned, kids and animals do this when they have a mineral deficiency. I think that I would order it from a reliable source rather than just eating dirt.

Answer 3

Yep, there are people who do this. It used to be an old southern thing for pregnant women who needed the iron in red dirt, but it's evolved past that with some alternative health types.

Probably on the net under "dirt eaters". Good side business for an organic farm BTW. I think there are only a few places that sell it.

Answer 4

Yup shes a wacko. Dirt is good when its applied on the body it just has some things in it that rejuvinates the skin, but eating it wow thats just insane.

Answer 5

I have heard of a pica, which means, if your body is craving certain minerals, you have a desire to eat really weird things to try to fill those needs. It goes back to some ancient biological survival mechanism. There are minerals in soil that we need, but nothing that can't be gleaned from a good multivitamin. I think she is really barking up the wrong tree with this one!

Answer 6

Yes, I heard of eatingclay and it detoxifying your body. But I would look at my local healthfood store not my local farm, even if organic. That sounds a little wacko.

Answer 7

Completely wacko.

Answer 8

they are mostly wakos...but there is a rare condition where some people (mostly children) crave dirt and will eat it. i understand that it indicates low levels of a certain mineral....damn i can't remember....maybe it's magnesium? Try to google this -- i will.

Answer 9

this is common in tribal people and other cultures. our culture could benefit from this practice since our soils are so depleted and we are not getting all the minerals we need.

Answer 10

i think it adds fiber to your diet