Xylophagia is a condition involving the consumption of paper and form of eating disorder known as
pica
. Pica is an unusual craving for ingestion of either edible or inedible substances.
Why is it bad to eat paper?
But is eating a newspaper, like, a good idea? For starters,
there's almost no nutritional benefit
, according to Massachusetts General Hospital gastroenterologist Dr. Kyle Staller — but it's not particularly dangerous, either. Paper is mostly composed of cellulose, a harmless organic compound found in plants.
Why do I like eating paper?
Pica
is an eating disorder in which people compulsively eat one or more nonfood items, such as ice, clay, paper, ash, or dirt. Pagophagia is a subtype of pica. It involves compulsively eating ice, snow, or ice water. People with pica aren't compelled to eat ice because of a physical disorder like anemia.
What are the causes of pica?
- pregnancy.
- developmental conditions, such as autism or intellectual disabilities.
- mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia.
- cultural norms that view certain nonfood substances as sacred or as having healing properties.
- malnourishment, especially iron-deficiency anemia.
Why does my kid eat paper?
For the uninitiated, pica (pronounced PY-kah) is
an appetite for non-food items
. This tendency is relatively common in children and adults with autism or other developmental disabilities. They may try to eat all sorts of things. The items I most commonly hear about are paper, soap, pebbles, thread and bits of clothing.
What happens if you eat poop?
What happens to a person when they eat poop? According to the Illinois Poison Center, eating poop is
“minimally toxic
.” However, poop naturally contains the bacteria commonly found in the intestines. While these bacteria don't harm you when they're in your intestines, they're not meant to be ingested in your mouth.
Why do I eat paper and ice?
You may have pagophagia. You've probably heard the term “pica” used to describe craving nonfood items like dirt, chalk, or paper. What these substances have in common is that
they don't have nutritional value
. If you have the type of pica called pagophagia, you crave and chew ice.
Is newsprint toxic?
The ink used on today's newspaper is
100 percent non-toxic
. This includes both black and white and color inks. The ink on newspaper in a compost pile will not hurt you.
Is eating paper bad for dogs?
Many dogs don't eat the paper they play with
—the joy is in the ripping up—but if pups do ingest napkins or tissues, there could be serious health consequences. … “But if a large amount is eaten or some of it gets stuck somewhere along the digestive tract, it can cause a blockage that requires surgery to correct.”
Is eating pork bad for you?
Pork is a
rich source of certain vitamins and minerals
your body needs to function, like iron and zinc. It's also an excellent source of high-quality protein. Minimally processed, lean, fully-cooked pork eaten in moderation can provide certain benefits when added to your diet.
How do you fix pica?
One form of treatment associates the pica behavior with negative consequences or punishment (
mild aversion therapy
). Then the person gets rewarded for eating normal foods. Medicines may help reduce the abnormal eating behavior if pica is part of a developmental disorder such as intellectual disability.
What are signs of pica?
- Stomach upset.
- Stomach pain.
- Blood in the stool (which may be a sign of an ulcer that developed from eating nonfood items)
- Bowel problems (such as constipation or diarrhea)
How do you prevent pica?
There is no specific way to prevent pica
. However, careful attention to eating habits and close supervision of children known to put things in their mouths may help catch the disorder before complications can occur.
Do kids with ADHD have pica?
As several authors describe pica as an impulse control disorder and impulsive symptoms are a core aspect of the diagnostic criteria of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), this study reviews literature data on pica, ADHD, and treatment response during childhood and adolescence and adds two case reports to …
At what age can pica be diagnosed?
Most cases of pica happen in young children and pregnant women. It's normal for kids up to 2 years old to put things in their mouth. So the behavior isn't usually considered a disorder unless a child is
older than 2
.
Why is eating ice considered pica?
Doctors use the term “pica” to describe
craving and chewing substances that have no nutritional value
— such as ice, clay, soil or paper. Craving and chewing ice (pagophagia) is often associated with iron deficiency, with or without anemia, although the reason is unclear.
