Pica

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Have you ever eaten something you’re not supposed to either accidentally, out of curiosity, or for some other reason? Something that was not meant to be eaten at all? Believe it or not, eating things that are not meant to be eaten, which can also be called nonfoods, on a daily basis or because of an obsession has been diagnosed as an eating disorder called pica. The word pica in Latin translates into magpie. This term was most likely coined because of the bird’s peculiar eating behaviors. Magpies have no preference for foods and/or nonfoods, and would eat anything it found interesting. Humans however, are slightly more picky compared to a magpie, as they only crave one specific type of nonfood when they have pica. It isn’t stated when exactly pica was first recognized by the medical community as an illness, as by the 16th century to the 20th century it was still regarded as a symptom, instead of an individual disorder.

The exact cause of pica is not known, but there are a number of theories that might explain this kind of obsession and behaviour. Nutritional deficiencies like iron or zinc may trigger specific cravings, although the craved items generally do not make up for the lacking minerals. People who diet sometimes tries to calm their hunger by eating non-food items, which do not contain any carbohydrates, fiber, fat, or other important parts for a healthy diet, but still acquire a feeling of fullness. Children who live in poverty and are deprived from food will sometimes be so desperate for nutrition that they will start eating anything they find, like dirt and clay, which are most commonly found in poor areas. When in the process of pregnancy, some women may start craving foods, and every so often, nonfoods, but this is ...

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...for curing or preventing pica, and there is evidence that medications for behavioural problems in children can be helpful in treating pica. In severe cases, surgery will be required for those who have eaten metal or lead objects, to remove those items from the digestive tract before the materials have been absorbed into the body. These approaches to treating pica are not very effective, but a bit more research into the brain will certainly improve the current methods.

In conclusion, pica, just like all other disorders, may seem like no big deal in the beginning, but it will most likely be considered as an important issue in the near future. Just like all other disorders, all it takes is determination, time, and a course of action, and the human race will once again marvel the universe with its ability to overcome even the sneakiest and hardest to cure of diseases.

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