That's Fit

Why do people eat dirt? It may sound crazy, but according to this article, certain people on every continent (except Antarctica) consume chalk, loam or marl. There's been a study conducted to address this very issue. I've heard of quirky college professors eating their chalk, but this story also points to an island in Africa where eating 25 grams of earth indicates she is expecting a child.

It's called geophagy, and some researchers say it's like an addiction. Being choosy about the dirt they eat is actually a big part of it. People who partake in geophagy won't just scoop up their garden to take a bite. Some inhabitants in Africa will actually travel outside their village to get their fix!

But is there anything to it? Well some types of dirt actually contain magnesium, sodium, calcium, and potassium. But a British team unearthed the truth and discovered consuming loam actually led to iron deficiency. Either way they have been doing this for about 2 million years. At least we can say with confidence that a little dirt never hurt anyone!