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Pica Condition: Cravings that are umm.. too strange! Do you have them?

Team AckoFeb 28, 2025

Besides food cravings and aversions experienced during this time, you may want to eat non-food items, which have no nutritional value This condition is called Pica.

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Ensuring Your Family's Security During Life’s Changes

The reason for this sort of liking can’t be ascertained. However, as per the Journal of American Dietic Association, this could be due to deficiency in iron (anemia) or a way for the body to get those vitamins and minerals, which are absent in the normal diet.

If you are experiencing pica, you have a strong craving to eat things like soap, coffee grounds, sand, toothpaste, dirt, cigarette ash, stones, and mothballs during pregnancy. Strange right? But it does happen to a lot of women!

These non-food substances are harmful for the mom-to-be as well as the baby as they are toxic in nature. It can cause parasitic infections, choking, and intestinal blockages too.

Experiencing pica is normal during this time and definitely temporary. However, you need to deal with the situation by talking to your doctor. She will monitor the nutrient value of iron along with other vitamins and minerals. If it is due to iron deficiency or imbalances in the nutrients, the doctor will recommend the nutrient in the form of supplements like iron supplements. She can also suggest safe substitutes for such non-food cravings. For instance, chewing sugarless gum. The substitute for chalk can be dried berries, abundant in calcium. If it is dirt, then black channa. If it is paint, then saunf, dry fruits are good options.

A blood test, consulting the doctor, taking the deficient nutrient in the form of supplements and safe food substitutes, will help you deal with this condition.

Ensuring Your Family's Security During Life’s Changes

Securing your family's future is as important as caring for your health and well-being during pregnancy. You can feel secure knowing your loved ones will always have financial support when you get a life insurance policy.

Selecting a term insurance plan, such as a 1 crore life insurance, ensures your family's long-term financial stability while enjoying affordable coverage. With tools like a term premium calculator, you can quickly assess multiple options and customise coverage to meet your specific requirements. With the rise of digital platforms, you can easily buy a life insurance policy online from the comfort of your home, making the process quick, simple, and hassle-free.

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Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only, based on industry experience and secondary sources. It is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified expert for health or insurance-related decisions. Content is subject to change, refer to current policy wordings for specific ACKO details.

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