It is not uncommon for us to hear from people who feel they have an ice addiction. Usually they have no idea why they crave ice so much. Sometimes crunching on ice actually damages their teeth.
We suspect that few of these people ask a doctor about this behavior. They may be embarrassed by it, or they may not realize that it could be a sign of inadequate nutrition. In some instances, a doctor, physician assistant or nurse practitioner might not recognize ice cravings as a classic example of pica (Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Feb., 2016).
What to Do About Ice Addiction?
Q. I drive my family and coworkers crazy with my ice addiction. I’m 47 and have craved chewing ice since I was a teenager. I chew on ice more when I’m stressed. It’s amazing I haven’t broken any teeth yet.
I’ve always had heavy periods and low energy. A Red Cross nurse told me I was too anemic to give blood but I never made the connection between iron deficiency and craving ice.
Recently I started consuming molasses (as a home remedy for a different ailment) and almost overnight I no longer had the ice cravings. It was a pleasant side benefit. I put molasses in my almond milk-very tasty and a good source of iron.
Consider Iron or Zinc Deficiency:
A. Craving nonfood items such as cornstarch, baking soda, clay or ice is called pica. This behavior may signal iron or zinc insufficiency (American Journal of Human Biology, Jan-Feb., 2015). Correcting the deficiency often calms the craving.
Where to Find Iron:
While you could take an iron supplement, some people don’t tolerate them well. Blackstrap molasses is rich in iron, with 3.5 mg per tablespoon. It also supplies ample zinc. Keep in mind, however, that molasses is also high in sugar.
Other foods that are good sources of iron include liver, clams, oysters, mussels and other shellfish. If such foods don’t appeal, you may want to consider a multivitamin and mineral supplement.
