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Ice Craving Could Signal Iron Deficiency

Q. I read about the person who ate ice all the time. I too ate ice excessively. When I started taking an iron tablet every day, the craving stopped.

Eating ice can totally ruin your teeth. Several months after I quit eating ice I had two caps come loose. Now I have five teeth that require major dental work and a bridge because of crunching ice.

A. Thanks for the word of warning. We suggest anyone with strange cravings, whether for ice, laundry starch or even popcorn, should be tested for iron or zinc deficiency. Correcting the deficiency may ease the craving.

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About the Author
Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist who has dedicated his career to making drug information understandable to consumers. His best-selling book, The People’s Pharmacy, was published in 1976 and led to a syndicated newspaper column, syndicated public radio show and web site. In 2006, Long Island University awarded him an honorary doctorate as “one of the country's leading drug experts for the consumer.”.
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