chalk- this is not only a familiar subject from school times, but also a witness to eras that have passed millions of years ago.

Most of the composition of the chalk is formed by calcium deposits of the shells of prehistoric microorganisms and protozoa. Cretaceous deposits, including processed ones, are used today in various areas ah - from the production of paints and food additives to cosmetics.

How did chalk come about?

chalk is a natural material and is mined as a mineral. Basically, it is calcium deposits formed from the remains of ancient terrestrial organisms.

In the production of chalk and chalk-containing products, already processed chalk is used.

Natural chalk deposits often contain various undesirable impurities - stones, sand and various mineral particles. Therefore, the chalk mined in the deposits is broken and mixed with water in such a way as to obtain a suspension.

At the same time, heavy impurities sink to the bottom, and light calcium particles are sent to a special tank, where, after adding a special adhesive, they are dried, turning into chalk, which can be painted on.

Raw chalk from chalk quarries is used for construction purposes to produce lime.

We bring to your attention another article about the origin, its composition and medicinal properties.

What is chalk and what does it consist of?

Chalk contains:

• calcium oxides - from 47 to 55%;
• carbon dioxide - up to 43%;
• silicon dioxide - no more than 6%;
• aluminum oxide - up to 4%;
• magnesium oxide - no more than 2% of the total mass of chalk;
• chalk may also contain iron, however, its concentration usually does not exceed 0.5%.

Chalk accumulations

The accumulation of Cretaceous deposits began in the so-called Cretaceous period, covering a period of 80 million years. About 20% sedimentary rocks Earths include chalk.

Chalk deposits:

• To the largest chalk deposits include the White Cliffs of Dover, the chalk caves in the French city of Champagne and the chalk cliffs of Mons Klint in Denmark.
• On Russian territory Cretaceous mountain deposits up to 600 meters thick are located south of Kharkov.
• Most large deposits Voronezh region- Kopanischenskoe, Rossoshskoe and Buturlinskoe. The city of Belgorod, presumably, got its name from the local chalk deposits.

Chalk formation

The formation and accumulation of limestone deposits took place over eighty million years.

foraminifera- single-celled organisms, the shells of which served as the basis for the formation of today's Cretaceous deposits. After the death of these protozoa, their shells sank to the bottom of the ocean, creating foraminiferal limestones.

These formations, along with the remains of unicellular coccolithophorid plants, are an integral part of today's Cretaceous accumulations. Compressed under water pressure, the remains of coccolithophores and shells of ancient mollusks have been supplemented by the skeletal remains of fish and animals for millions of years.

Despite the fact that back in 1953 scientists announced the predominant role of plants in the formation of limestone rocks, among the inhabitants there is still an opinion about the primacy of foraminifers.

Compound

Cretaceous deposits include:

• Skeleton fragments– approximately 10%. These are the remains of not only protozoa, but also large multicellular animals.
• Shells of ancient molluscs- 10 %. Among them were animals with limestone shells - foraminifera.
• Particles of calcareous growth of algae- no more than 40%. Most of the limestone deposits, contrary to popular belief, were formed from the remains of the simplest plants - coccolithophorids, and not from the shells of foraminifers. Coccolithophores have not died out, they feel great in the vastness of the world's oceans today, taking part in the exchange of carbon between the ocean and the atmosphere.
• Crushed crystalline calcite- no more than 50%. These are natural mineral formations of complex origin.
• Insoluble silicates- until 3%. These are minerals of geological origin - sand, fragments of rocks brought into the chalk deposits by wind and water. Properties of chalk

Humidity, which affects its strength and plasticity, has a great influence on the properties of chalk. An increase in humidity leads to deformation, while in a dry environment, chalk can crumble even from slight pressure.

Moisture-saturated rock sticks to construction tools. That is why construction works using calcium carbonate is carried out in countries with a hot and arid climate. A perfect example ancient building limestone is Egyptian pyramid Cheops (Khufu).

At sub-zero temperature the rock is prone to disintegration into fragments of a few millimeters.

Chalk cost

The price of chalk will depend primarily on its type (processing) and purpose:

• for drawing on asphalt will cost no more 200-400 rubles for packing.
• white crayons without dyes will cost about 100 rubles .
• farm chalk I buy in large quantities, shipping it in several tons. The cost of each ton of ground chalk is 3000-5000 rubles.
• food chalk price used in medicine and food additives(E-170) - from 40 to 300 rubles for 100 grams. The stone was also used in medicine).

Chalk application

Today, chalk is a fairly widespread material for various industries.

So, chalk is used in the following areas:

1. Chalk paints used for interior decoration during construction and repair work.
2. Chalk is part of cement mixtures providing them with softness and elasticity.
3. Ground natural chalk actively used for glass production.
4. Chalk is part of the farm feed and is used to fertilize the soil.
5. Chalk is the basis for cosmetics- lipsticks foundation, powders, etc. It is the chalk in the composition of the foundation that absorbs excess fat and protects the skin from shine.
6. Chalk is also used for domestic purposes as an absorbent and whitening agent.
7. Production of tooth powders and pastes also not without the use of chalk.
8. In the production of paper and cardboard products finely dispersed (crushed) chalk is used as a filler and bleach for paper. Chalk, processed stearic acid, has hydrophobic properties. It is also used in the paper industry. The content of chalk in paper improves print quality and reduces the likelihood of wear and tear of printing equipment.
9. Not so long ago, chalk was used to mark the playing field.. The suspension rising into the air after the ball hit the line was easy to see. Today titanium dioxide is used instead of chalk.
10. To remove sweat and reduce the risk of slipping, chalk is used in sports such as weightlifting, gymnastics and rock climbing today.

Can you eat chalk?

A lack of calcium and other useful trace elements can lead to the desire to eat chalk. During pregnancy, with anemia, some people have a strong craving for eating chalk, so the question of the safety of this mineral for the body arises for many.

Surely one or two small pieces of pure chalk will not severe harm for the body. However, it must be remembered that chalk without impurities is not available for free sale and it is practically impossible to get it, except perhaps in the pharmacy in the form of calcium gluconate. In the most common product - "school chalk", during the production they add glue and various dyes that are toxic to the body.

The use of chalk in large quantities can cause calcification of blood vessels, the formation of kidney stones and provoke problems with the digestive tract.

In addition to the detrimental effect of impurities that make up construction and chancellor chalk, it is characterized by oxidation when interacting with gastric juice, which turns it into a harmful chemical reagent.

What to do if you want to eat chalk?

The desire to eat chalk is often a signal of a lack of calcium in the body. The reasons for its deficiency can be a monotonous diet, prolonged stressful conditions, weakening of the body after serious illnesses and pregnancy.

Given that during pregnancy it is calcium that is the basis for the formation of the nervous and skeletal system of the child, the lack of this mineral must be filled. In this case, a variety of diet is not able to completely solve the problem, so doctors strongly recommend taking special dietary supplements during pregnancy. vitamin complexes.

Due to the fact that the neural tube of the fetus is formed on early dates in order to minimize the risks improper development, you need to start taking vitamins even during pregnancy planning. Anemia and calcium deficiency in the body often appear with heavy and long periods.

With symptoms of severe calcium deficiency (convulsions, noticeable deterioration and blanching of the skin and hair) you can take calcium gluconate tablets. Unlike stationery and other types of industrial chalk, they are safe, however, with prolonged use they can lead to constipation.

As a rule, the craving for eating chalk ends after the diet is expanded to include dairy products, chicken eggs and fresh greens.

In some cases, the desire to eat inedible and inedible substances can be a sign mental disorder. Consequences of eating inedible objects are intestinal obstruction and nutritional deficiencies.

It often happens that the body requires to eat something unusual. And in Everyday life is a common occurrence. Some people like to chew on ice, others like paper, and still others enjoy the process of eating clay. But it is chalk that occupies a leading position among food addictions.

This statement is not unfounded. It's easy to make sure. It is enough to go to the forums where messages are full of: “I eat chalk!”, “I want to gnaw a piece of chalk”, “I eat chalk every day, and I can’t refuse.” Such messages are numerous, along with this, people understand that eating chalk is not a normal option, which is why they ask questions - why do they eat chalk and is it so useful? Or maybe on the contrary, eating chalk is harmful?

In reality, the benefits and harms of the product are ambiguous. In small quantities, natural chalk does not negative impact on health. According to doctors, such a taste addiction is nothing more than a signal from the body that there are not enough mineral components.

Let's see how chalk is harmful to the body? Why people can not give up such a habit, and what Negative consequences may be?

Why do you want to eat chalk?

The habit of eating stationery chalk is a perverted nutritional need of the body. Most clinical pictures the reason lies in the deficiency of calcium or iron in the human body.

When a person experiences an irresistible desire to eat a piece of chalk, while he cannot control himself or is ready to enjoy the smell of fresh whitewash for hours, this is not normal, the body signals a failure. It means that the body needs mineral components.

Despite the fact that it is now popular healthy lifestyle life and proper nutrition, the human diet can hardly be called complete. Some people severely limit their food intake, while others, while trying to buy farm food that is "supposedly natural", still do not receive right amount vitamins and minerals.

The point is that in modern world really hard to find organic products, which do not contain harmful components, while abounding in substances necessary for normal functioning all organs and systems. AND we are talking about real cheese, milk, cottage cheese and other products that are the main source of calcium for humans.

When there is a deficiency of a mineral element in the body, the body gives a signal, as a result of which you really want chalk. The chalk product consists of 98-99% calcium carbonate, which is why there is an abnormal need to eat it.

The second reason for eating habits is iron deficiency anemia. In other words, the body is severely deficient in iron. If you eat enough dairy products, then pathological cravings can be leveled. If milk and cheese do not help, it is recommended to donate blood to determine the concentration of hemoglobin. It is possible that the analysis may show low maintenance iron and hemoglobin levels.

Iron deficiency anemia weakens the body, making it defenseless against many diseases. Therefore, one should not ignore such a symptom as the desire to gnaw on a piece of chalk.

The benefits and harms of chalk for the body

People who consume chalk need to visit the dentist regularly as calcium deficiency in the body leads to enamel fragility. During the consumption of solid food, microcracks appear on it, in which pathogenic microorganisms can settle, leading to the development of caries.

Is it good to eat chalk? It is believed that in this way calcium enters the body, which is useful for teeth, bones, etc. But in reality, the strange eating habit does not bring any benefit. Why is that?

Calcium, which is contained in chalk, is not absorbed by the human body, respectively, there is no benefit. V best case its action is neutral, at worst, serious health problems can develop. But the second option is not excluded only in cases where a person consumes chalk literally in kilograms.

Medical experts comment on the eating habit:

• There is an opinion that the consumption of chalk leads to the formation of stones in the kidneys. This is a dual statement. This really happens if a person eats it in kilograms every day and for long period time. Then not only the kidneys suffer, but also blood vessels/ arteries, gastrointestinal tract, lungs and other internal organs, as they are covered with a layer of chalk. But 2-3 pieces a day will not bring any harm. But provided that the chalk is clean;
• Is it harmful to eat chalk? It depends on what, doctors say. Stationery chalk contains additional substances, in particular, in the composition of gypsum, glue, sometimes dyes. This is definitely not good for the body. Unrefined chalk or whitewash may include bad substances of a very different nature, which will affect health and well-being.

Truly pure calcium can only be purchased in pharmacies - this is calcium gluconate. It is sold in the form of tablets. Of course, his taste is somewhat different when compared with ordinary crayons, but you can be sure of safety, since the drug goes through several stages of purification from various impurities.

Negative effects of drinking chalk

Chalk is a sedimentary rock organic nature, is one of the many types of lime. The basis is calcium carbonate, in the composition of an insignificant concentration of magnesium, metal oxides. Does not dissolve in water. If the reason for the desire to gnaw lime is calcium deficiency, then to some extent it can be absorbed, provided that there is a sufficient amount of vitamin D in the body, ascorbic acid and tocopherol. By itself, the mineral component is not absorbed.

When the cause of pathological desire lies in iron deficiency anemia, then it is required drug treatment focused on replenishing iron deficiency. The consumption of chalk does not affect the concentration of iron, and anemia leads to various problems with health - constant weakness, pale skin, hair loss, etc.

If you eat a lot of organic minerals, then the functionality of the kidneys and lungs may be impaired. Uncontrolled consumption over a long period of time increases the risk of developing diabetes or pancreatitis, since lime can deposit on the pancreas. Will not keep you waiting and violations of the cardiovascular nature.

These complications result from overconsumption. If the "dosage" per day is several pieces, then it's okay. If you really want, then, of course, you can, say medical experts.

It will not be superfluous to pass analyzes for the content minerals- timely response to body signals can save you from many problems in the future.

Eating chalk during pregnancy

Perhaps everyone is familiar with the eccentricities of pregnant women who, in an interesting position, are ready to experiment with their diet. This is due to the fact that during the bearing of a child, an increased need for vitamins and minerals is revealed. But how harmless is this habit?

Research shows that even absolutely healthy woman without pathologies of pregnancy, there may be a desire to eat chalk. Such pathological cravings are detected in 17% of cases. Most often, desire is due to a lack of calcium in the body. If the pregnancy is complicated chronic diseases, then every second woman's taste preferences change.

Is it possible to eat chalk during pregnancy? Doctors still recommend consuming calcium gluconate, since this drug is safe and has no contraindications. However, if you really want chalk, then you should not refuse your body.

There will be no harm from a few pieces, provided that it does not contain harmful substances. But no benefit is revealed, except for psychological satisfaction.

Ecology of life. Health: A long time ago I read a book in Tibetan medieval medicine and I remember such a phrase that pregnant women can eat anything: earth, ice, chalk, and they cannot be prevented from doing so. Then I found out that not only pregnant women eat ice, people eat earth and much more.

Briefly:

1. Why do people eat chalk? Is it dangerous?

2. Why do people like to chew on ice?

Answer: this is an ancient reflex to improve the blood supply to the brain, a sign of iron deficiency anemia, hypotension or decreased tone.

A long time ago I was reading a book on Tibetan medieval medicine and I remember this phrase,that pregnant women can eat anything : earth, ice, chalk, and they must not be prevented from doing so. Then I found out that not only pregnant women eat ice, people eat earth and much more.

The appearance of whims is considered by many to be an almost inevitable sign. interesting position. There is no single explanation for this phenomenon. Without doubt, great importance has hormonal changes. An increase in the level of progesterone, which affects the balance of macro- and microelements, which changes the reactivity of the nervous system.Progesterone also has a direct effect on emotions, changing attitudes towards certain events, substances, products, and actions. In addition, the very fact of pregnancy, which changes the woman's attitude towards herself, her importance and needs, is of great importance.

Today we will focus on a more serious problem. Peak chlorotic - craving for eating completely inedible things: chalk, lime, earth, wallpaper and other things, can be a sign of serious disorders in the body. If you feel like sniffing exhaust fumes, nail polish remover, or constantly mopping your concrete floor at the same time, you need to see your doctor.

Some children, due to their rapid growth, are also forced to suffer from a mineral deficiency. From this we can conclude: the lack of calcium must be balanced with food. According to qualified doctors, only pharmacy chalk can be eaten. It's called calcium gluconate.

The desire to eat chalk can occur when calcium in the body is in short supply. It may also indicate a low level of hemoglobin. In this case, you should contact a specialist. Only a physician can refer necessary tests and, first of all, on a blood test. Based on data laboratory research a specialist will most likely prescribe calcium with the addition of vit.D3. These two components are interdependent of each other - calcium without vitamin is not absorbed in the body.

One study included more than 400 women who were ever pregnant or in a position on this moment. All participants were asked what unusual and even strange eating habits pursued them during pregnancy. And the results were truly shocking. Soap, polystyrene, chalk and even ashes - this is just an incomplete list of those items that pregnant women tried to stuff into their mouths. Other strange cravings and cravings included: peppers, raw onions, licorice root, sardines, and ice.

One of the women interviewed, who had never smoked in her life, reported that she enjoyed eating cigarette ashes very much. Her husband smoked, and one terrible evening, looking at the ashtray, she realized that she wanted to lick it. And at that moment it really seemed to her incredibly tasty.

Of course, the researchers were struck first of all by what non-food products pregnant women preferred: ash, chalk, polystyrene. Importantly, all the products that the women named had a very strong and specific taste. Among others: capsicum, licorice, soap, horseradish, etc.

It seems that only pregnant women sometimes suffer from a perverse appetite, but recent studies have shown that a surprisingly large number of men suffer from a disorder called pica, when there is an appetite for inedible things like dirt, chalk or sand.

Geophagy, human eating of earth, ash, dirt, etc.,- a phenomenon that has long occupied the minds of scientists. "People eating the earth" was first noted by Hippocrates, that is, 2,000 years ago. Since then, cases of geophagy have been noticed more and more often, and now, according to reputable sources, there is not a single continent and not a single country where this strange phenomenon has not been noted.

Conducted in Madagascar, where pica is a fairly common phenomenon, studies have shown that there is a nation in the world where the practice of eating inedible prevails among men, scientists say. Why did such a disorder arise among men, because it is usually observed in pregnant women or children?

"I think previous studies simply ignored men and mostly studied pregnant women.", - says study author Christopher Golden (Christopher Golden), eco-epidemiologist. Traditionally, studies of geophagy (the use of land) and pica have described that pregnant women or children suffer from this ailment.

In 2009, Golden and his colleagues studied the behavior of some representatives of the 16 villages of Madagascar, which are located in the area of ​​​​the Makira reserve. The study participants included both women and men. They have been found to occasionally eat 13 inedible substances, including sand, earth, chicken manure, raw rice, raw cassava root, coal, ash, and salt itself.

Approximately 53 percent of the villagers surveyed reported eating inedible things. Among adult men, the peak was observed in 63 percent. Contrary to the stereotype, less than one percent of pregnant women reported eating inedible items exclusively during pregnancy.

Some people have claimed to eat such things for their medicinal properties. in, especially for stomach problems, Golden said. Many people believe that pica benefits their body as a whole. Previously, scientists believed that there were two reasons for the practice of peaking: to fill the deficiency of micronutrients in the diet and clean digestive system, get rid of worms.

Micronutrient deficiencies can be fully explained in the case of pregnant women and children, their diet needs more certain substances than the diet of other people. However, scientists cannot confirm that human body is really capable of absorbing trace elements from the soil, so the peak, according to Golden, is completely useless for health.

Pika is characteristic not only rural population developing countries. For example, many Americans also eat inedible things, says Golden. "A college buddy of mine used to eat chalk," he said.

Cleveland Clinic psychologist Susan Albers says: " Pika is an appetite disorder that is less well known and studied than other eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. but studying this disorder is very important, because it can lead to serious problems with health due to the fact that, along with inedible things, harmful toxins can enter the body".

During the famine in the Volga region in 1920-1921. in many areas, earth-eating was widespread, and the earth, mainly clay, was sold in the markets as an edible product. Dravert wrote that the clay, which the inhabitants of the Samara province ate, contained a large amount of decay products organic matter. As it turned out, these were sapropels that have been used by people for food since ancient times.

Dravert mentioned the Indians of Venezuela, who lived in the basin of the river. Orinoco, which for 2–3 months during the flood of the river turned out to be cut off from mainland and were forced to eat only silty clay, which was roasted on fire. On average, one person ate about 2 glasses of sludge daily. Clays in general were a popular food of the inhabitants of many regions of the Earth - they were used on the Guinean coast and the Antilles, in Persia, on the island of Java, in New Caledonia and India, Bolivia, Siberia, etc.

The use of certain types of minerals is associated with religious rites. For example, in China, diatomaceous earth was very popular, it was called "black food", or "ground rice". diatomites - rocks, consisting mainly of the siliceous remains of diatoms, which are used both as medicines and as food. In ancient times, it was believed that diatomaceous earth has a supernatural origin and is the food of dragons and immortals therefore, its use should have a beneficial effect on the health and well-being of believers.

In Java, it is believed that clays facilitate the flow of childbirth and reduce the number of complications., therefore, in her absence, women eat shards of pottery. Pregnant women from a tribe living on the slopes of Kenya in Africa eat "white soil" from ant mounds or "black soil" from termite mounds.

Minerals are not only used as food by humans. Stones are known to be swallowed by many birds., especially the chicken family, as well as fish, seals, walruses and dolphins (almost 10 kg of stones and pebbles were extracted from the stomach of one of them). The purpose of these gastrolithic stones is to promote the grinding of food and, consequently, digestion.

Places where marked characteristics the constant appearance of wild animals for the purpose of using earthy substances for food, in the Russian-language scientific literature it is customary to call "animal salt licks". The English synonym is mineral lick. In the Turkic-speaking environment, such places are called Kudyurs. In addition to solid mineral substances on animal salt licks, animals often drink mineralized spring water. This fact, in our opinion, is related exclusively to sodium supplementation.

Many ruminant ungulates, less often wild boars and bears, visit salt licks, especially in spring and autumn. This is due to the need for mineral supplements., but apparently not only. Even if wild ungulates are fed with table salt, they still visit salt licks. Zoologist D. Shaposhnikov believes that salt licks are a source not only table salt, but also other minerals necessary for the normalization of work gastrointestinal tract, especially during the transition from rough winter food to juicy summer food. It is during this period that animals experience massive digestive disorders.

It should be noted that many rock-forming minerals and their mixtures have a positive effect on the symbiotic intestinal microflora of animals, normalize the composition and concentration of digestive juices, promote the absorption of feed, heal wounds and ulcers of the stomach and intestines, increase the status immune system generally.

Despite the relative prevalence of the phenomenon, scientists have not yet been able to agree on the reasons why people eat the earth. However, among the many versions there are three most trustworthy. The first suggests that eating inedible land helps to cope with an acute feeling of hunger: although the body does not receive any nutrients, it is possible to get rid of acute hunger cramps for a while.

The second hypothesis, on the contrary, talks about nutrients that can only be extracted from the earth.; they are microelements like iron, zinc or calcium. Finally, the third hypothesis presents the eating of the earth as a kind of protection that protects us from the action of pathogenic microorganisms and plant toxins.

The first hypothesis turned out to be untenable, because cases of eating the earth were noted even when there was plenty of food. In addition, people ate small amounts of earth that could not fill the stomach and quench hunger. The theory of obtaining nutrients from the earth is also not justified - the data suggest that the most preferred substrate for geophagy is clay, which is poor in trace elements.

By the way, if this were a way to replenish calcium reserves, geophagy would flourish among children and the elderly when calcium requirements are high, but statistics do not confirm this. Some have found a relationship between geophagy and anemia, but studies have shown that people continue to eat the earth even if the lack of iron is replenished. Moreover, clay is generally more likely to bind nutrients from food, making them unavailable for absorption. As a result, scientists settled on the fact that the eaten clay performs protective function.

Special attention should be put on ice. Pregnant women and some people experience varying degrees desire to eat ice, lick icicles. Some authors report that this is simply the result of an iron deficiency.

One form of pike is called Pagophagia, it means - a compulsive desire to chew ice. Although the vast majority of peaks remain a mystery to scientists, new theory can explain why some iron deficient people talk about a burning desire to gnaw frozen foods and ice. Research has shown that ice dissolution provides cognitive enhancement in some people with iron deficiency anemia.

Melissa Hunt, a clinical psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania, gave both iron-deficient and healthy participants either a cup of ice or warm water before they took the 22-minute attention test (to diagnose attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). She found that iron-deficient participants showed the same results as healthy participants when they consumed a bowl of ice; if they drank a cup warm water, their results were significantly worse. Meanwhile, there was no difference in healthy participants.

This will be of interest to you:

Hunt and her colleagues concluded that ice helps to improve the cognition and attention of people with iron deficiency, and perhaps to some extent in other people.

This phenomenon is called the diving reflex in mammals (as possible cause ice action). When immersed in water, most air-breathing vertebrates slow their heart rate and constrict blood vessels in their arms and legs. This reduces the flow of oxygen to the periphery of the body, saving it for vital organs, including the brain.

This is a kind of rudimentary, but preserved reflex in humans. It is important to note that the reflex is triggered in a person who has contact with cold water but not warm. So it's possible that the absorption of an ice cube could lead to an increase in the supply of oxygen and blood to the brain. For those with enough iron, this benefit is unlikely. published

Perhaps each of us has faced the problem of an irresistible desire to eat chalk. Someone wanted to eat a piece himself, another child likes to do this, and sometimes you can meet a pregnant lady with chalk in her purse.

In this regard, reasonable questions arise: is it possible to eat chalk, how harmful / beneficial it is for the body, and why do you sometimes want to include it in your menu?

Why do you want to eat chalk

It should be noted that anemia low level hemoglobin in the blood) is closely related to the subsequent desire to eat chalk. Compiling correct menu and by increasing the level of hemoglobin, we can expect a resolution of the problem and a return to normal taste preferences.

Some of the people with great pleasure eat chalk in large quantities throughout their lives. There are people who feel only periodically the desire to taste a tasty piece of chalk. According to statistics, this need is mainly experienced by expectant mothers.

For pregnant and lactating women, the desire to bite off the crayon sometimes becomes a real scourge. The fact is that during pregnancy, calcium in large volumes very quickly leaves their body. The body needs to replenish its reserves as soon as possible.

Some children, due to their rapid growth, are also forced to suffer from a mineral deficiency. From this we can conclude: the lack of calcium must be balanced by products.

In addition, it is considered acceptable among some doctors to advise their patients to eat the chalk that was mined in a quarry. It is assumed that the quarry is an environmentally friendly site. However, reliable data were obtained as a result of scientific research that even such chalk leads to diarrhea, pallor, impotence, aching joints and heart problems.

Is it possible to eat chalk

According to qualified doctors, only pharmacy chalk can be eaten. It's called calcium gluconate.

Such chalk is absolutely harmless, although you should not get carried away with it in large quantities.

The usual chalk, which each of us saw at school, is simply dangerous - it contains additives. These components can harm human health.

"Non-food" chalk promotes the deposition of calcium in the kidneys. Such unpleasant phenomenon will do more harm than good. Therefore, it is recommended to eat "pharmaceutical" chalk - it is completely absorbed by the body, and the taste is very similar to school.

The desire to eat chalk can occur when calcium in the body is in short supply. It may also indicate a low level of hemoglobin. In this case, you should contact a specialist. Only a doctor can send you for the necessary tests and, first of all, for a blood test. Based on laboratory data, the specialist will most likely prescribe calcium with the addition of vit.D3. These two components are interdependent of each other - calcium without vitamin is not absorbed in the body.

It should be noted that strictly under the supervision of a specialist and in moderate doses, calcium intake is allowed for people suffering from urolithiasis.

? The desire to taste something unusual is familiar, perhaps, to every person. Leading the list of strange food addictions is chalk. It is often gnawed by schoolchildren, pregnant women. Experts are convinced: bad habit may be an indicator dangerous diseases or states and adversely affect. Are there safe ways meet the needs of the body? Read.

What is chalk ?

To answer the question why do you want to eat chalk, you need to figure out what the named substance is in general. So, what is chalk?

Chalk is a natural material organic origin, one of the many types of limestone. This substance is formed from ancient deposits - skeletal fragments of animals, shells of prehistoric mollusks, calcareous growths of algae. Cretaceous rock consists of two parts: carbonate and non-carbonate. 98–99% of the carbonate part is represented by carbonate. The non-carbonate part is formed by metal oxides, quartz sand, clay, marls and other compounds.

V Soviet years on school boards they wrote with just such chalk. They called him lumpy. Later, specially for educational purposes, they began to produce pressed chalk, the basis of which was already gypsum mixed with limestone, starch, glue, dyes.

Thus, chalk is mostly calcium carbonate salt.

Experts are convinced that unusual gastronomic addictions are a signal of the body that for him normal operation missing any substances. The mechanism of natural self-regulation is triggered. You need to listen to such calls very carefully so as not to trace the onset of the disease.

P why would you like to eat chalk? First of all, this may indicate that a person lowered hemoglobin level in blood. It is noticed that with iron deficiency anemia there is a violation of the work of taste and olfactory receptors. Patients complain that they have an irresistible desire to eat chalk, clay, sand, paper, sniff kerosene, paints, damp tobacco ash. If at the same time there is weakness, a decrease in immunity, increased heartbeat, tearfulness, brittle nails, pale skin, then you must immediately visit a doctor and take an analysis for hemoglobin level.

One more probable cause strange desires to eat chalk can be calcium deficiency in the body. The culprits poor absorption minerals in the body, experts call violations in the liver, thyroid gland, as well as lack of vitamins D, E and C. And this means that when a wild craving to gnaw chalk occurs, it is necessary to check the condition of these organs and increase the intake of vitamins, preferably natural ones, since their absorption is 90% (synthetic ones are absorbed only by 10%).

Having determined why do you want to eat chalk, let's figure out whether limestone will help replenish calcium in the body and whether it is dangerous to gnaw it.

Will the chalk make up lack of calcium? limestone damage

Can chalk make up lack of calcium present in the body? To answer this question, we turn to human physiology.

It has been proven that calcium carbonate, which is the main constituent of chalk, contains 40% elemental calcium. This is much more than in other mineral salts (citrate, gluconate, lactate, and others). However, the absorption of this form of calcium is rather low - only 17–22%. And this is under the condition of normal or hyperacidity gastric juice. If the acidity is lowered - and such cases in medical practice a lot - the degree of assimilation of a macronutrient is practically equal to zero. So eating chalk will not bring any benefit to the body, but it will add a lot of health problems.

One such problem is the formation of kidney stones. Calcium carbonate is deposited in the main organ excretory system and causes the formation of sand and the hardest kidney stones, difficult to dissolve - calcium oxalate.

In addition, for the assimilation a large number chalk the body consumes a significant part of hydrochloric acid stomach, which protects the body from the penetration of harmful microorganisms with food. As a result, the barrier function of the gastrointestinal tract is weakened. A person is more likely to suffer from infectious diseases.

eating chalk is fraught with another serious danger - lead contamination of the body. American scientists investigated natural calcium compounds and found in them high doses heavy metal(6–25 mcg per 800 mg calcium). Getting rid of lead once ingested into the human body will be very difficult in the future. The metal affects the brain, kidneys, red blood cells. Lead is especially dangerous for children. Metal poisoning causes a decrease in their intellectual abilities (and hence academic performance), a change in behavior (unmotivated aggression is observed).

What can replace chalk?

If the answer to the question why do you want to eat chalk, became commonplace lack of calcium, it is necessary to establish the cause of poor assimilation of the macronutrient, eliminate it, and only after that engage in replenishment of mineral reserves, having previously decided how to replace chalk.

There are many natural remedies that can effectively and gently improve the functioning of the liver. For instance, elecampane high. The root of the plant increases bile formation, enhances bile excretion, cleanses the liver and bile ducts from toxins and toxins.

Safely restore hormonal balance with diseases of the thyroid gland, white cinquefoil will help. The high effectiveness of the use of plant rhizomes has been proven both in hypothyroidism and in hyperthyroidism.

For ease of use, both plants are available in tablet forms - preparations Mezi-Vit and . The whole variety of useful substances, incorporated into herbs by nature, is preserved in these biocomplexes due to the use of a unique cryoprocessing technology.

Replenish vitamin deficiencies leading to calcium deficiency, will allow bioavailable natural vitamin complexes, for example Apitonus P .

After the restoration of impaired functions of the liver and thyroid gland, you can begin to eliminate calcium deficiency. Preference should be given to easily digestible and safe forms of calcium and preparations based on them, such as, in which the mineral is represented by its citrate form.

If an attempt to find out why do you want to eat chalk, brought a person to the hematologist's office, which means the reason for the strange food addiction- v low hemoglobin. In this case, nature will again come to the rescue. There are many plants that can effectively compensate for the lack of iron in the body. One of them grows literally under our feet - nettle dioecious (contained in the preparation Nettle P). Biologically active iron atoms contained in the burning herb can easily be integrated into the formula of human hemoglobin (they are hemic) and quickly increase its level.

The elimination of pathologies that prompt the body to demand chalk will save a person from many health problems, so you should not neglect a strange symptom.

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