While it may seem strange to many people, the practice of eating soil is quite common among South African women. According to research, it is a widespread activity among pregnant and breastfeeding women that may indicate a severe lack of iron.
Johannesburg-based medical doctor Dr Lerato Masemola says the practice of eating soil has been happening for many years all over the world. Masemola says it is also common in communities where people culturally believe that eating soil has health benefits like helping with general stomach problems or correcting nutrient deficiencies.
Being addicted to eating soil for 25 years while being a soil seller has made the quitting journey more difficult for Mandisa Mangada from Tembisa in Gauteng. She highlights that being a seller has shown and shocked her by realising the number of people who actually eat soil, including young boys and girls.
“I am a clay seller, and I have it in my house, so I don’t really know how much I used to eat a day because I had all types in my house, and a lot of women spend a lot of money on it, even men.
“Clients from all over South Africa, Namibia and other African countries buy soil from me. I have even had someone spend R3 000 on soil because of how addictive it is.”
Mangada states that she craved it more when pregnant and ate about 3-5kg a day to feel fulfilled, happy, and relieved. She adds that she is aware that this has various negative impacts on her health and has spoken to a doctor, but says they are informed about iron tablets that do not help them.
“I used to see my sister eating it from trees and the garden, and I tasted it, and I started eating it too. I think I started craving it because of an iron deficiency. I’ve been trying to quit, but I can’t.
“Low blood pressure is a condition I have because of it. I also experience dizziness, being tired all the time, a fast heartbeat, and difficulty going to the toilet,” says Mangada.
Negative impact on health
Nompumelelo Shezi from uMlazi in KwaZulu-Natal, who now has constipation issues due to eating soil, says that she tried to stop for a year, then started again four years ago. Although she still craves it, she’s trying to stop again, especially because she used to consume her hair, coal, candles, and even matchstick heads when she was unable to find the perfect soil.
“I started when I was in primary school in 2000 with the aim of just tasting and trying to fit in because I was bullied. A few weeks later, I started craving it maybe once a day, to the point where I could not go a day without it, up to three to four times a day. I do not know what to do in order to completely stop because I no longer like it. It is just hard to cope when I’m craving for it,” she says.
Shezi mentions that eating soil has become an irreplaceable form of satisfaction. She also shares that she craved it more during her pregnancies and believes it may have caused some complications.
“I wanted it a lot during my two pregnancies, especially my last pregnancy. I strongly believe that it affected my baby because when she was still small, I could see the soil in her belly button as it had not healed yet, and now it is bigger than normal. It feels like it was caused by my stupidity in consuming soil,” adds Shezi.
‘I fell in love with it’
After eating soil for nine years, Luyanda Hadebe from Newcastle in KZN struggles with low blood pressure and has too little iron in her body. She says she wants to stop eating soil because she fears it may pose more risks to her health.
“A friend of mine used to go eat soil, so I tasted it and fell in love with it from that day on. I’m really trying to stop eating soil because I spend a lot of money on it and it has caused abnormal pains in my womb, low blood pressure, eczema, and terribly itchy skin. I do not even have a stable reason for eating it; I know what I’m doing is wrong, but I still continue because of how enjoyable it is,” she says.
Masemola says eating soil can be a result of a deficiency causing cravings for minerals from the soil, like iron, and while soil does contain minerals and nutrients, eating it is not a safe way to get those into the body.
“To correct deficiencies, the deficient minerals or nutrients must be taken in appropriate food amounts to replace them or get the appropriate or recommended supplements. Iron is necessary for making red blood cells, which transport oxygen all over the body. So, in cases of severe iron deficiency, one may need to get a transfusion or even a blood transfusion if there is severe anaemia or a lack of red blood cells,” she says.
‘Soil is not food’
Signs that someone may have eaten too much soil include abdominal pain, nausea with or without vomiting, constipation with or without abdominal bloating and obstruction, and general weakness. There are also potential health risks associated with eating soil, such as infections, constipation, and lead poisoning.
“The soil could contain dirt and parasites (such as worms) that can cause infections and infestations in the gut. Infections can result in vomiting and diarrhoea, general swelling (inflammation), and damage to the lining of the gut, resulting in gas, bloating, discomfort, and pain. Soil is not food, so it cannot be digested. So, it may not move as swiftly as digested food in the gut. This will result in constipation, discomfort, and pain when passing stool with the soil.
“Lead occurs naturally in soil, but it can also be present in higher amounts due to pollution. Apart from lead, there may be other heavy metals, human waste, and other harmful substances ingested,” explains Masemola.
Address the iron deficiency first
People, especially pregnant women, also eat soil due to a condition called Pica. Mologado describes this as an intense or strong urge or craving to eat things that are not food and to eat them in large amounts. Apart from the soil, these may include clay, chalk, etc. The craving may be for the taste and texture or for medicinal, cultural, or religious reasons, with some even believing it is good for the baby.
“If a pregnant woman is eating soil due to a craving that comes from a lack of iron and they are not actually taking the relevant and necessary supplements to correct the iron deficiency, there will be adverse health implications for the health of the mother and the fetus. Affected mothers will have symptoms related to iron deficiency heart problems such as shortness of breath, severe fatigue, fainting, and heart palpitations.
“For the fetus, the health implications include low birth weight, premature birth, anaemia in the newborn baby, and even fetal death. The mom and baby may need a blood transfusion,” she adds.
Masemola further highlights that healthcare providers can help by making the correct diagnosis and then giving the appropriate treatment, including providing or prescribing the necessary nutrient supplements. She also encourages more education for patients about the dangers of eating soil and the lack of benefits thereof.
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Ingawa huenda ikaonekana kuwa jambo lisilo la kawaida kwa watu wengi, zoea la kula udongo ni la kawaida sana miongoni mwa wanawake wa Afrika Kusini. Kulingana na utafiti, ni shughuli iliyoenea sana miongoni mwa wanawake wajawazito na wanaonyonyesha ambayo inaweza kuonyesha upungufu mkubwa wa chuma. Daktari Lerato Masemola, ambaye ni mwanasayansi wa afya, amesema kuwa watu wengi duniani wamekuwa wakila udongo kwa miaka mingi. Masemola anasema ni jambo la kawaida pia katika jamii ambapo watu wanaamini kwamba kula udongo kuna faida za afya kama vile kusaidia na matatizo ya jumla ya tumbo au kurekebisha upungufu wa virutubisho. Mwendeshaji wa udongo wa miaka 25 Mandisa Mangada, kutoka Tembisa, Gauteng, amekuwa akifanya safari ya kuacha kuwa mraibu wa udongo. "Amesema kuwa kuwa muuzaji kumemshtua na kumshangaza kwa kutambua idadi ya watu ambao kwa kweli wanakula udongo, ikiwa ni pamoja na wavulana na wasichana wadogo.""" """Mimi ni muuzaji wa udongo, na nina udongo katika nyumba yangu, kwa hivyo sijui ni kiasi gani niliwahi kula kwa siku kwa sababu nilikuwa na aina zote za udongo katika nyumba yangu, na wanawake wengi hutumia pesa nyingi juu yake, hata wanaume." <unk>Wateja kutoka Afrika Kusini, Namibia na nchi nyingine za Afrika hununua udongo kutoka kwangu. "Mungu amewahi kumpa mtu R3 000 kwa ajili ya udongo kwa sababu ya jinsi unavyofanya mtu awe mraibu.""Mangada anasema kwamba alipokuwa mjamzito alitamani sana udongo na alikula karibu kilo 3-5 kwa siku ili kuhisi amejaa furaha na furaha." "Amesema kuwa anajua kuwa kuna athari mbaya kwa afya yake na amezungumza na daktari, lakini anasema ""wanaripotiwa juu ya vidonge vya chuma ambavyo havisaidii.""" <unk>Nilikuwa nikimwona dada yangu akila kutoka kwenye miti na bustani, na nikaonja, na nikaanza kula pia. Nadhani nilianza kutamani kwa sababu ya upungufu wa chuma. Nimekuwa nikijaribu kuacha, lakini siwezi. <unk> shinikizo la chini la damu ni hali nina kwa sababu yake. Pia ninapata kizunguzungu, kuchoka wakati wote, mpigo wa moyo wa haraka, na ugumu wa kwenda choo, <unk> anasema Mangada. Nompumelelo Shezi kutoka Mlazi, KwaZulu-Natal, ambaye sasa ana matatizo ya uvimbe kutokana na kula udongo, anasema alijaribu kuacha kwa mwaka mmoja, kisha akaanza tena miaka minne iliyopita. Ingawa bado anaiomba, anajaribu kuacha tena, hasa kwa sababu alikuwa akitumia nywele zake, makaa ya mawe, mishumaa, na hata vichwa vya vijiti vya moto wakati hakuweza kupata udongo kamilifu. "Nilianza shule ya msingi mwaka 2000 na lengo langu lilikuwa ""kujaribu na kujaribu kuendana na jamii"" kwa sababu nilitendewa vibaya." Baada ya wiki chache, nilianza kuvutiwa na hii mara moja kwa siku, hadi siku ambayo sikuweza kwenda bila hii mara tatu au nne kwa siku. Sijui nifanye nini ili kuacha kabisa kwa sababu sipendi tena. Ni vigumu kukabiliana na hali hiyo ninapokuwa na hamu ya kuitumia, " asema. Shezi anataja kwamba kula udongo kumekuwa njia isiyoweza kubadilishwa ya kuridhika. Pia anashiriki kwamba alitamani zaidi wakati wa ujauzito wake na anaamini inaweza kuwa imesababisha matatizo fulani. <unk>Nilitaka sana wakati wa ujauzito wangu mbili, hasa ujauzito wangu wa mwisho. "Ninaamini sana kwamba ilimathiri mtoto wangu kwa sababu alipokuwa mdogo, niliweza kuona udongo kwenye tumbo lake, kwani haukuwa umepona, na sasa ni mkubwa kuliko kawaida. """ Inahisi kama ilisababishwa na upumbavu wangu katika kula udongo, <unk> anaongeza Shezi. Baada ya kula udongo kwa miaka tisa, Luyanda Hadebe kutoka Newcastle katika KZN anapambana na shinikizo la chini la damu na ana chuma kidogo sana katika mwili wake. Alisema anataka kuacha kula udongo kwa sababu anaogopa kwamba unaweza kuwa hatari zaidi kwa afya yake. <unk>Rafiki yangu alikuwa akienda kula udongo, kwa hiyo niliunywa na kuupenda kuanzia siku hiyo. Mimi ni kweli kujaribu kuacha kula udongo kwa sababu mimi kutumia fedha nyingi juu yake na imesababisha maumivu ya kawaida katika tumbo langu la uzazi, shinikizo la chini la damu, eczema, na ngozi itchy sana. Mimi hata sina sababu thabiti ya kula; Najua kile ninachofanya ni kibaya, lakini bado ninaendelea kwa sababu ya jinsi inavyofurahisha, "anasema. Masemola anasema kula udongo inaweza kuwa matokeo ya upungufu unaosababisha hamu ya madini kutoka udongo, kama chuma, na wakati udongo una madini na virutubisho, kula sio njia salama ya kupata hizo ndani ya mwili. <unk>Kurekebisha upungufu, madini au virutubisho vya upungufu lazima vichukuliwe katika kiasi sahihi cha chakula ili kuibadilisha au kupata virutubisho vinavyofaa au vilivyopendekezwa. Chuma ni muhimu kwa kutengeneza chembe nyekundu za damu, ambazo husafirisha oksijeni kotekote mwilini. Kwa hivyo, katika kesi za upungufu mkubwa wa chuma, mtu anaweza kuhitaji kupata uhamisho au hata uhamisho wa damu ikiwa kuna upungufu mkubwa wa damu au ukosefu wa seli nyekundu za damu, "anasema. """Dunia si chakula"" - Ishara kwamba mtu anaweza kuwa amekula udongo mwingi ni pamoja na maumivu ya tumbo, kichefuchefu na au bila kutapika, constipation na au bila tumbo bloating na kizuizi, na udhaifu wa jumla." Pia kuna hatari za kiafya zinazohusiana na kula udongo, kama vile maambukizo, upungufu wa damu, na sumu ya risasi. <unk> Udongo unaweza kuwa na uchafu na vimelea (kama vile minyoo) vinavyoweza kusababisha maambukizo na maambukizo katika matumbo. Maambukizo yanaweza kusababisha kutapika na kuhara, uvimbe wa jumla (uchochezi), na uharibifu wa utando wa matumbo, na kusababisha gesi, uvimbe, usumbufu, na maumivu. Udongo si chakula, kwa hiyo hauwezi kumeng'enywa. Kwa hiyo, huenda isiende haraka kama chakula kilichogandishwa ndani ya matumbo. Hilo litasababisha upungufu wa damu, usumbufu, na maumivu unapopitisha matope pamoja na udongo. <unk> Risasi hutokea kwa asili katika udongo, lakini pia inaweza kuwapo katika kiasi cha juu kutokana na uchafuzi. Mbali na risasi, kunaweza kuwa na metali nyingine nzito, taka za binadamu, na vitu vingine vyenye madhara vilivyomezwa, <unk> anaeleza Masemola. Kwa sababu ya upungufu wa chuma, wanawake wajawazito wanakabiliwa na tatizo la Pica. Mologado anaelezea hii kama hamu kubwa au ya nguvu ya kula vitu ambavyo si chakula na kuila kwa kiasi kikubwa. Mbali na udongo, hizi zinaweza kutia ndani udongo, chokaa, na kadhalika. Huenda tamaa hiyo ikawa kwa sababu ya ladha na muundo wake au kwa sababu za kitiba, kitamaduni, au kidini, na wengine hata huamini kwamba ni nzuri kwa mtoto. "Ikiwa mwanamke mjamzito anakula udongo kwa sababu ya hamu inayotokana na ukosefu wa chuma na kwa kweli hachukui virutubisho vinavyofaa na muhimu kurekebisha upungufu wa chuma, kutakuwa na athari mbaya kwa afya ya mama na kiinitete. """ Mama walioathiriwa watakuwa na dalili zinazohusiana na upungufu wa chuma na matatizo ya moyo kama vile upungufu wa pumzi, uchovu mkali, kuzimia, na kupiga moyo. <unk>Kwa mtoto mchanga, athari za kiafya zinatia ndani uzito wa chini wa kuzaliwa, kuzaliwa kabla ya wakati, upungufu wa damu katika mtoto mchanga, na hata kifo cha mtoto mchanga. Anaongeza kwamba huenda mama na mtoto wakahitaji kutiwa damu mishipani. Masemola anaongeza kuwa wataalamu wa afya wanaweza kusaidia kwa kufanya utambuzi sahihi na kisha kutoa matibabu sahihi, ikiwa ni pamoja na kutoa au kuagiza virutubisho vya virutubisho vinavyohitajika. Pia anawatia moyo wagonjwa wajifunze zaidi kuhusu hatari za kula udongo na ukosefu wa faida zake. Kupata Afya Kwa Mzansi jarida: yako mbili-juma kipimo cha kasi afya, ustawi na kujitegemea huduma ya msukumo.