My mother used to eat cornstarch when she was pregnant, so i've always loved the taste. However, over the course of this summer I have eaten atleast 6 boxes. It's a real addiction too. When I don't have any cornstarch, I eat ice. The ice will hold me over for a while, but it's only so long before I get cranky craving cornstarch!lol! Try saying that ten times! So what does my anemia have to do with my addiction and how do i fix the addiction. Oh and does anyone know if eating cornstarch is bad for my health, or how eating ice is bad for my teeth?

Might be "pica" - essentially a craving for non-nutritive foods (like ice, but can also include grass, dirt, paper, etc.) and is often associated with iron deficiency anemia. I don't know much about it, but if you do a search-engine search on pica and anemia, I'm sure you'll find some info.

My Hematologist tried to explain this to me and I didn't grasp what he said but the main idea. He said that it is related back to caveman times like it is a natural way to replace what you are not getting. I know that's a bad explanation but it's better than none at all. I had PICA for ice only. The doctors asked me if I ate anything else. They also told me as if I didn't know that eating ice is bad for you teeth. I can tell you that shortly after I began high does iron supplements that it went away very quickly. Now, I NEVER eat ice. I have heard that eating things like cornstarch is not a healthy thing but don't know exactly what it does to your body. What does your doctor say? FLFLOWERGIRL:)

I don't know why either -- all I know is that when I am craving ice it either has to be from Sonic or from the ice machine at work! I don't know what the difference is, maybe the texture? I also chew on Kleenex when my iron is low.

Re. the Cornstarch addiction - as with any addiction, you're body can get used to it and want more and more - which means more and more starch in your body, which, if it isn't used up in energy, will start to make you put on weight. Starch is a binder, so in big quantities won't be doing your digestion any good. Whilst you are trying to come off of it, make sure you drink plenty of water.

For a gentler iron fix, try Gentle Iron by Solgar, highly recommended for people with sensitive tums.

Best of luck xx