Why was it so easy to give up meat but I can't stop eating PAPER?!
Why was it so easy to give up meat but I can't stop eating PAPER?
I stopped eating meat without looking back but I still get horrible cravings for newsprint. I have been eating it since I was in the 9th grade and I'm 22 now. I try not keeping it around but then I then I resort to eating yellow pages, napkins, anything paper. It's even harder because I work in a newsroom and we keep all these old issues around and when the new issue comes in off the presses and that smell of warm paper is everywhere, I can't help eating a little.
Additional Details2 months ago
I know it's called pica and I don't eat the ink parts btw. I was scared of chemicals so I just cut the margins away and eat those. My mouth actually waters when I see a newspaper with large margins.
Answers:
2 months ago
I know it's called pica and I don't eat the ink parts btw. I was scared of chemicals so I just cut the margins away and eat those. My mouth actually waters when I see a newspaper with large margins.
I feel you. I also started on paper many years ago now. A "friend" offered me a sheet of A4 at a high society function back in the early 90's and the rest has been a bit of a blur. Pretty soon I was getting through a foolscap bulky scribbler pad, 5 envelopes and a wad of post-it notes every day. Lately I have been experimenting with cardboard (shoe box with a crepe paper chaser). Look, I don't know if there is any help out there for people like us because the problem is just so under recognised by the medical profession, but questions like this will help raise awareness. Good luck!
Well, it is a plant and you are a vegetarian and all. Maybe you have always been a vegetarian at heart. It's very digestible too and probably has some good starch properties about it. If you like it, roll with it!!! Good luck!!
Eating non-food items is called "pica." It may be psychological or it may be a sign of a real medical problem.
Though the fiber does come from plants. Humans have no way of digesting cellulose. Our stomachs are not equipped to digest cellulose. Unless you have the stomach of a cow or goat, you will not get any nutritional value out of eating paper.
Eating items which are not meant to be eaten MIGHT cause intestinal obstruction.
See a doctor, have yourself checked.
It is not a good idea to eat paper.
Don't eat newspaper,the ink pictures contain gelatin,I think,but I'm not sure.
I had a friend once that ate balls of school paper. He did it in the 4'th&5'th grade, I don't know if he still does it now... I ledt the school. I don't know what to say except... Try not to. I think a soy yogurt (I don't know if youre a vegan.) would make a much better snack. Gum is probaly better. By the way... Right on with the vegetarian path! I've been a vegetarian myself for about three years. Unfortuanatly, I still eat Organic chicken and fish. Feel free to e-mail me with any other questions! -question001
I think what you have is not a dietary problem, but simply a love of knowledge and current events. I'm not a doctor, but I'll diagnose you right now and say that you have a severe case of "Newsitis". I'm guessing your childhood went a little something like this:
You: *reading paper obsessively*
Friend: "If you love the news so much, why don't you start eating it".
You: "You know what friend, I think I will"
You: *starts eating paper, won't stop*
It's not a bad thing by any means, however consumption of The Yellow Pages could be a symptom of a deficiency. Many people will sometimes resort to eating The Yellow Pages because of financial restraints (The daily newspaper is after all, an entire 25 cents; but The Yellow Pages are free). Anyway, try eating more green vegetables, they're yummy... do it now, there's no time to waste.
I was just reading about anemia--lack of iron (and meat is a big source of iron!!) --and one of the symptoms is craving things like dirt or PAPER.. so it is interesting that you mention giving up meat but craving paper
Well I don't know if this is a joke or what but maybe you are just craving fiber. If so there are many foods and supplements high in fiber. Try these first and see if the cravings subside.
Other than this possible physical explanation I would visit a psychologist to see if there is an associative reason you are doing this.
And if this is a joke, well its quite a leg pull.
Best of wishes in any case.
P.S. There were prophets from old testament times that would literally eat what they considered the Word of God to incorporate holiness into themselves. Who knows maybe you just love knowledge.
STOP PAPER ABUSE!! EAT TOFU
You may want to check with a doctor and see if you have any nutritional deficiencies. Otherwise, if it doesn't hurt you and you enjoy it, why stop?
You can pan fry some tofu sheets/beancurd sheets until they're light and flaky. When you crave for paper, chew on these pan fried tofu sheets. They're healthier and taste about as bland. Paper's not good for you and it's definitely not a normally consumed food for humans, settle for an alternative or try to wear out this craving gradually.
yes it's called pica, a psychological problem. In my humble opinion, it's your subconscious mind telling you you need vitamins. Try taking some Super B complex vitamins with vitamin C. And stop drinking tap water (including soda pop). Get all your drinking water from those purified water machines.
u should go see a nutritionest
the main reason for any type of pica is that something else is wrong with your body
The scant research that has been done on the root causes of pica suggest that the majority of those afflicted tend to suffer some biochemical deficiency and more often iron deficiency. Often the substance eaten by those with the disorder does not even contain the mineral they are deficient in. In cases where a biochemical deficiency is the problem, pica is generally not discovered until the deficiency is addressed. Once the deficiency has been identified and treated with vitamins or minerals, the pica is usually resolved. If a mineral deficiency is not identified as the cause of pica, it often leads to a misdiagnosis as a mental disorder. If the deficiency continues to go unnoticed it can become severe if the root of the deficiency is a disease or internal problem.