Pica is an eating disorder characterized by an irresistible urge to eat non-nutritive substances like dirt, paint, or feces. Common among babies over 24 months, pregnant women, those with mental illness, and recent eating disorder sufferers, it can cause poisoning or digestive blockages. Its origins are unknown but may involve imitation, stress, or attention-seeking behaviors.

2. Pica is an eating disorder which
consists on an irresistible wish of eating
or licking non-nutritious substances.
Its name comes from the scientific
name of the magpie: Pica pica
(Corvidae’s family). This bird presents
the same behaviour as the people
affected by this disorder.
Pica is common in babies of more of 24 months, pregnant women,
people with mental problems and teenagers, in most of the cases,
that have had a recently anorexia nervosa or bulimia disorder. It
appears too in animals.

3. The substances which the affected eats the most are
material, earth, metals, wood, paint, feces, or even, shoe polish.
Depending on the substance eaten, the pica disorder has a
different name. Examples:
Rapunzel disorder (hair)
Geophagy (earth)
Coprophagy (feces)
Mucophagia (mucus)
Its origin is unknown. Some psychologists claim that is a result of
imitation, stress, stimulation way or a simple way of catching our
attention.
The main problems it causes are poisoning and digestive tract’s
obstruction.

4. Its name comes from the greek term “potos”, which
means “drink”.
According to its name, this eating disorder consists on a
wish of drinking big amounts of liquids, for
example, water (polydipsia).
Its origin is unknown, but probably psychiatric.
Sometimes this disorder appears together with the
anorexia nervosa. In this last case, the affected drinks lots
of water in order to:
Satisfy their stomach without eating calories.
Increase their body weight just before being tested by
the doctor.

5. Our body is able to eliminate sporadic spare amounts of
a substance in it. But if there are constant over levels of a
substance, we could have a problem, such as, in this
case, headache, cramps, hallucinations, paralysis, drowsin
ess or kidney problems.
The daily recommended amount of water
is between two and two and a half litres. A
person affected by potomania drinks 5-8 L
per day.
It’s important to remember that the
water is good, in its just quantity.

8. Healthy or Unhealthy?

9. Ortorexia is an eating disorder related with the consumism of
healthy and unhealthy products. The consumers are obsessed with
healthy meals and this can threat their health. They use to eat some
products that are unhealthy but which they think they are healthy
for them.

10. Is the abstinence of consuming animal products. It is very common in
asian and some european countries. Vegans are usually confused with
vegetarians but their diet is very different.

11. Their diet consit of vegetal products, soy derivates and proteic
substitutes.
Some famous vegan products are:
-Ratatouille
-Falafel(Chickpeas)
-Soy and almond milk
-Veggie burgers
-Seitan

12. Some problems of veganism are normally related with pregnant women
and children.
During the pregnancy , if a mother is a vegan , the fetus don´t absorb
enough nutrients to grow , and it will probably born with deformations.
Also nutricionists advise that children under 10 years musn´t eat a vegan
diet because their development isn´t complete.