Eating/Crunching Ice - anyone else?

marcinator19

so it's already started - i have an obsession with ice cubes - to crunch on. i know that it's a sign of anemia, but iron pills make you constipated and INCREASE heartburn which I so do not need right now.

 Anyone else have a more natural remedy for this??

Dexter2011

All my life I have eaten ice. I have anemia, but I didn't know eating ice was a sign. The ice eating has only gotten worse. I love ice. Yummy! I don't see anything wrong with eating ice though. 

Megan.10.06

Iron is found in red meat and dark leafy greens.  So if you want to avoid the pills, eat up baby

You should get your levels tested though.  

Eros

Just because you are craving ice does not mean you have anemia.  It is a possible reason, but it is not conclusive.  You could have pica.  You could just like the way the ice feels on your tongue. 

If you are concerned about anemia, you should let your Dr know and get blood drawn for testing.  There are also iron pills that have a stool softener included so the constipation is reduced (hopefully). 

marcinator19

Yes - it's a proven fact that craving ice is a possible sign of anemia (not all people who are anemic crave ice, but many do). I did get my levels checked like 2 weeks ago and I was on the very low side of normal. The ice cravings started about 1 week ago, so I may be heading into the danger zone.

 The funny part is that I'm at a work conference and all I can think about is getting some good soft ice to crunch on. I can't even control myself at the dinner table (nice restaurant, here I am crunching ice).

the problem is that ice crunching can be really bad for your teeth accoridng to what i've read from dentists. so, I'm of course concerned about that.

I'm all over the red meat tonight!!!

Thanks ladies!

kacelle

I'd talk to your doctor about it.  Anemia can cause more problematic symptoms than just ice-chewing; maybe he/she could suggest an alternative to iron pills.

jodyrm

I've been a compulsive ice cruncher for years. My teeth and iron are both fine, I think it's just a habit for some people.

marcinator19

jodyrm:

I've been a compulsive ice cruncher for years. My teeth and iron are both fine, I think it's just a habit for some people.

Oh - yes - i totally agree with this. I'm thinking b/c I suddenly developed the insatiable urge to crunch ice right here in the 3rd tri makes it more likely for me to be anemic. I know tons of people who like to do it.

Do you tend to stick to certain types of ice, or is it all fair game? What i read was that a lot of people break teeth on ice. I think it's probably common sense type stuff, like don't try to bite into really HARD ice. But, I feel like I've gone nuts here b/c I NEVER even want ice in my water and all of a sudden - I fantasize about it....eek!

AMYRENEE27

My high risk dr. told me to eat cherios, leafy greens, and red meat. I still have to take iron pills though.

The eating has has gotten crazy for me. I have been crushing ice in the blender to eat it.

tokenhoser

I used to be obsessed. I was borderline anemic - my hemoglobin was okay, but my iron reserves (ferritin?) were low. Definitely get some blood work, and be careful. Beyond the "hard ice', just that much cold crunching is rough for your teeth.

I went for years before I was diagnosed, and then after I started my iron supps, the craving totally went away.

jodyrm

marcinator19:

jodyrm:

I've been a compulsive ice cruncher for years. My teeth and iron are both fine, I think it's just a habit for some people.

Oh - yes - i totally agree with this. I'm thinking b/c I suddenly developed the insatiable urge to crunch ice right here in the 3rd tri makes it more likely for me to be anemic. I know tons of people who like to do it.

Do you tend to stick to certain types of ice, or is it all fair game? What i read was that a lot of people break teeth on ice. I think it's probably common sense type stuff, like don't try to bite into really HARD ice. But, I feel like I've gone nuts here b/c I NEVER even want ice in my water and all of a sudden - I fantasize about it....eek!

Yeah that makes sense, hopefully that's not the case though and everything works out!

Also I don't chew hard ice because it scares me a little (I can't imagine breaking a tooth or something, gross) but after ice sits in water it tends to be the perfect texture.. hmmm.