Evidence indicates that eating dirt or clay can provide certain health benefits, such as mineral supplementation and modulation of the gut microbiome, though it also carries potential toxicological risks.
what the evidence does support
Eating dirt can provide potential mineral supplementation and gut microbiome modulation in some contexts, but also carries toxicological risks.
Evidence for · 3
Current status of research and gaps in knowledge of geophagic practices in Africa.
2022 · cited by 11
The review notes that geophagy is thought to have beneficial effects, such as acting as a nutrient supplement.
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More for · 2
Geophagia among pregnant women: evaluating the microbiological and toxicological safety of calabash chalk and its implications on maternal health.
2025 · cited by 1
The article discusses potential nutritional benefits from minerals like calcium and iron as well as possible probiotic effects.
Comparable efficacy and mechanisms of sterile soil ingestion versus low hygiene exposure in DSS-induced colitis.
2026 · cited by 0
The experimental study demonstrates that soil ingestion can reshape gut microbiota and alleviate colitis in mice.