4 days ago
I have crazy cravings & it's nothing to do with being pregnant…I've eaten limescale for years & munch on paper every day
A MOTHER has revealed that she has been battling 'crazy' cravings for years - and it's not due to being pregnant.
Yaz Chapman, who is currently 36 weeks pregnant with a baby girl, has opened up on her 'unusual' cravings, which see her munch on five pieces of A4 paper every single day.
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Not only this, but the content creator has also been eating kettle limescale for years too - yes, you heard that correctly.
Posting on social media, Yaz opened up about dealing with Pica disorder, which according to her, is when you crave 'non-nutritional items.'
Pica disorder, also known as Pica, is a condition where a person compulsively swallows non-food items.
It's especially common in children and while it's often harmless, swallowing certain items can make Pica very hazardous.
It's often treatable with therapy and a modification to lifestyle and circumstances.
As a result of her Pica disorder, Yaz has three cravings - the first of which is kettle limescale.
She explained: 'As soon as I get a bit of limescale, I like to scrape it out and eat it, which sounds absolutely crazy, but I've done that for years.'
Yaz's second craving is dental stone - a high-strength gypsum product used in dentistry to create accurate and durable models, impressions, and moulds for prosthetics and orthodontics.
The mother revealed: 'I buy the powder to make dental stone, I mix it all up, it turns into a paste and then I spread it on a plate on top of tin foil and then I peel it off.
'I break it up into little bite size pieces and then I bang all in a little tub and just eat it as and when I'm craving it.'
Watch moment Megan McKenna reveals bizarre pregnancy craving
Yaz's third craving is paper, as she continued: 'I also eat paper, I probably eat about four/five bits of A4 paper a day.'
The mother acknowledged that while Pica is 'very common in pregnancy,' she has had it since she was a child.
And not only can she not get enough of kettle limescale, dental stone and paper, but she also used to crave rolling paper too.
She admitted: 'I used to eat Rizlas, it had to be green Rizlas - but yeah, everyone's always asking about my cravings and people are always completely baffled by it.'
Social media users react
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ yazchapman2323, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 423,700 views.
Not only this, but it's also amassed 51,200 likes, 608 comments and 6,889 shares.
Social media users were gobsmacked by Yaz's 'unusual' cravings and raced to the comments to express this.
One user gasped: 'That's fascinating.'
A second wrote: 'Sorry I was literally expecting like gravy and chips or scraping the ice off the freezer, the limescale one took me out, but it's so interesting!'
Whilst someone else penned: 'Oh wow that's unusual.'
At the same time, one user questioned: 'How did you know you liked dental stone? I can't imagine a scenario where you tried it for the first time to know you liked it.'
In response, Yaz wrote back and confirmed: 'I was eating chalky stuff anyway, then I started eating tile grouting, literally digging it out from the tiles craving something chalky so bad.
'I had a mould in my cupboard from when I had my grill made and I just thought 'ooh I wonder what that's like, it's chalky', and I literally ate a solid mould of my teeth and then needed more.'
Find out more on cravings
Dr Crystal Wyllie, a GP and leading clinician at ZAVA Online Doctor, tells Sun Health: ' Cravings can reveal a lot about what your body or mind needs.
'They are driven by a mix of biological and environmental factors, such as hormonal changes in pregnancy or menstruation, nutrient deficiencies, shifts in blood sugar, and social settings.
'Emotions also play a big role. Stress, anxiety or boredom can lead to cravings as certain foods provide a temporary sense of pleasure and relief.
'On top of that, the dopamine released when you eat these foods can reinforce your cravings over time.'
But how can you tell the difference?
'If you're constantly reaching for sweets, cakes or biscuits, for example, it's likely your body is seeking a serotonin boost,' Dr Wyllie says.
'Sugary treats can offer a quick mood lift, which is why we often crave them when we're feeling low or bored.
'Similarly, cravings for savoury snacks like crisps, nuts or cheese can indicate your body needs more sodium or protein.
'This is particularly common if you've just been to the gym or you're dehydrated.
'Hormonal changes during your period can also trigger cravings for energy-dense foods like chocolate, pasta or fried food, as your body works harder and requires extra fuel.
'Recognising these patterns can help you address your cravings more healthily, and help you choose foods that satisfy your body's needs without overindulging.
'It's important that cravings don't lead to overeating, especially with calorie-rich foods (like those that are sugary or fatty) as this can lead to health issues such as obesity.
'All food groups should be consumed in moderation, bearing in mind your total calorie intake per day.'
Meanwhile, someone else asked: 'Is that safe for you and baby though?'
To this, Yaz replied and snapped: 'It's fine.'
Not only this, but other social media users were eager to share the rather unusual cravings they have experienced.
One person said: 'My craving is smelling cleaning products and washing detergents.'
Another added: 'I crave ice, love the crunch.'
