14/10/2025
Craving Ice
If you have an intense craving to chew on ice, you might have a condition called pagophagia.
This is often caused by a nutrition deficiency.
Pagophagia is an intense craving to chew on ice. You have pagophagia if you find yourself frequently driven to chew on ice cubes, ice chips, or even frost from your freezer.
Pagophagia is a type of pica.
Pica is an abnormal craving or appetite for nonfood substances, such as dirt or paper, paint, or clay, ice.
If your craving is for ice, then you have a specific type of pica called pagophagia.
Symptoms of Pagophagia
If you have pagophagia you might also have some of the following symptoms:
pale and dry skin
fatigue
headache
sore tongue
rapid heartbeat
depression
dizziness
Causes of Pagophagia
Iron deficiency. Iron deficiency anemia is the most common cause of pagophagia.
In one study, 16% of people with iron deficiency anemia reported a strong craving to chew on ice.
Calcium deficiency. Having low levels of calcium can also trigger the condition.
Eating disorders. A drive to chew on ice might be due to an eating disorder.
This can be because your body wants nutrients that it is lacking.
People with eating disorders other than pica might also frequently chew on ice to feel full without ingesting any calories.
Dry mouth. If you have xerostomia, or dry mouth, you might develop a habit of chewing ice to keep moisture in your mouth.
