A new trend is spreading on TikTok which involves eating kaolin, a type of clay. However, its consumption is dangerous for health!
The latest health trend spotted on Tiktok? Eat dirt! On many videos, we can see young people digging into bags containing small white cubes and chewing them. Their container? Of kaolin, a White clay consisting of kaolinite and aluminum silicate. Kaolin is mainly used in porcelain, in the paper and glass industry, for paints and some cosmetics. Consume it is dangerous to health.
Eating clay is a type of geophagy, a pathological disorder of eating dirt. This practice is widespread in Africa and South America. Kaolin would have physical and therapeutic virtues according to consumers. “The clay has a preventive or curative action, to soothe and support the digestive system. It fights against gastric acidity, pain and inflammation of the gastrointestinal sphere, bloating, flatulence, diarrhea” explained to us the naturopath Amélie Mounier in an article dedicated to the benefits of clay but “she absorbs everything in its path and neutralizes the active ingredients of what we ingest at the same time, this is the reason why it is imperative to space the catches of 2-3 hours minimum“. There oral clay intake must be done away from taking medication (pill included) and food supplements. She is contraindicated in case of chronic constipation severe because it can lead to intestinal obstruction.
► Kaolin can also reduce the absorption of iron And cause deficiencies and anemia. It is not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
► The consumption of kaolin exposes to ingestion of heavy metals, this clay being extracted from the ground. In 2019, theANSM recommended no longer prescribing clay-based medicines (including Smecta) to children under 2 years old”because of the possible presence of minute quantity of lead, even if the treatment is of short duration”.
► Finally, eating kaolin exposes to a risk of addiction. “The consumption of kaolin does much more harm than good. Excessive consumption is dangerous for physical and mental health because it can lead to addiction” warned Stanislas Agbo, general practitioner interviewed by the media Raw.