Why do I crave crunching on ice?

Sounds like pica - eating non-nutritive substances. Some people eat bizarre things, like clay, hair or raw potatoes, so ice is pretty benign.

Causes include nutritional disorders, stress, pregnancy, epilepsy, and developmental disorders. We know you're not pregnant or mentally retarded, and you'd probably know if you had epilepsy, so I'd guess that it's a nutritional deficiency or stress.

You should see a doctor and have a complete physical and blood work done. If you don't want to do that (or while you are waiting for an appointment) I'd suggest starting a multi-vitamin with iron, and perhaps some additional iron supplementation as well.

It's very easy for women to become anemic (iron-deficiency leading to low red blood cell count), so you may need to be on iron supplements long term.

Hope that helps!

Some people just like it.

However, cravings for ice and other non-food items can be a sign of a deficiency of some kind. I think ice craving is for some reason a sign of anemia. I'm anemic (and I don't think I can spell that right), and I've never had the ice craving, but I also have sensitive teeth, so maybe that's a reason.

It's probably not a major thing, but the next time you get a chance, mention it to your doctor so they can check your blood levels for vitamin and iron deficiencies.

EDITED: If you work in a job where you have a cubicle, have a heart. Take it easy on the ice crunching. You like it. However, to a lot of people, the sound of someone crunching on ice all day is something similar to someone making you sit down to listen to them drag their fingernails across a chalkboard all day long. (this part I do know from personal experience... one woman at work drove us insane by the constant crunch-crunch-crunch of ice chewing.)

This is weird, I recently met a woman on-line who had a huge ice craving. She found out she had a severe iron deficiency and was totally anemic. Are you a vegan? This can happen to vegetarians, but it also happens to other people. It sounds almost silly, but you really should get a doc to check you out. You may also have a low hemocrit level. If the thought of a doc really puts you off, try some iron pills, but if it doesn't go away, a doc visit is really called for.

I know you're not pregnant, but when I was pregnant I craved ice all the time. I was anemic through both of my pregnancies, so you might have an iron deficiency. Try some OTC iron supplements, or talk to your doctor about it. It might not be anything either, just something you like to eat.

My mom did the same thing but this went on for years and we just never really looked into it because we didn't think nothing of it but she started having pains in her stomache to the point where she couldn't sleep at night and this went on for another year or so before she finally had enough and went to the doctor and they told her she was going to have to have her gallbladder removed and after this opperation she came home and didn't enjoy crunching on the ice anymore which was weird because she did it for years and her teeth are proof so it could have been the gall bladder.so hope that helps.

I did I best like beaten ice! i had my husband pass purchase tremendous luggage of ice after which positioned a few within the blender to weigh down it lol. however then i discovered I had low Iron. so ya could wanna get checked to peer purpose they are saying that a few ladies crave ice as a caution for low iron

It could be lead poisoning.If you are a adult then it`s less likely that you have lead poisoning.Some people just enjoy ice.Maybe you should go to the doctors and have lab work done to rule out any health problems.If none is found then enjoy.I use to like ice also.

wow i go throught the same thing...sometimes i just drink the juice to get to the ice...i think its the crunching sound and the fact that its so cold it feel good in your mouth i guess

You probably have iron deficiency anemia. Take an iron supplement for a month and see if it goes away.

i ate 3 bags of ice a day when i was pregnant with my 2nd child.