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This is the habit of eating unusual substances, such as ice (called pagophagia), clay, cardboard, foods that crunch, or raw starch.
Less common symptoms of iron deficiency include brittle nails, sore tongue, restless legs syndrome, pica, and pagophagia. Pica is an abnormal craving to eat non-food items, such as clay or dirt, paper products, or starch (eg, cornstarch).
The desire to chew ice (pagophagia) is often associated with iron deficiency anemia. Why does the habit of chewing ice or eating cold stuff is associated with anemia?
A desire to eat large amounts of non-food substances (pica)-including ice (pagophagia), pure starch (amylophagia), dirt (geophagia), or paint-is uncommon but considered to be a very specific symptom of iron deficiency.
 See also: Deficiency, Pica, Anemia, Symptom, Iron deficiency
  
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