When I was a small child I used to eat sand, repeatedly (also chalk and this stony white foamy-looking construction block and egg shells)... probably rather common thing but now silica got my attention and, well, sand is silicon dioxide...
Tried googling this a bit but didn't find anything satisfying at all. The little I found says toddlers/children are curious and experiencing new things. But then why would some, like I did, eat it over an extended period and basically whenever they can? (Though eventually I stopped.) Curiosity and experience, or simply like the texture as some explain it? I rather highly doubt that. I'm more inclined toward silica deficiency from "normal" foods, assuming you can get it from sand...
Wondering if anyone has some info on this and whether you can get silica from eating sand.
