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I was reading Nutrition and Physical Degeneration by Weston Price and I came across the section on clay. This site quotes NAPD and otherwise contains a lot of information on clay.

Does anyone here eat clay or use it topically or otherwise? I know there are cosmetics/body products that contain some amount of clay.

Consuming clay has 2 main benefits- mineral absorption and toxin elimination.

Any recommendation to eat around or during meals? Price noted Peruvians eating clay with their meals to "prevent sour stomach", and eating with a meal could also enhance mineral absorption from clay. On the other hand, most recommendations I see say to eat it outside of meals, and clay could potentially absorb nutrients from the food.

Are there any specific concerns about clay consumption? I see there is a very high amount of iron. On the aforementioned clay website it claims that this is a non-issue because excess iron won't be absorbed. Then there are also concerns about getting good quality clay- any brand recommendations?

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This is a bizarre but very interesting question! I don't have the answer, but have often wondered whether humans should or could eat soil - many other primates do. – CT May 12 2010 at 15:33

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I've used this clay for years: http://www.pascalite.com/About.htm

I take 1/4 tsp mixed in water for nausea and upset stomach and just to add minerals. Externally as a poultice, it is the best thing for wasp stings, spider bites, etc. Sounds crazy I guess, but I wouldn't be without it.

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Umm, even assuming there is value to it, it sounds incredibly impractical. Where are you going to procure the clay? Is it free of contamination? Are you sure the clay you can procure will actually be high in the minerals you want; skimming through the link, it looks like not just any soil is eaten?

Also, the only times I've heard of humans eating soil is in response to extreme deprivation, such as in Haiti. Neither is Peru known for its wealth.

I think I'd stick to food we know to be high in minerals: seaweed, calf liver, tubers, spring water -- if you are lucky to have a local source.

Mildly interesting link though. Thanks.

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 No offense, but I will take Weston Price's experience of first-hand seeing natives consume clay over what you have heard! We do in fact know that clay is high in minerals. NASA used Terramin clay to prevent osteoporosis. – HealthRediscovery May 12 2010 at 17:23
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 Why would you blindly follow the reports of Weston Price? He was a good observer but surely you don't think everything he jotted down is gospel, do you? – Jay May 12 2010 at 17:37
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 Jay, I don't appreciate being name-called a "blind follower". If you want to engage in that I would suggest finding another forum. I don't even understand your question. Are you stating that he lied about his observations? – HealthRediscovery May 12 2010 at 17:45
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 No, we know that certain populations do eat clay, so it's clear that WP didn't lie about it. But, just cause he saw people he thought were healthy eating clay doesn't make eating clay healthy. And, thanks for your suggestion that I go elsewhere. I don't think i will listen to you. – Jay May 12 2010 at 17:50
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 @HealthRediscovery: Try not to ask questions if you don't want dissenting opinions. You're acting childish. – Aaron Griffin May 12 2010 at 19:34
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It's called geophagy or pica. Eating clay may have some benefits but may also have some risks. Why not just take a mineral supplement if that's what you want? Or, if you want to risk the heavy metal and bacterial contamination, you can eat clay like a real caveman...

See this and this, two studies describing the practice, the potential benefits, and the potential risks.

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Depends on where the clay comes from. I take French Green Clay, also known as Montmorillonite. One side effect is that of constipation, so you may have to titrate it to your constitution or until you are adjusted to it. However the main reason I take it is for bouts of diarrhea so it works wonders for that, but I know there are other health benefits. If you buy high quality clay you don't have to worry about heavy metals. Google it.

I suspect in prehistoric times people didn't clean their meat, so they were getting minerals from dirt that we miss today.

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In drinking water from streams they would have ingested clay also. The original Kaopectate contained kaolin clay but it was changed over fears about aluminum and not because it didn't work. Clay is helpful in so many conditions and it is worth studying and experimenting. – Jeanne May 14 2010 at 12:19
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hunter gathers in some areas also cooked/stored water/fermented in clay pots. I know from experience that you do end up ingesting some clay in this way. Old thread I know but just a thought.

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I don't know if this even makes sense but are we able to absorb minerals through our skin at all? If so I wonder if many hunter gathers practice of wearing clay would contribute any significant amount of minerals. – total fing hippie Mar 6 2011 at 3:58
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I've started using Redmond clay http://www.redmondclay.com/ and I've made it into a gel (1/2 c dry clay, 1 c water) and store it in the fridge. I've been eating/drinking a little bit each morning when I wake up. It tastes awful and I honestly have not noticed any benefits YET... but it's only been a few days.

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