What people do not have to eat who decide to get into the Guinness Book of Records! In history, there are many cases where stones, metal, glass and other inedible substances were consumed .
Pregnancy , a deficiency of certain substances in the body or a mental disorder entail such addictions. Someone is limited by curiosity, and
if he is seriously interested in the experiment of eating paper, then for this there are detailed answers to the question of what will happen
if there is paper.
Paper composition
The paper consists of wood pulp, it includes filler minerals , dyes. It is clear that none of these substances is beneficial to the body. If we consider the question " is paper digested in the stomach " , then the answer is no.
Cellulose is a naturally occurring polysaccharide. It is not absorbed by the body, it is not dangerous, but moving along the cecum, it can cause appendicitis. When moving through the intestines, an unprocessed substance can cause constipation. When using paper, you need to remember that it swells greatly in the stomach, so digestion can be stopped.
The following components constitute a great danger to the body: talc, gypsum, kaolin, titanium dioxide. One can imagine what will happen if there is paper: nausea is possible under the influence of the indicated elements on the intestinal walls, and in the future , gastritis or an ulcer.
Doctor's opinion
Experts are sure that the person eating the paper is deficient in minerals and vitamins, trace elements, usually iron and calcium, do not enter his blood. Missing substances can be obtained in a more acceptable way - in the form of dietary supplements on the advice of a doctor.
The doctor is likely to prescribe a blood test, examines the level of hemoglobin, red blood cells, serum ferritin .
Cellulose alternative
If the taste of paper is attractive, why not pay attention to its nutritional alternative? Dietary cellulose is part of some dietary supplements . For example, Tien Shi products.
There is such an additive in products, more often in sausages, and it is known as E 460. It is not useful, but in this case it becomes possible to change a destructive food addiction to a more civilized one.
About the benefits of cellulose
The properties of cellulose are such that in the form of a food additive it is not digested, but it is sometimes useful:
- It can be useful as food for intestinal bacteria that produce vitamin B and absorb bile acids.
- The following positive property of cellulose is useful for obesity - it is about suppressing hunger. In addition to this, intestinal motility is activated.
- Cellulose fibers reduce the risk of heart disease, improve blood properties, absorb and remove cholesterol.
- The gel-forming property of cellulose stops the absorption of glucose, which is important for obesity and diabetes.
- Cellulose in the form of dietary supplements has a beneficial effect on the blood circulation of the brain, preventing thrombosis , and is useful as a prevention of stroke.
- When dietary cellulose enters the body, the risk of cancer of the large intestine, breast and prostate gland is reduced.
Types of paper
The effect on the body of a certain variety of paper is different. Let us dwell on the most common options.
What happens if there is a newspaper? Mercury and lead in ink paper are very toxic, so there is a danger of death. Resins, dyes, varieties of glue used in the manufacturing process are so harmful that, fortunately, a ticket made from paper of such a pattern leads to poisoning.
What happens if you eat paper from a notebook? To whiten writing paper, acid is used, and the sheets after that are not always washed with high quality. If the paper is poorly cleaned, you can observe how steam rises from it when used in the printer.
Parchment, the paper in which the food is wrapped, is colorless, tasteless and relatively safe. If a small amount was eaten with pies, then this did not produce any effect on the body.
Can I have toilet paper? Based on the fact that it was made with the expectation of interaction with the human body, it must be said that the volume will be limited only by the capabilities of the stomach.
Paper napkins are similar in composition to toilet paper. The wood is crushed, steamed, heated, bleached, pressed, dried. Then, with the help of a mixer, mousse is prepared, the foam is freed from moisture, the fibers are pressed on a burning cylinder, removed from its surface. The resulting material acquires softness and the ability to absorb moisture. What happens if there is paper in the form of table napkins? They are antibacterial and not capable of causing allergies. For paper towels, environmentally friendly paints are used. In this case, everything is individual, but a more sparing result is likely than with writing paper.
How much paper can I eat?
In the human body, like many mammals, there are no enzymes that can dissolve cellulose. In the digestive tract of some herbivores, there are symbiont bacteria that contribute to the absorption of this polysaccharide.
If you drink paper with water, probably 200 grams can be absorbed by the digestive system. But in this strange occupation, individual intolerance or the need for such food will play its role again.
If the child is eating paper
Paper or cardboard in its usual form is not dangerous for children. And if the child ate the paper, you should worry about the presence of printing prints on it, when it can cause poisoning, as well as paper clips and metal parts for connection.
What happens if there is paper? Cellulose in its composition acts on the digestive tract like a brush, helping in some cases cope with constipation. It is a completely different matter if there are pages from magazines in the body: paint and composition can lead to negative consequences.
How does a child form a habit of eating paper? Main reasons:
- A child at an early age (up to two years) actively learns the world, and paper is also of interest to him, including color wrappers, drawings, pages with pictures.
- Teething makes the baby pull into his mouth everything that is in his way, including paper.
- The kid lacks minerals, so his taste preferences are changing. An accurate diagnosis is needed.
- If there is no shortage of substances in the body, probably the child just likes the effect of dissolving paper in the mouth.
Mental disorder
Inedible absorption can be considered a mental disorder. Some cases are related to allotriophagy : a person is unconsciously attracted to swallowing objects with a certain property, which is dangerous for health.
Paper-based food dependence is more common in women. This is usually iron deficiency anemia, and sometimes a neurosis. Neurosis could contribute to stress, psychological trauma.
Other causes include hunger and anorexia. When the supply of nutrients in the body is exhausted, and there is an internal ban on food products, a tendency to gravitate toward what is in sight is manifested. If blood microelements are normal (according to the analysis), it is recommended that you consult a psychiatrist.
If there are no deviations, it remains to help yourself: for example, each time you turn your attention from paper to another object, imagine the unpleasant properties of the paper in bright light - as if it were made from something unacceptable for food. If in such an indirect way it is possible to influence the consciousness, then the desire to eat paper will disappear by itself.
Strange food addictions in the world
A few facts about strange eating disorders:
- A resident of the United States gained worldwide fame for eating cat hair for 15 years.
- Until 2011, a resident of India consumed iron in small portions, and about 6 kg of small items accumulated in his intestines. When surgeons removed foreign bodies from him, he died.
- In Serbia, an elderly man ate glass objects: light bulbs, plates. As a reason for such a diet, he indicated heartburn, which he wanted to get rid of.
- Jade Sylvester from the UK has a habit from the time of pregnancy to use daily on a roll of toilet paper. Addiction did not leave her after childbirth. The woman appeared favorite grades of paper. The need arose due to a lack of minerals, but grew into a habit of a mental property.
For those who feel the need for paper, doctors are advised to include mineral-rich foods in their diet , and try switching to seaweed, fruits, herbs, vegetables, and nuts.