Have you ever eaten something you shouldn't eat, by accident, out of curiosity or for some other reason? Something that wasn't supposed to be eaten at all? Believe it or not, eating things that are not meant to be eaten, which can also be called non-foods, on a daily basis or due to an obsession has been diagnosed with an eating disorder called pica. The word pica in Latin translates to magpie. This term was most likely coined due to the bird's peculiar feeding behaviors. Magpies have no food and/or non-food preferences and will eat anything they find interesting. Humans, however, are slightly pickier than a magpie, as they only crave a specific type of non-food when they have pica. It is not specified when exactly pica was first recognized by the medical community as a disease, since from the 16th to the 20th century it was still considered a symptom, rather than an individual disorder. The exact cause of pica is not known, but there are a number of theories that could explain this type of obsession and behavior. Nutritional deficiencies such as iron or zinc can trigger specific cravings, although the desired elements generally do not make up for the lack of minerals. People on a diet sometimes try to calm their hunger by eating non-food products, which do not contain carbohydrates, fiber, fat or other parts important for a healthy diet, but still acquire a feeling of satiety. Children living in poverty and deprived of food are sometimes so desperate for nourishment that they begin eating whatever they can find, such as dirt and clay, which are more commonly found in poor areas. During pregnancy, some women may begin to crave foods and, occasionally, non-foods, but this is... middle of the paper... to treat or prevent pica, and there is evidence that medications for behavioral problems in children they can be useful in treating pica. In severe cases, surgery will be necessary for those who have eaten metal or lead objects, to remove those objects from the digestive tract before the materials have been absorbed into the body. These approaches to treating pica are not very effective, but a little more brain research will certainly improve the current methods. In conclusion, pica, just like all other disorders, may seem like a big problem at first, but it will more likely be considered a major issue in the near future. Just like all other ailments, all it takes is determination, time and a course of action, and the human race will once again amaze the universe with its ability to overcome even the most subtle and difficult to cure diseases..