For years I chewed on ice. I finally found out I have a condition called pagophagia.

• Craving ice is a symptom of iron deficiency (anemia), known as pagophagia.
• Pagophagia is a form of pica, the impulse to eat things with no nutritional value, such as dirt, paper, or hair.

If you need me, my head will be in the freezer. This was the state of affairs for years as I merrily crunched my way through mountains of ice. Cubed, crushed, shaved, chipped — at a pinch, frost scraped from the freezer walls — I couldn't get enough of it.

I thought it was just one of my quirks and that waiting for my husband to go to the bathroom during meals out so that I could finally crunch the ice in my drink — to him, the noise was like fingernails on a chalkboard — was perfectly normal. It was only one day, when a new friend witnessed my ways and asked, "Are you anemic?" that I gave it a second thought.

I Googled "eating ice + anemia" and was shocked to find that my friend wasn't talking crazy. Craving ice is, indeed, a symptom of iron deficiency. There's even a term for it: pagophagia.

What is pagophagia?

Pagophagia is an intense, persistent craving to chew ice. It's a form of pica, the impulse to eat things with no nutritional value, such as dirt, paper, clay, chalk, hair, wood, wool and other substances that aren't food.

"It's not clear why individuals who are iron deficient have unusual cravings, such as for ice," said Helen Evans-Howells, a GP and allergy specialist. "But there are various hypotheses." One is that it may alleviate the pain and inflammation that can occur in the mouth if a person is deficient in iron. Another is that ice may increase the blood flow to the brain, thus combating the effects of low oxygenation — hypoxia — that can occur when iron levels are low. However, Dr. Evans-Howells asserts: "The most likely reason is that this unusual craving is the body's way of trying to highlight that there is a nutritional deficiency."

Pagophagia isn't always related to iron deficiency — other causes may include low levels of calcium, an eating disorder, or stress and anxiety.

Certainly, as I made my way to the freezer several times a day, my body was trying to tell me something. And that something was: get a blood test. The results showed that I was anemic — not hugely so, but enough to warrant a prescription of tablets to boost my iron levels. When I began taking them, not only did I find that I had more energy and less desire for a mid-afternoon nap, but my desire to crunch ice also vanished.

Chewing on ice can damage your teeth

And, thank goodness it did, because if I'd have continued chomping so much ice, I may have done myself a disservice, particularly to my dental health. Up there with hard candies, citrus fruits, and potato chips, the American Dental Association lists ice as one of the top nine foods that damage your teeth. Chewing ice can result in enamel erosion, cracked teeth, damage to fillings, gum irritation, and recession.

Thankfully, I emerged from my ice-munching years unscathed, but sometimes, people who suffer from pica aren't so lucky. During her career, Dr. Evans-Howells recalls seeing two cases of pica-triggering hair ingestion. "This led to dire consequences for the individuals as the hair caused intestinal obstruction and resulted in the need for surgery to remove the blockage," she said.

Whilst I sometimes miss that gratifying crunch and satisfying shiver, I'm pleased I spoke to my doctor to address the situation. My teeth — and my husband — are also extremely grateful.