Story By: Feza Uzay, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency:  Newsflash

A Turkish woman has claimed that she has been eating nearly 5 lbs of rubble every day for the past two years after first getting the craving when pregnant.

A Turkish woman, identified only as Nimet, age not disclosed, felt the need to eat rubble for the first time when she was pregnant with her first baby 23 years ago.

Nimet, who appeared on the TV show ‘Sabahin Sultani Seda Sayan’ said: “I was pregnant. Sitting on the balcony, I was craving ‘earth’. I wanted to eat it. I couldn’t go out at the time, so I started eating the soil and clay under the hardwood at home. However, later this craving passed.”

Stating that these cravings started again years later, Nimet, who has been married for 25 years, added: “It’s been going on for two years. I eat about 2 kilogrammes (4.4 lbs) of rubble a day. I can’t help myself.”

She added that she has the rubble brought to her home from her brother’s village where she is able to purchase a steady supply from demolished houses.

Nimet stated that her husband and children were very upset about her habit and thought that her health would be adversely affected.

Doctor Yavuz Dizdar, who was a guest on the same TV show, told Nimet that this is a known psychological disorder that can be treated.

The disorder is known as ‘Pica’ and is characterised by an appetite for substances that are mainly non-nutritive, such as hair, faeces, blood, ice, earth, clay, stone or metal.

It is most commonly seen in pregnant women, small children, and people with developmental disabilities such as autism.

It is unclear if Nimet plans to start treatment for the disorder.