If You're Suddenly Craving Ice, Here's What Your Body Is Trying To Tell You

Beth Ann Mayer
·6 min read
14

On a day so hot you could fry an egg on a sidewalk, it's natural to crave all things cold. You may scream for ice cream or put twice as much ice into your favorite beverage. As for an ice bath, well, that sounds heavenly.

But what if you start craving ice out of nowhere? Experts share that generally, cravings give us clues, but we often misinterpret what our body is trying to tell us.

"Cravings should not be mistaken for a psychological calling for food that might be triggered by stress, boredom or even just hunger," says Kendra Weekley, RD, a registered dietitian at Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Human Nutrition. "Like thirst, our body will send signals that tell us what we need in that snapshot of time."

For instance, Weekley says cramped muscles may be a sign you need electrolytes.  Nauseous and irritable? "Maybe your blood sugar is low," Weekley says.

So, what might an ice craving mean? There are a few reasons you may be craving ice out of nowhere. Experts shared what your body may be telling you.

Related: What Does Craving Chocolate Mean?

5 Common Reasons for Ice Cravings

1. You have a dry mouth

The most common reason for an ice craving is having a dry mouth."Chewing ice can often help moisten a dry mouth," says Kelsey Costa, MS, RDN, a registered dietitian and consultant for the National Coalition on Healthcare.

Still, Costa warns not to write off chronic ice cravings so easily. "It's essential to consider that persistent and intense cravings can sometimes be a symptom of an underlying health issue and should not be ignored," Costa explains.

2. You're dealing with iron deficiency anemia

If your ice craving is more than just a need to crunch on the cubes at the bottom of your drink, iron deficiency anemia may be the culprit.

"Iron deficiency anemia occurs when the level of blood cells in your body is too low," says Stephanie Shiff, RDN, CDN, CDCES, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist with Huntington Hospital, part of Northwell Health. "Red blood cells carry oxygen to your body’s tissues. Iron is needed to form hemoglobin, which is part of the red blood cell that carries oxygen and removes carbon dioxide from the body."

Other symptoms of iron deficiency anemia include fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness and increased heart rate. That fatigue may contribute to the ice craving. "Often, when a person is iron deficient, they may feel more fatigued than usual, in which sometimes chewing ice makes you more alert," Weekley says.

3. You have pica, or pagophagia

Pica is a mental health condition that involves cravings for nonnutritive foods like soil, human hair, paper and ice. "When the craving is for ice, it’s known as pagophagia," Costa says, which can include craving ice cubes, ice chips or frost from your freezer. "Pica is commonly seen in children and may be related to mental health or nutritional deficiencies, such as iron deficiency anemia," continues Costa.

The behavior has to persist for at least a month to be considered pica, says Weekley and per the American Psychiatric Association. Weekley adds that research, including a review published in 2023, has found that up to a quarter of patients with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) also have ice cravings that qualify as pica.

So, which comes first: iron deficiency anemia or pica with ice cravings? Like the chicken-egg question, it's currently up for debate. "It has been hypothesized that a large ingestion of a nonnutritive substance, like ice, results in a lack of ingestion of iron, which then leads to iron deficiency anemia," Weekley says. "But many authors believe that iron deficiency anemia causes cravings for ice, which went away when iron replacement therapy was initiated."

Related: Why Am I Craving Salty Foods? Here are 8 Possible Reasons

4. You have diabetes

Some people with diabetes may crave ice if they have abnormally elevated blood sugars. "This is the body's way of signally that it needs to get rid of excess sugar by urination and might crave fluids and ice," Weekley says. "Poorly controlled diabetes can also lead to poor absorption of micronutrients like iron, which then can lead to iron deficiency anemia and also lead to ice cravings."

However, Schiff says these patients are often simply thirsty, which differs from ice cravings related to pica and/or anemia. "Some people with diabetes crave cold water because they are dehydrated—one of the symptoms of diabetes," Schiff explains. "But there doesn’t seem to be a connection between diabetes and craving ice to chew. There’s a difference between craving ice and being thirsty."

Speak with a doctor if you're having trouble differentiating between the two.

5. You're pregnant

Costa says pregnant people may crave ice for various reasons.

"These cravings may result from hormonal changes or be a sign of iron deficiency anemia, which is common in pregnancy," says Costa. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) notes that a person's iron needs increase during pregnancy. Low iron levels are one of the most common causes of anemia, according to the ACOG.

"Pregnant women experiencing ice cravings should seek medical advice to rule out any underlying nutritional deficiencies," Costa says. While ice cravings in pregnancy may not be because of any deficiencies, if you find you can't get enough ice during pregnancy, it's worth it to check in with your doctor.

"Other factors at play include nausea, dehydration and temperature regulation," Costa says. "For some, ingesting ice becomes a means to maintain hydration without worsening the nausea symptoms, as ice is odorless and tasteless."

Pregnant people also have an increased metabolic rate and wider blood vessels. "These changes can make women feel warmer than usual and, as a result, increase their craving for cold items like ice," Costa says.

Related: The Absolute Best Snack for Reducing Inflammation, According to Registered Dietitians

How To Put a Stop to Those Ice Cravings

If you're sick and tired of craving ice, first know that it's essential to address the underlying reason for your ice craving. "If the cravings are due to anemia, incorporating more iron-rich foods into your diet or taking iron supplements, as suggested by a healthcare provider, could help," Costa says. "For cravings associated with pica or pagophagia, it could involve intervention strategies such as therapy or medication to manage obsessive-compulsive behaviors."

Managing stress may also be part of a treatment plan. "Practice self-care in the form of stress reduction, such as meditation, taking walks or listening to music, to see if your cravings decrease," Schiff says.

The reasons for ice cravings can be concerning, so your first call should be to a doctor. "If you’re craving a food or something that’s not a typical thing to eat, that may be a signal that something may be missing in your body," Schiff says. "It may not be a specific food, but it might be a certain vitamin or mineral."

Your doctor can help you sort it out or refer you to a registered dietitian for further assistance.

Next up: 13 Foods That Help With Diabetes

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