The latest beauty trend spreading on TikTok has people eating dirt and clay to obtain radiant, glowing skin and improve overall health.
Yes, you read that correctly and no, this isn't a story from The Onion.
There's even a term for people who take part in the bizarre practice. They're called "crunchers."
Videos of crunchers feasting on dirt and clay while touting benefits such as improving gut health and anti-aging effects have been flooding social media.
"Want to improve your child's (and your own) gut health? Eat dirt," Stephanie Adler, a fertility and hormone coach who promotes the crunchy movement, captioned a video of a baby eating dried mud. "[One teaspoon] of organic biodynamic soil has more microorganisms than humans on earth."
Online marketplaces like Amazon have countless listings for edible clay ranging from around $10 to $30 for several chunks or a fine powder, all full of reviews with people commenting on the flavor, smell and texture. They use colorful descriptions such as "tastes like fresh rain," "earthy with a taste of humidity," "hints of grass," and "almost piney, great crunch."
So, is this your sign to grab a shovel and dig up a snack? The practice of eating earth is actually nothing new. Known as Geophagia, it goes way back to ancient times. Previous research has also suggested that compounds in soil play a significant role in shaping the human gut microbiome and can aid in certain health functions.
If you can stomach it, experts say there might not be any harm to having a little crunch.
"I'm not going to say, 'Oh, don't do it,'" Lee Jones of the Chef's Garden told NewsNation. "But I'm saying that a safe way to do this is through plants. Know thy farmer, know where the crop is coming from, grow your own garden, and eat that dirt through the soil. It's really not the dirt we are looking for. It's the minerals that is in the dirt that they're really try to strive for."