If you are interested in finding out what happens if you eat stone then you’ve come to the right article.
As, in this article, you’ll find the exact answer to this question, and also after you’ve read the answer to the main question then I’ll cover the answers to a few more closely related questions as well to extend your knowledge further.
I hope you learn a lot from this article.
What happens if you eat stone?
A stone is a small, often irregularly shaped piece of rock, which contains a variety of mineral matter.
Weathered stones are often relatively smooth, whereas quarried stones or those that broke off of a larger rock often have jagged edges.
Stones are much denser than our teeth, so biting or trying to chew one will likely result in chipping or breaking a tooth.
A stone that is small enough to fit in your mouth constitutes a choking hazard, and any jagged edges could cause cuts or abrasions to your mouth or throat.
If swallowed, it could also cause lacerations or ulcers to the tissues in your digestive system.
Unless they have been sterilized, stones can also contain bacteria, parasites, or other microorganisms that can cause infections.
What happens if you eat small stones?
A very small stone, such as those used in fish tanks, will probably pass through your gastrointestinal tract without causing any damage.
This is particularly true if it was a smooth stone.
The likelihood of a small stone causing damage increases with its size and is mostly a function of how rough or jagged its edges are.
Even a small stone with sharp edges could cause cuts or ulcers in the lining of your GI tract.
What happens if you eat a pumice stone?
Pumice stones are pieces of porous volcanic rock.
Because pumice contains pores or vesicles, it is very lightweight and can be mechanically pulverized fairly easily.
However, our teeth aren’t strong enough to crush a pumice stone, so attempting to do so could cause your teeth to crack.
They are also very rough, so attempting to chew a pumice stone could cause lacerations to your mouth or upon swallowing to your throat or GI tract.
Can you eat stone?
Eating stones is unsafe and potentially hazardous to your health.
Many stones are large enough to constitute a choking hazard, but even those that are small enough to swallow could cause internal bleeding and tissue damage.
While this is unlikely in the case of a small, smooth stone, there remain other risks.
For example, any microscopic bacteria, viruses, or parasites that are on the surface of the rock could cause an infection, and even a small pebble could get lodged along the GI tract, resulting in cramps and potential blockages.
Can you eat limestone?
Limestone is mostly composed of calcium carbonate, which is not, in itself, toxic and can be consumed in small amounts.
In fact, in many regions, water that is drawn from wells has high levels of limescale which is the calcium salt from limestone and is known as “hard water”.
While some people think hard water tastes unpleasant, it is a healthy source of essential minerals.
That having been said, you cannot eat a piece of solid limestone rock without running the risk of negative health consequences.
Like other stones, biting a limestone can crack your teeth and the rough edges could cause cuts in the tissues along your GI tract, which could then become infected.
Moreover, a piece of limestone picked up outside likely contains various microorganisms on its surface and in its crevasses.
These can cause bacterial, parasitic, or viral infections.
The only safe way to consume limestone is in its particulate form when it is suspended in water (”hard water”).
Can you digest stones?
Because of their relatively large size and density, stones would pass through the GI tract without being digested.
If given enough time, the fluid in our stomachs including hydrochloric acid is sufficiently acidic to break down some of the minerals contained in stones.
For example, calcium carbonate particles, which are what makeup limestone, are easily dissolved in hydrochloric acid.
However, the digestive system moves things along too quickly to allow the gastric acid the chance to dissolve the carbonates in a stone.
Moreover, many stones simply do not contain dissolvable mineral particles.
Can eating rocks make you sick?
Eating stones or rocks can result in a variety of illnesses.
Any sharp or jagged edges could lacerate the tissues in the GI tract, causing internal bleeding and infection.
The risk of infection is exacerbated by the fact that stones often contain bacteria, viruses, or parasites on their surface.
Finally, a fairly large or irregularly shaped stone could become lodged in the lower GI tract and cause intestinal blockage.
All of these issues can prove to be lethal if untreated.
Is it healthy to eat stone?
It is not healthy to eat stones, pebbles, or rocks.
Although stones are composed of minerals, some of which our bodies need, eating a stone will not supply you with essential minerals.
Stones are too large and dense for the body to break down, so they remain undigested.
Is eating stones harmful?
Consuming stones is extremely hazardous to your health and can be lethal.
When eaten, stones can cause cuts and abrasions to the mouth, throat, and GI tract, resulting in internal bleeding.
Any such lacerations can also become infected, especially if there were parasites or bacteria on the surface of the rock.
Severe bleeding, unaddressed infections, and intestinal blockages can prove lethal.
What are the effects on your body if you eat stones?
Attempting to eat a stone can hurt every stage of the digestive system.
When being chewed, a stone will not break and it will likely chip or crack your teeth.
Upon attempting to swallow it, it could cause cuts or abrasions to the tongue, cheeks, or throat.
If swallowed without resulting in choking, a stone can puncture or tear the lining of the stomach, causing an ulcer.
As it passes undigested through the intestines, it can continue to cause cuts and could become lodged, resulting in a blockage that would need to be corrected by undergoing surgery.
Can eating stones cause kidney stones?
Kidney stones are formed from undissolved salts and other minerals that interact with chemicals in urine.
They are not caused by eating stones, nor can eating stones contribute to their formation.
Rather, foods high in phosphate (for example, cola soft drinks) and oxalates (for example, some leafy greens, such as spinach and swiss chard) contribute to the formation of kidney stones, especially when someone doesn’t drink enough water or consume enough calcium.
Why do I want to eat stones?
People who compulsively eat or desire to eat stones have an eating disorder known as pica.
Pica is a broad disorder and is not limited to eating stones.
It is characterized as an irrational desire to consume any non-nutritional item, that is, something that is not food.
Some people with pica focus on nonfood items that are not dangerous, such as ice.
However, it can manifest as a desire to eat rocks, stones, pebbles, sand, soil, and so forth.
Is wanting to eat stones a disorder?
The irrational desire to eat stones is a version of the eating disorder called pica.
Sometimes, pica is associated with an iron deficiency, which is easily treated by taking iron supplements.
However, in other cases, the causes have a complex psychological basis.
Pica has been associated with stress, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and trauma.
Can dogs eat stones?
Like humans, dogs cannot safely eat stones.
They are indigestible and can cause damage to a dog’s gastrointestinal tract.
Why do dogs eat stones?
A dog may occasionally indiscriminately or accidentally eat a stone or pebble.
However, if it becomes a regular habit or compulsion then it is probably a sign of malnutrition.
Iron deficiencies and certain parasitic infections are known to cause dogs and other animals to develop pica, or the desire to eat non-nutritious matter.
Which birds eat stones?
Many, but not all, birds eat stones to facilitate digestion.
These “stomach stones” are used by the gizzard to grind up food.
While all birds have gizzards, not all require grit, or gastroliths, to aid in digestion.
For example, parrots remove the hull from seeds before eating, so they do not need to eat rocks or stones.
Geese, chickens, grouse, and turkeys are examples of some common bird species that utilize gastroliths.
Why do birds eat stones?
Many birds need to eat stones or pebbles to properly digest food.
When consumed, these rocks are known as gastroliths or “stomach stones”, and they work in conjunction with the muscular pouch known as the gizzard to grind up food.
Which animals eat stones to help digestion?
Earthworms, as well as some birds, lizards, fish, and crustaceans, need to consume rocks, pebbles, or stones to help them digest food.
Such rock material is referred to as grit, and when it enters the digestive system, the individual rocks are known as gastroliths or stomach stones.
