Sometimes the food you eat or the behavior you exhibit can be a sign of a deficiency and condition you may have. It is similar to when your stomach growls, which signifies that you are hungry. Other signs you may not know about are feeling fatigued when you do not drink enough water, and if you are experiencing a headache then you may need to eat etc. These things happen because they are connected in one way or the other, when you body lacks a specific nutrient you need throughout your day, it can manifest in different ways, let’s take iron for example.

Iron is like the delivery truck for oxygen in your body. It helps your red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to all your tissues. The Red Cross Blood Donation explains that when you don't have enough iron, your body can't make enough of these oxygen-carrying cells. This is called iron deficiency, and it can lead to anemia. You might feel very tired, look pale, or get dizzy easily. Headaches, cold hands and feet, and weak hair and nails are also common signs. Because iron is so vital for many of your body's functions, a lack of it can really affect your overall health and energy levels. It's important to recognize these signs and get checked by a doctor if you suspect you might have an iron deficiency.

What is Pagophagia and Pica?

Sometimes, your body sends strange signals when it's missing something important. One unusual signal for iron deficiency is wanting to eat ice, which doctors call pagophagia. This is part of a bigger problem called pica, where people crave things that aren't food. Other examples of pica are wanting to eat dirt, clay, or even starch. It's not just these things; some people crave things like coal, chalk, paper, or hair. While kids get pica more often, adults with low iron can have it too, even if they don't have anaemia. This weird craving is your body's way of trying to tell you something's wrong, even if it seems odd.

Eating things that aren't food can be risky. For example, eating dirt could expose you to harmful germs or heavy metals. Eating large amounts of ice might not seem dangerous, but it can sometimes hurt your teeth or gums. Ingesting non-food items can lead to serious problems like poisoning, where harmful substances build up in your body. It can also cause blockages in your intestines, which can be very painful and dangerous. Symptoms like stomach pain, bloating, feeling very tired, nausea, and diarrhea can signal that something is wrong. If you find yourself constantly wanting to eat ice or other non-food items, it's really important to talk to a doctor. They can help figure out why you're having these cravings and make sure you stay safe.

How Can You Make This Better?

If you're craving ice or other non-food items, it's important to see a doctor. They'll ask about your symptoms and might do some blood tests to check your iron levels. It's possible that your cravings are caused by iron deficiency, but they could also be related to other nutritional deficiencies or even emotional problems. Things like stress, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or developmental issues can sometimes cause pica. The doctor will try to figure out the root cause of your cravings. If it's an iron deficiency, they might suggest taking iron supplements or changing your diet. If it's an emotional issue, they might recommend talking to a therapist. Getting the right diagnosis and treatment is important for your health and well-being.

The number of autistic women is same as the number of autistic men, but women know to hide it well, says research. A study published in the BMJ, found that while the rates of diagnosis for autistic is found among young boys and girls, rates are almost identical by the time they reach adulthood. However, these new findings have also shown that women are more likely to "mask" signs of autism in order to fit in. This is why their diagnosis is done far later.

What Did The Study Find Out?

This is the first major study to find such high levels of condition among women. Previously, diagnoses rates were four times higher among boys and men than females.

Specialists say the findings highlight the urgent need to move away from outdated stereotypes that still influence how autism is recognized and diagnosed.

The international study, led by researchers at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, examined autism diagnosis rates among people born in Sweden between 1985 and 2000. More than 2.7 million individuals were followed for up to 37 years, making it one of the most comprehensive studies of its kind.

By 2022, around 2.8 per cent of the population studied had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The data revealed a clear pattern. In early childhood, boys were far more likely than girls to receive an autism diagnosis. However, this gap steadily narrowed during adolescence.

By the time participants reached their late teens and early 20s, diagnosis rates among men and women were broadly similar. Researchers noted that the male to female ratio of autism diagnoses decreased over time to the point that it may no longer be distinguishable in adulthood.

A Catch-Up Effect in Adolescence

Dr Caroline Fyfe, lead author of the study from the University of Edinburgh, said autism has long been viewed as a condition that mainly affects males. While that pattern was still visible in children under 10, the picture changed rapidly during adolescence.

Read: Mattel Launches First-Ever Barbie With Autism

She explained that diagnoses among girls rose sharply in the teenage years, creating what researchers described as a female catch-up effect. By the age of 20, autism rates were almost equal between men and women. According to Dr Fyfe, this suggests late or missed diagnoses in females rather than a true biological difference between sexes.

Masking and Mental Health Misdiagnoses

Experts say one major reason for delayed diagnosis is masking. Girls and women are often more likely to imitate social behavior, maintain eye contact and suppress traits traditionally associated with autism. While this can help them fit in socially, it can also make their difficulties harder to identify in clinical settings.

Dr Judith Brown from the National Autistic Society said gender should never be a barrier to diagnosis or support. She noted that autistic women who are misdiagnosed often develop additional mental health challenges due to years without appropriate understanding or help.

She added that the exhaustion of constant masking can contribute to anxiety and depression, reinforcing the importance of recognizing autism earlier in girls.

Clinical Biases Under Scrutiny

Dr Steven Kapp, senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Portsmouth, said research has consistently shown that clinical biases play a role in under-recognizing autism in women and girls. He explained that subtler behaviors and social adaptation often lead clinicians to overlook autism in females.

A linked editorial written by a patient and advocate echoed these concerns, warning that autistic women are frequently labelled with mood or personality disorders while waiting for a correct diagnosis. As a result, many are forced to self-advocate simply to be recognized as autistic.

Experts say the findings should prompt changes in diagnostic approaches, ensuring that autistic girls and women are no longer left unseen.

Actor Claire Foy has revealed that a long, uncomfortable health struggle picked up while travelling ended up reshaping her relationship with caffeine. The Crown star, 41, said she gave up tea and coffee after discovering she had stomach parasites, an experience she described as “gross” and “absolutely rank.”

Foy shared the story during her appearance on The Table Manners Podcast with hosts Jessie and Lennie Ware on February 4, where the conversation moved from food to a period of unexplained weight loss and constant hunger.

“I kept losing weight, and I didn’t know what was going on,” she told the hosts. Despite eating regularly, she said she never felt full. “I was so hungry,” Foy recalled, adding that the situation left her confused and worried.

Diagnosis After Years of Symptoms

The actor explained that the cause was eventually traced back to stomach parasites she had picked up while travelling in Morocco. The diagnosis came after medical tests, including stool samples, which she candidly described as unpleasant but necessary.

According to Foy, doctors told her she had been carrying the parasites for around five years, a length of time she herself described as “quite a long time.” While she did not name the specific parasites, she shared one detail that stuck with her. “They travel as a pair, I got told by the doctor,” she said, reacting with visible disgust even years later.

Living with the condition took a toll on her body and routine. The ongoing symptoms pushed her to rethink how she approached treatment and daily habits, including what she consumed.

Read: 10 Signs You May Have A Parasite

Clair Foy Had Parasites For 5 Years: Why Caffeine Had to Go

It was during treatment that Foy made the decision to give up caffeine entirely. She explained that she wanted to avoid very strong antibiotics if possible and instead followed a strict diet alongside other treatments. “I basically had to go on this diet,” she said. “I didn’t want to take really hardcore antibiotics.”

As part of that process, caffeine was cut out. “I took all this gross stuff and part of that was giving up caffeine,” Foy told the hosts. At the time, it was a major shift. She admitted she had been a heavy caffeine consumer, drinking around 15 cups of tea a day along with two coffees she had carefully planned into her schedule.

A Habit That Never Came Back

Giving up caffeine was not easy, but once she did, Foy decided to stick with it. “Once you’ve given it up, it’s such a mission to give it up, that I was like, well, maybe I’ll just give it a go,” she said.

Now fully caffeine-free, she even brought her own tea bags to the podcast recording. The show is known for hosts and guests sharing food and drinks in the Ware family kitchen, making her preparation a small but telling detail of how seriously she takes the change.

Medical experts note that parasitic infections usually require medication to clear completely, often involving antiparasitic drugs and sometimes antibiotics or antifungals. In many cases, a combination of treatments is needed.

"I went into chemo-induced menopause at 37," said Lisa Ray, a Canadian actress during an interview with BBC. She also shared the clip of the interview on her Instagram account talking about the importance of awareness about the side effects of cancer and its treatment on women. Sharing the clip on her Instagram story, she wrote "This is me in menopause. Menopause does not have one face...I went into premature chemo-induced menopause at 37."

She revealed that she had blood cancer, called Multiple Myeloma. "At that time, it was the least of my worries. I had a blood cancer called Multiple Myeloma to contend with… But after recovering, I could focus on what being in menopause suddenly at 37 would mean. And I had no one to talk to," said Lisa, now 53.

What Is Chemo-induced Menopause?

Chemotherapy do not just target cancer cells, but it can also harm healthy cells, which are fast diving. Ovaries fall into that category and thus they stop producing hormones like estrogen and progesterone, which pushes the body into sudden menopause.

This condition is called iatrogenic menopause or chemotherapy-induced ovarian failure. While it could be temporary for some people, for others, it could be permanent. Experts explain that women under 30 could see their periods return after the treatment.

Chemotherapy works by attacking cells that grow and divide rapidly. While this helps destroy cancer cells, it also affects healthy cells, such as those responsible for hair growth, which is why hair loss is a common side effect.

This process can also impact reproductive organs, including the ovaries, and disrupt hormone production. As a result, levels of estrogen and progesterone—the key hormones involved in menopause—may become imbalanced due to chemotherapy’s effects on the endocrine system.

Damage to cells and these hormonal shifts can trigger menopausal symptoms and, in some cases, cause periods to stop altogether.

For people over 40, hormone levels may already be naturally declining. In such cases, chemotherapy can accelerate a menopausal transition that has already begun.

Chemo-induced Menopause Symptoms

The symptoms are same as one experiences in natural menopause, which include:

• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Mood swings
• Fatigue
• Vaginal dryness
• Loss of libido

However, Lisa also points out the emotional impact, which could be intense especially for someone who is young and was not expecting to face menopause for decades. “Both menopause and disease-induced menopause have been treated with shame and silence for too long,” Lisa wrote on her Instagram post.

Chemo-induced Menopause: What Can Help?

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): When considered safe and not restricted by hormone-sensitive cancers, HRT can help manage symptoms while supporting bone strength and heart health.

Non-hormonal treatments: Certain medications, including SSRIs, SNRIs, and gabapentin, may reduce hot flashes, while vaginal moisturizers and lubricants can relieve dryness.

Lifestyle changes: Staying physically active, following a calcium and vitamin D-rich diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and managing stress can significantly support overall wellbeing.

Fertility support: Options such as egg or embryo freezing before treatment, along with consultations with a fertility specialist afterward, may help preserve future parenthood possibilities.