'Human paper shredder' explains reason she eats ten pieces of paper a day
A woman who dubs herself a 'human paper shredder' has told how she looks forward to the postman paying her a visit - so she can munch on her mail.
Yaz Chapman, 34, struggles to control herself when she spots a sheet of A4 or an envelope being pushed through her letterbox, as she can't help but want to pop them in her mouth.
A decade on from when her hankering for paper first began, the mum-of-four is now eating ten pieces a day to satisfy her 'strong cravings'.
"I'll fold the paper in half, rip it into strips, put it in my pocket then chew it upwards like spaghetti," Yaz explained.
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"I look forward to the postman. Certain papers taste different and they have different textures. I'll rip a corner off just to test it.
"Some are too shiny, too thick or have a weird taste if there's too much ink - but if it's a typed-up letter, then I'll eat that."
Yaz has an eating disorder known as pica, which the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) explains 'involves eating items that are not typically thought of as food and that do not contain significant nutritional value'.
This could be anything from sand, chalk, hair, to clothing - and another sufferer even revealed how they were 'hooked' on eating bricks and cement.
As I'm sure you can appreciate, including non-edible items such as this in your diet isn't going to do you much good.
NEDA warns that people with pica can end up poisoning themselves with toxic substances, while they also run the risk of experiencing neurological symptoms, infections, inflammation, gastrointestinal complications and dental issues.
But Yaz says she's managed to avoid any dodgy side effects so far, as she 'doesn't overeat' and drinks plenty of water to stop her getting constipated.
The mum, from Portsmouth, Hampshire, explained she has had the eating disorder since she was just four-years-old.
She has scranned all sorts over the years - including talcum powder, chalk, silica gel balls, polyfiller, cigarette rolling papers and dental stone.
Her paper obsession began when she became pregnant with her first child in 2015 and her love for the stuff has only grown stronger as time has gone one.
"When someone likes chocolate and they're craving something sweet, they eat it and they feel those happy chemicals being released in their brain - it's like that," Yaz said when describing living with pica and her love for paper.
"Ever since having my last baby my paper cravings have ramped up to about 10 sheets per day. I'm out of paper at the minute and I've eaten all my letters. With paperless bills I don't get that many now.
"When important letters come through the door, instead of shredding them I'll eat them and shred them myself, in a manner of speaking.
"Rather than throwing them away or ripping them up I'll eat them. It sounds mental, but that's the reality of it."
She can't satisfy her cravings by eating edible paper either, as she only feels fulfilled when she's had the real deal.
Explaining how she manages her eating disorder, Yaz continued: "I've had this for so long now so I don't over-consume. I've not really had any issues.
"As a child I was deficient in calcium and iron because I didn't have a very good diet," Yaz explained. "But I've been tested while pregnant and all my nutrients are how they should be, but I still have strong cravings.
"The main concern is not letting yourself get constipated so if I've eaten a lot of paper I'll drink a lot of water to keep hydrated.
"When I was pregnant I was a lot more careful about what paper I was consuming and I'd order it online. People have asked if I've tried edible paper, but my cravings are for non-food items so it doesn't hit the same."
Yaz says always looks at the ingredients to see if what she's eating could be harmful to herself or her baby while pregnant.
The mum's paper cravings are currently at an all-time high and she explained she is currently waiting to be assessed to find out if she has autism, which is something people who experience pica often have.
Topics: Weird, Food And Drink, Mental Health, Health, UK News
Olivia Burke