Why YOU should pick your nose and eat the bogies
- Eating your snot could boost your immune system thanks to its ‘good’ bacteria
- Mucus prevents cavity-causing bacteria from attaching and sticking to teeth
- Bogie-inspired toothpaste and gum may soon be available to reap the benefits
- Picking our noses is a beneficial, natural instinct in our sterile environments
Alexandra Thompson Health Reporter For Mailonline
31
View
comments
We’re taught from a young age that picking our nose is a disgusting habit.
Not only do we think its unhygienic, but having a good rummage could tear our nostrils’ fragile skin, as well as increasing the risk of developing a painful sinus infection.
Yet, a study has revealed people who pick their noses may actually be healthier – giving good reason for children to carry on with the disgusting habit.
Austrian lung specialist Professor Friedrich Bischinger, said: ‘Eating the dry remains of what you pull out is a great way of strengthening the body’s immune system. Medically it makes great sense and is a perfectly natural thing to do.
‘In terms of the immune system, the nose is a filter in which a great deal of bacteria are collected, and when this mixture arrives in the intestines it works just like a medicine.’
Picking your nose and eating it may strengthen your immune system – and could prevent HIV
-
Mother-of-three, 44, develops deadly infection and nearly…
Mother’s memories of her daughter’s childhood were wiped out…
Why your clean house is BAD for your kids: Parents are…
The eight times a week we are truly happy: Cuddling with a…
‘GOOD’ BACTERIA
1) SKIN BACTERIA: Micrococcus luteus
In 2013, Norwegian researchers found M. luteus can absorb the same wavelengths that trigger skin cancers.
2) GUT BACTERIA: Bifidobacterium animalis
B. animalis lives in the intestine. It enhances immunity, fights tumour growth, improves digestions and may lower cholesterol.
3) DAIRY BACTERIA: Streptococcus thermophilus
S. thermophilus is used as a probiotic and relieves abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, nausea and other lactose intolerance symptoms.
Scientists from Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that nasal mucus’ rich reservoir of ‘good’ bacteria prevents cavity-causing bacteria from sticking to teeth.
Published in the American Society for Microbiology, their findings also suggest snot could defend against respiratory infections, stomach ulcers and even HIV.
The researchers are working on a synthetic mucus toothpaste to harvest snot’s dental benefits, Kidspot reports.
Bogie-inspired chewing gum may also be in the pipeline.
This builds on previous research that suggests our obsession with hygiene has led to an increase in allergies and autoimmune disorders, such as arthritis.
Yet, feasting on some nasal mucus may be perfectly naturally.
Dr Scott Napper, professor of biochemistry, the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, said: ‘Nature pushes us to do different things because it is to our advantage to have certain behaviours, to consume different types of foods.
‘So maybe when you have an urge to pick your nose and eat it, you should just go with nature.
‘From an evolutionary perspective, we evolved under very dirty conditions and maybe this desire to keep our environment and our behaviours sterile isn’t actually working to our advantage,’ CBC News reported.
Share or comment on this article
- KATIE HOPKINS Kim’s ass hasn’t just broken the internet,…
- EXCLUSIVE: Lonely Aaron Hernandez asked to share his cell…
- Veteran, 23, and her soldier boyfriend ‘tied her…
- Maddie breakthrough: Police chief says officers are…
- Ten years of hope and heartbreak: Madeleine’s bedroom is…
- Erin Moran’s grieving husband reveals the Happy Days star…
- Heston Blumenthal, 50, FINALLY divorces wife six years…
- Acid attack victim tells how strangers apologised to him…
- ‘Can I please call my mom?’ Detroit father, 22, sobs in…
- Good Samaritan smashes a TOURIST’S car window to free a…
- Now United’s killing fluffy bunnies! Son of the world’s…
- Officer who dragged Dr. Dao off United flights says…
- Airport lounges that aren’t a luxury: Which? survey finds…
- Family dash to the bedside of British father left for…
- ‘He’s going to cry in a minute’: Aston Villa fans are…
- EXCLUSIVE: Dramatic moment pensioner chases off ‘gang of…
- Married mother-of-three teacher, 34, ‘had sex with a high…
- Former kindergarten teacher and mother-of-two, 38, ‘had…
Comments 31
Share what you think
-
Newest -
Oldest -
Best rated -
Worst rated
The comments below have not been moderated.
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Close
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual.
Your comment will be credited to your MailOnline persona.
Close
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual
We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook.
The post will be credited to your MailOnline username. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.