Parents worldwide will be thrilled to hear they no longer have to tell their kids to stop picking their nose and eating it — because the disgusting habit is apparently good for you! Studies at home and abroad are indicating that eating our snot may actually make us healthier by boosting the immune system, preventing cavities, combating stomach ulcers, and even countering HIV. Austrian lung specialist, Professor Friedrich Bischinger has found that “[e]ating 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 is collected, and when this mixture arrives in the intestines it works just like a medicine,” he stated. Additionally, scientists from Harvard and MIT found that the rich reservoir of “good” bacteria found in nasal mucus stop cavity-causing bacteria from sticking to teeth — leading them to create a synthetic mucus toothpaste to take advantage of snot’s dental benefits. Consumers may also have the chance one day to purchase snot-inspired chewing gum for the family. The scientists’ study also discovered that snot could help prevent stomach ulcers, respiratory infections, and even HIV. These snot-positive findings support previous research indicating that our fixation on cleanliness and hygiene may be the cause of an increase in allergies and autoimmune disorders like arthritis. Dr. Scott Napper, professor of biochemistry at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, tells us: “From an evolutionary perspective, we evolved under very dirty conditions and maybe this desire to keep our environment and our behaviors sterile isn’t actually working to our advantage.” In addition, it seems picking your nose and eating it may just be the natural thing to do: “Nature pushes us to do different things because it is to our advantage to have certain behaviors, 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,” said Dr. Napper. Source
