Apparently, eating boogers is actually good for your immune system
It’s one of the first things we learn as a child – whether it’s through consistent scolding by your mom, being teased at school or receiving regular reminders throughout the day: don’t pick your nose. And definitely don’t eat it afterward.
Commonly, parents claim that eating boogers makes children more susceptible to getting sick, but Austrian Lung Specialist Dr. Friedrich Bischinger believes it’s actually the opposite.
“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,” Bischinger told The Independent.
A completely natural thing to do, it’s believed that those who pick their nose – and eat it – are healthier and more in-tune with their bodies. Snot has many health benefits, including keeping respiratory infections and stomach ulcers at bay, Bischinger said.
Are the health advantages not quite enough to convince you to start digging in? An article in the journal of the American Society for Microbiology suggests that chowing down on your boogers could also be beneficial to your oral health, combatting cavities by building a barrier against detrimental bacteria.
“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,” said journal co-author Dr. Scott Napper, professor of biochemistry at the University of Saskatchewan.
Researchers are so on-board with the benefits of boogers they’ve started developing artificial mucus toothpaste and chewing gum to promote its effect on dental health.
The next time you catch yourself telling your child to stop picking their nose – or reaching for the tissue – consider what this natural health supplement can do for you or your loved ones. While it may not be enough to start a nose picking movement, it’s nice to know your child’s affinity for boogers may not be as bad as you think.
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