Why we should be letting kids pick their nose

A study has revealed people who pick their noses may actually be healthier.

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, shares Daily Mail.

‘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.’

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.

Katharina Ribbeck, an assistant professor in the department of biological engineering at MIT, who co-authored the study told ozy.com that synthetic mucin might be a better alternative to antibiotics as it prevents infection.

My eight year old son tells me that on an episode of Operation Ouch they were talking about eating your boogers and how it is good for you because your body is trying to get rid of the bugs. His words!

Share your comments below.

Image via Getty

20 Comments

- - tessie said
  - 26 Feb 2018
    9:19 am
Really!! Even so it’s an awful thing to see someone do it

- - ella12 said
  - 20 Feb 2018
    4:28 pm
Um, this makes my stomach turn. Yuk!

- - mom19782016 said
  - 13 Feb 2018
    8:06 pm
Haha, my kids would laugh at me if I told them this. I might not tell them and just stop telling them to stop picking their noses then…

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 13 Feb 2018
    2:33 pm
Yeah I admit I pick in the shower and wash it down, but no way am I eating it- gross!!

- - rovermum said
  - 12 Feb 2018
    9:22 am
Ew… yuk! I recently saw the driver behind me in traffic at the lights pick her nose and eat it. I was retching, nearly physically sick. Not something I’m interested in for my immunity, and when I see people or kids do this, it actually makes me dry retch.

- - Ellen said
  - 10 Feb 2018
    7:44 am
I knew this, but not something I encourage my kids to do.

- - Saffron said
  - 09 Feb 2018
    3:03 pm
How feral:-) I’m more interested in how they ”picked” their test subjects and how many boogers and snot balls they made them eat and over what period of time.

- - nealsq said
  - 08 Feb 2018
    11:14 pm
yeah but it is still gross

- - mom101628 said
  - 08 Feb 2018
    10:59 pm
Don’t care how good it might be – it won’t be done in my house.

- - alrevedup said
  - 08 Feb 2018
    10:19 pm
BOOGERS, THE CURE OF THE FUTURE!!! My daughter came home from high school one day and informed me her teacher had said eating a few boogers a day was actually good for you. Of course i had my doubts but although i only see my youngest pick and eat it, three out of my four rarely get sick and the one that seems to have niggling health issues has been known to pick and wipe it on the wall or lounge etc…. Would love to see a study done on the instance of cancer in pick & eats as opposed to tissue users, the problem is peoples honesty!

- - mom94125 said
  - 09 Oct 2017
    7:58 pm
kids all do this anyway and at least they are building immunity lol

- - jacqbeckett said
  - 20 Jun 2017
    11:54 am
ohh dear, just hope their brains dont pop. my daughter picks her nose, im always saying grab a tissue.. she will laugh but then say it wont come out with a tissue so i have to grab it myself.. alright thats gross but your not touching my food or the tv remote. no wonder we’re having to tell our kids to wash their hands…. reading other people’s comments made me go eww, no way, eww! Oh God!

- - june11 said
  - 03 May 2017
    6:06 pm
What is the side effect of their “boogies” really have infections in them that are caused by them being sick with a cold or virus that is causing what they are eating???

- - Ellen said
  - 28 Apr 2017
    8:00 am
I’ve read about this before and it sure makes sense.
However i don’t like the view of people (adults or children) having a dig in their noses and eating their snot and it’s not something I encourage my kids to do and certainly not in front of other people.

- - TwinniesMum said
  - 27 Apr 2017
    11:02 pm
My twins are definitely great nose pickers and like to announce it to the world when they have ‘got a good one!’ Glad to see that there’s an upside!

- - mom112217 said
  - 27 Apr 2017
    6:53 pm
An interesting article especially as children love to do this!

- - mom81879 said
  - 27 Apr 2017
    6:21 pm
My son still picks his nose and eats it at age 26. He said he would have to stop it before his son picked up the habit and got ‘picked’ on at school for it. He might not worry so much now

- - Jodilb said
  - 27 Apr 2017
    1:50 pm
I’d rather they ate it than wipe their snot on strangers. I’m usually that stranger *vom*

- - mom70876 said
  - 27 Apr 2017
    1:11 pm
ok, so the title was not completely accurate. they also need to eat it. no thanks.

- - mom206279 said
  - 27 Apr 2017
    11:47 am
Is there even a way to stop kids from picking and eating boogies?