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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!

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  • Really!! Even so it’s an awful thing to see someone do it

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  • Um, this makes my stomach turn. Yuk!

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  • 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…

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  • Yeah I admit I pick in the shower and wash it down, but no way am I eating it- gross!!

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  • 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.

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  • I knew this, but not something I encourage my kids to do.

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  • 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.

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  • yeah but it is still gross

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  • Don’t care how good it might be – it won’t be done in my house.

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  • 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!

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  • kids all do this anyway and at least they are building immunity lol

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  • 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!

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  • 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???

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  • 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.

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  • 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!

    Reply

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