Let’s face it, kids can be pretty gross sometimes, but who knew that one of their disgusting habits might actually be good for their health?
It’s gross, but it’s good for your kid’s health
Numerous universities, including Harvard University and the University of Saskatchewan say that you shouldn’t stop your kids from picking their noses since their boogers actually contain a lot of good bacteria.
The theory that boogers are good for your kid’s health comes from the hygiene hypothesis, which says that children who are too clean, and lack exposure to bacteria tend to have more allergies, and also tend to become more sickly. The hypothesis has been supported by a number of studies around the world, and supports the theory that the gross stuff that comes from kids noses, is actually keeping them healthy.
Dr. Scott Napper, professor of biochemistry at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, shares, “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 and eat it.”
Austrian lung specialist Professor Friedrich Bischinger adds, “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.”
There are other ways to boost your immune system
Based on how our immune systems work, the hygiene hypothesis actually makes sense, as we build up stronger immunity to bacteria that we’re exposed to. It can be compared to how some vaccines are based on weak forms of diseases, and they in turn ‘train’ our immune system to fight infections.
If the snot eating theory is actually confirmed, then doctors might recommend it as a way of strengthening your immune system.
But, you can breathe a sight of relief, since there are a lot of other ways to boost you and your family’s immune system without eating boogers. Eating raw fruits and veggies, eating raw garlic, drinking lots of water, and getting enough sleep and rest are just a few non-gross ways to keep you healthy.
Additionally, letting your kids play outside in the dirt is actually good for them. Not only does it provide good exercise, being exposed to nature and the elements also strengthens their immune system, making them more resistant to disease.
So the next time you see your kid eating their boogers, it’s okay to just let them be. Just ask them not to do it in front of you, and to not kiss you for a while after eating their boogers!
Sources: telegraph.co.uk, naturalnews.com
READ: 10 Delicious snacks for kids that boost the immune system
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