To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

According To Science It’s Actually A Good Idea To Pick Your Nose

According To Science It’s Actually A Good Idea To Pick Your Nose

It's still gross though.

James Dawson

James Dawson

So, growing up, I was consistently told that it wasn't good manners to pick my nose. This was despite the fact that, during my childhood, pretty much the only thing I wanted to do was dig there up there and find me some delicious green, gold to eat.

So - if you're reading this mum - the jokes on you, as it turns out bogies and snot aren't simply disgusting by-products of the body, according to one study at least.

Research has uncovered a range of health benefits especially for growing children.

via GIPHY

Kidspot reports, snot is actually an amazing source of good bacteria that helps our teeth and mucus forms a helpful barrier against bad bacteria.

According to the study, there's something called salivary mucins in snot, which protects our teeth from a type of bacteria that's responsible for causing cavities.

There's also evidence the mucus in snot could defend against respiratory infection and stomach ulcers. Which is good news all round really.

via GIPHY

In fact, the researchers who led the study are looking into making synthetic mucus that could be made in the form of chewing gum or toothpaste.

According to Austrian lung specialist Prof Friedrich Bischinger, people who pick their noses are healthy, happier and probably better in tune with their bodies.

He told the Mirror: ""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."

via GIPHY

Which I guess is all good news if true.

Still, if you start picking and eating on a Tinder date they're still probably not going to want to get off with you afterwards - so I'd recommend you keep it to a minimal in public.

Damn these social constructed ideas of how we should and shouldn't behave, it would all be so much easier if we just listened to science, aye?

Featured Image Credit: PA Images