Manual mucus mining via the index extremity extraction, otherwise known as nose picking on the face of it (no pun intended) is probably one of the most every day activities for many people.  It is universal across cultures and the second most common bad habit among British people.  Swearing is the most common bad trait and nose-picking was followed by not listening when others are speaking and biting your nails.

Picking our nose is not a rare thing to see, particularly by children who without any filter are notorious for having a finger constantly stuck up one or both of their nostrils searching for treasure. 

As adults do we grow out of our nose-picking ways or simply do it in private?  Findings have shown that many us often study and sometimes sample the boogies we pick with the average person picking their nose four times a day!

A disgusting habit verging on being mildly taboo despite it being so prevalent as almost all of us do, yet nobody likes to talk about it and very few will admit to ever extracting nose pickle apart from when they were a child.

Those engaging in an activity of some sort appear more likely to be nose pickers and in public places.  How many times have you stopped at the traffic lights or at a junction only to observe fingers being sucked up deep into a strangers nasal passage?  So lost in this world of booger hunting often the offending person is oblivious to your retching!

But everyone does it even though most people would agree that picking your nose is frowned upon. And eating the contents is just a bit gross! 

So why do we feel the need to have a rummage around and dig out any crusty bits of snot using our fingers? 

Does it start to itch?  The tickling becomes unbearable by that hard crispy one just hanging uncomfortably from your nasal hairs sending a little message to your brain resulting in you not being able to help but have a little poke about!  Once it comes out you feel euphoric and relieved!

But it’s a weird thing isn’t having a nasal clear out with your fingers, as you wouldn’t also sift through your poo with your hands when you’ve finished taking a dump!

However apart from being pretty gross, one of peoples self-confessed worst habits actually has health benefits! Wait for it bogies are actually good for you!

Eating your boogers and munching on the dry remains of what you pull out of your nose is a great way of strengthening the body’s immune system and medically it makes great sense and is a perfectly natural thing to do!

The nose is just 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.

Snot contains salivary mucins which forms a barrier against cavity-causing bacteria from attaching and sticking to teeth.  Bogie-inspired toothpaste and gum may soon be available to reap the benefits

People who pick their noses are healthy, happier and probably better in tune with their bodies than others.  Those who pick their nose and eat it get a natural boost to their immune system for free.

The finger is mighty than the tissue allowing you to get to places you just can't reach with a handkerchief, keeping your nose nice and clean.

Perhaps we just pick our noses, as it is something that is always there and within easy reach and in a sign of laziness  fingers are never in short supply.

However. stick by the simple rules of nose picking.... Keep your hands clean so that you can pick all day, free of worry about germs or viruses. Remember if you just pick and flick rethink your strategy and pick and lick making your potentially annoying habit useful by eating your nose pickle and thereby readying your immune system to take on whatever illnesses are thrown in its direction.

Finally, as the saying goes you can pick your friends and you can pick your nose, but you can’t flick your friends out of the car window!

Happy Picking!