10 Gross Things That Keep You Healthy.
Number 10, Vomit.
There's no denying that vomiting isn't pleasant, but the ejection of your stomach's contents
can be a very, very good thing.
It has saved the lives of many poison and food-borne illnesses victims over the millennia.
Unfortunately, our bodies don't always know when they are protecting us from something
dangerous, when they're just responding to a mild flu or the hormones that cause morning
sickness, so not all instances of vomiting are helpful.
While it may be uncomfortable and unpleasant, for the most part it's also harmless, which
is why the body seems to have adapted a "better safe than sorry" policy when it comes to triggers.
Number 9, Bacteria.
You can't see them, but that doesn't mean they aren't there.
While people are starting to accept that not all bacteria are harmful, hence the proliferation
of probiotics, most still overwhelmingly associate bacteria with disease.
But the reality is that fewer than 15% of the bacteria in our bodies can cause illness,
and the other 85% helps us survive or, at very least, doesn't hurt us.
Good bacteria helps us break down and digest our food, boosts our immune system, synthesizes
vitamins essential to our survival, and keeps vaginas free from a number of illnesses, including
yeast infections.
Tiny germs and bacteria on your skin are responsible for removing dead skin cells and some of them,
Staphylococcus epidermidis, actually help in preventing more dangerous bacteria from
settling on your skin.
Number 8, Mucus.
A product of your nose, snot traps all kinds of intruders from the outside world and prevents
them from entering your body.
Think pollen, soot, ash, sand, tiny pieces of metal and dust.
Some of these pollutants may cause inflammation, which leads to a runny nose or postnasal drip.
Number 7, Farting and burping.
Whatever they say about you, farting and burping are good for your health.
During the digestive process, the body produces gas, and where does it go?
To the nearest exit!
It may sound and smell unpleasant, but it's absolutely necessary to keep us from exploding.
If you're more prone to gas, you may consider backing off on gas-producing foods like broccoli,
onions, and cabbage.
Number 6, Sweat.
Human body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, but both working out and warm weather increases
it.
Sweat helps regulate the body by cooling us down as it evaporates, which is also why places
with high humidity and no wind seem so much warmer than places with low humidity and high
winds.
While many people associate sweat with stench, sweat itself is just water with a tiny amount
of sugar, salt and other minerals, in other words, it doesn't actually stink.
The reason so many people stink after sweating is that sweat mixes with bacteria on your
skin and causes a reaction.
Unsurprisingly, some areas tend to have more bacteria, which is why they tend to be noticeably
stinky when you sweat a lot.
Number 5, Pus.
When you're squeezing a pimple, the sight of pus is always a bit unnerving and nauseating,
but it is an important part of our immune system.
Pus is made mostly from white blood cells that have flooded the area to fight the bacteria
or fungus causing the infection.
While most people take its appearance in a wound as a bad sign as it means the wound
is infected, it also means your body is healthy and fighting the infection naturally.
Of course, if you have a bad infection with a lot of pus,
it's a good idea to help your body fight the infection by cleaning the wound regularly
and seeing a doctor to get antibiotics rather than letting your white blood cells do all
the work.
Number 4, Poop.
It's not just a way for your body to eliminate unnecessary waste, it's also an indicator
of your health for you to check.
Small, hard pebbles indicate dehydration, while thin poop and diarrhea are potential
signs of illness or a malfunctioning gallbladder.
Poop should be formed like a sausage and should be easily eliminated from the body.
Number 3, Water blisters.
These weird skin bubbles, made from serum or plasma, protect injured, deeper layers
of skin.
While blisters are painful and cumbersome, it's better not to pop them as they protect
the skin from infection and help it heal.
The liquid inside the blister will eventually reabsorb into the body.
Note that blood blisters are different, as they are generally not caused by friction
or burns and are, obviously, filled with blood.
In rare cases, large water blisters may need to be drained or may get infected, and in
these cases you should probably see a doctor.
Also, see a doctor if you have multiple blisters all over your body that have not been caused
by burns or friction, as this can be a sign of illness.
Number 2, Ear wax.
Earwax moisturizes the ear canal and protects your ear drums from dirt, dead skin cells
and bacteria.
The last third of the ear canal is where you wax is produced, and wax travels towards the
ear opening when left alone.
Using a Q-Tip often pushes the wax past where it's produced and traps it so it can no longer
escape.
This can lead to pain and serious hearing problems that will only be relieved when you
or your doctor manages to eject all that built up earwax from the ear canal.
Number 1, Eye gunk.
This is another one of those not-so-pleasant things you'll find after waking up in the
morning.
During the day, tears drain into the tear duct and down the nose.
Blinking makes that possible.
At night, your eyes are closed and the tears collect in the corners of your eyes.
Just be sure to see a doctor if the crusty stuff is yellow or green, because that's an
indication of infection.