So what is a bogey made of? It turns out there’s quite a bit going on in there. It’s ingredients include antiseptic enzymes, immunoglobulins (something to do with the immune system), inorganic salts, proteins and glycoproteins known as mucins. An average human makes one whole litre of mucus per day. Yup, that’s enough to fill two empty cans of Stella. A load. So why waste it?

It’s not only mammals that use it either, amphibians and fish produce it too. So it’s long been a friend of life. Here’s the inside of your nose really close up and without any bogies on it:

So we all agree that it’s useful and wouldn’t want to be without it. But why eat it? Surely if it’s trapped all of those bacteria and things in it, it must be unhealthy, no? No. We actually swallow most of our nasal mucus already. Most of it ends up in the stomach where it’s digested. So without knowing it we’re all eating our bogies anyway, just the less crusty end of the pipe, that’s all.

☛ More Ming: One Thing We All Have In Common: Decomposition