What's the deal with vomit, earwax, snot ...

Slimy snot, crusty ear canals, and foul farts: why is it that our bodies can be so disgusting? Though it might look/smell/taste unpleasant, the gunk and goo produced by the human body serve a greater purpose than grossing out younger siblings. From defense mechanisms to filtration, we wouldn’t be nearly as healthy without the oily, smelly, chunky byproducts of our bodily functions.But what is it all made of? How is it produced? We’re so glad you asked. For the kid in all of us that is fascinated with the revolting, feast your eyes on our explanations of what you’re made of, literally.But you might want to finish eating first.Seriously.You’ll thank us later.  BoogersAlso known as: snotWHAT IS IT?Boogers are made of something called “mucus.” Mucus works as a kind of filtration system for your lungs. The air you breathe isn’t exactly clean: it has dirt, pollution, pollen, germs and other tiny particles floating around in it. When you breathe, the mucus in your nose catches these little particles, preventing infection and other trouble should they make it into your lungs.Once these particles enter your nose, they are trapped and surrounded by mucus. Then the mucus is moved toward the front of your nose or the back of your throat by tiny hairs called “cilia.” Boogers are just hardened or clumped-together versions of the mucus.Because mucus can be so germy, you should refrain from picking your nose. Think about it: do you really want all that stuff on your fingers?FUN FACTS• The nose and sinuses produce about one quart of snot every day.• About 70 out of 100 say they pick their noses. Three out of those 70 also admit to eating the boogers.  EarwaxWHAT IS IT?What boogers do for the nose, earwax does for the ear canal. Also called “cerumen,” earwax protects the very sensitive ear canal by trapping dirt and slowing down bacteria growth. It also fights infections and keeps the ear canal moisturized.Ear wax is produced where it’s found, that is, in the ear canal. The ear has glands which secrete the wax, which has chemicals to prevent infection.Unlike boogers, however, earwax pretty much takes care of itself. Sometimes, ear wax moves to the outside of the ear, where it dries up and falls out on its own. Some people find they have excessive amounts of ear wax. Doctors can help remove the wax (either with a hooked tool called a curette or by flushing the ear with warm water), or they can prescribe medicine that will help with overproduction.FUN FACT• People who live in big cities make more ear wax.  VomitAlso known as: puke, throw up, upchuckWHAT IS IT?There are almost as many ingredients to vomit as there are reasons for vomiting. In general, vomit can consist of partially digested food and acid from your stomach. Vomit can also resemble or taste like the food you just ate. Green vomit most likely contains a chemical called bile, which is made in your gall bladder and is comprised of salts and cholesterol from things like fatty food.How does the body throw up? It takes two actions happening at the same time: the diaphragm makes a powerful contraction downward while the muscles in your abdomen tighten against a relaxed stomach and an open sphincter (a muscle that controls constriction). These two actions together force food up and out of the body. While you vomit, your body produces extra saliva to protect your teeth enamel. Your heart rate may increase and you might sweat more, as well.There’s no one reason why people vomit. The vomiting center in your brain (yes, we all have it) receives triggers from all over your body, including your mouth, bloodstream, the ear’s balancing system and the brain itself. Many times, vomiting is the result of a viral gastrointestinal infection, especially in childhood.FUN FACT• You may find yourself vomiting after seeing someone else in the act; this is a preemptive move by your body to protect you from exposure to whatever made that person sick.• “Chyme” is the technical term for ground up food in the stomach.  GasAlso known as: fart, flatulenceWHAT IS IT?Gas (along with burping) is how the body gets rid of swallowed air. When we eat, chew gum or smoke, we swallow a little bit of air. Some of this air gets absorbed in the small intestine, but some also makes its way through the digestive track to be, uh, expelled.Passing gas also helps release gases produced during digestion. Certain foods are more likely to trigger gas production, as well, including dairy, beans, carbonated beverages and foods containing sulfur, like broccoli. Fiber-rich foods also contribute to gas production: these foods are not completely absorbed in the small intestine, so when they reach the colon, they ferment.The way to get rid of gas is fairly simple. To avoid swallowing air, eat slowly, avoid sucking on hard candies and don’t smoke. You might also consider removing certain foods or drinks from your diet. Exercise can also help stimulate gas’ path through the digestive tract.FUN FACTS:• Gas is comprised of 59 percent nitrogen, 21 percent hydrogen, 9 percent carbon dioxide, 7 percent methane and 4 percent oxygen. Less than 1 percent of its make-up is what makes it stink.• Farts have been clocked at a speed of 10 feet per second.  Sources: the American Gastroenterological Society, www.today.msnbc.com, www.bodyodd.msnbc.com, the U.S. National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health, “Grossology” by Sylvia Branzei, www.KidsHealth.org and The Mayo Clinic.