Have you ever thought about why you flatulate or have earwax? These bodily functions may seem disgusting, but they’re beneficial to sustaining your overall health. Even though they may be unsightly, annoying, or stinky, they’re necessary for ideal functioning.
To give more insight into the most common nasty body mechanisms, here are some unpleasant things that your body does that are good for you.
Earwax.
If you’ve noticed a backed-up feeling in your ears, it may be because of an earwax buildup called cerumen. On the other hand, when it’s not causing discomfort and damage, earwax is good for you. Not only is earwax normal, but it’s a necessity. Earwax protects your ears from things that could damage your eardrum, like small insects, hair or dust.
Specific factors that affect how much earwax you have include recurrent ear infections, wearing hearing aids or ear plugs, and previous ear trauma or surgery. Unless it’s a severe ailment, like a hearing infection or loss, it’s best to leave your earwax alone.
Flatulence.
Passing gas might be disgusting and embarrassing, but it’s a natural result of your digestive process. It’s a way for your body to eliminate both fermented byproducts of undigested food and swallowed air. The frequency and volume of flatulence can differ between people and can be affected by activity level, diet, altitude, and antibiotic use.
Flatulence may show that you have a high-fiber diet, which can indicate improved gut health and the microbiome’s health. It can also help prevent bloating and stomach pain, commonly caused by holding it in. Flatulence is expected, but too much isn’t a good thing. Excessive flatulence can lead to abdominal pain and bloating, which can be signs of a severe medical condition to share with your doctor. Excessive flatulence is defined as farting over 20 times per day. While high-fiber diets frequently cause it, in some cases, it can indicate other issues like dumping syndrome or Crone’s disease.
Burping.
Your parents likely told you it’s rude to belch at the dinner table, but sometimes you have to let it out for your health. Burping is your body’s way of eliminating excess gas from your stomach. Even though it seems disgusting, it’s a standard body function. When we swallow drinks or food, it goes through our esophagus to our stomach, where digestive enzymes and acids break down food into the nutrients we use for energy, creating gas in the process.
If you constantly hold in your burps because it’s not something you like to do or you’re embarrassed, you may experience an overinflation of the stomach and bloating, which may cause discomfort. Burping a few times isn’t concerning, but you should visit your doctor if it persists. Excessive burping is associated with conditions like indigestion, GERD, IBS, gastritis, and ulcers.
Mucus.
When you blow your nose, you’ll probably see mucus in your tissue. The cells in your nose, throat, sinuses and mouth naturally produce mucus. It is vital in protecting and lubricating your lower and upper airways. Its slippery texture helps trap prospective irritants as it has special proteins and antibodies to help fight dangerous germs that may be present in your respiratory tract. While healthy mucus tends to be clear and thin, mucus can become colorful, thick and potentially cause breathing problems if you’re sick or have other lung diseases.
Emptying your bowels.
The famous saying goes, “everybody poops.” It might not smell good, but bowel movements are the way our bodies eliminate materials we can’t digest. Regular bowel movements vary from three times a day to three times a week. The Bristol Stool Chart says a sausage-like turd with cracks or a snake-like turd is ideal. However, anything that falls too far from these descriptions should be flagged to a doctor for evaluation.
Sweat.
Everyone will probably experience sweating or perspiration on a hot day, but some may sweat more than others. Sweating is a normal bodily function that regulates our body temperature and protects our skin from overheating. It also removes the toxins that clog our pores. Did you know that sweat itself doesn’t have a smell? The smell of body odor comes from skin bacteria breaking down sweat secretions from the sweat glands. However, excess or absence of sweat can damage your health, so keep track of how much you’re sweating.
Pus.
You may notice that pus builds up when you get an infection, like a bacterial or hair follicle infection. While it’s unpleasant to look at, pus is good. Pus is the collection of white blood cells that attack bacteria to kill and trap them. It’s typical to have some pus appear after the presence of a wound, around one to two days after. The appearance of pus means that your white blood cells have assembled to the open wound and are trying to fight bacteria and germs. If the injury is healing, it’ll be odor-free with no signs of discoloration.
However, the pus may smell, and the wound might be hot to the touch, so you’ll want to go to the doctor for treatment. They’ll likely prescribe medication to clear it up as soon as possible.
Leaky nipples.
Everyone doesn’t have leaky nipples, but those who recently had a baby will likely experience this phenomenon. Instead, your body would produce too much milk than not enough in the beginning stages of breastfeeding. The extra milk can get tricky as your body tries to balance supply and demand between you and your baby. Unfortunately, you may end up with a wet shirt and leaky nipples.
Leaky nipples are a standard part of breastfeeding and clear signs of heavy milk production. However, if other discharge leaks from the nipple or you feel pain, it may be time to consult a doctor to eliminate any underlying conditions.
The human body can be embarrassing and impressive. While our bodies can do amazing things, they also do some disgusting things. Whether stinky, sticky, or slimy, it can make you wonder if our bodies are working correctly. However, the truth is that most disgusting bodily functions are normal and can signify good health.
