Enquiring minds want to know

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Luke writes:

I just came across the boogers blog and I think itâ€™s great. Is that you? Can I ask a related (and kind of gross) question here? For the last two weeks Iâ€™ve been sick with either a cold or a sinus infection and Iâ€™ve been producing copious amounts of mucus in my sinuses. A good portion of this mucus has ended up in my stomach. Am I conserving precious calories? Can my digestive tract reabsorb mucus and use it for energy or at least reuse it for mucus? Or does it just pass through? Youth wants to know and so far the internet wonâ€™t say but it seems like a question you might be able to answer.

Yes, that’s me. But I have a sneaking feeling that it’s a really, reeeeally old effort that I abandoned a long time ago, over at Blogger perhaps. Scary. I have blogs that I’ve forgotten about. I wonder if Bare Rump’s blog is still out there — you guys remember that?

But on to Luke’s question. I doubt there’s much caloric or nutritional value to mucus. Wikipedia defines mucus as a “viscous colloid containing antiseptic enzymes (such as lysozyme), immunoglobulins, inorganic salts, proteins such as lactoferrin, and glycoproteins known as mucins that are produced by goblet cells in the mucous membranes and submucosal glands.” Thus there’s some protein content and electrolytes and not much else of any value.

When that hits the stomach, your digestive enzymes will break it down and your gut will assimilate it like any other protein. The electrolytes will be reabsorbed and either used or excreted. And of course your body is extremely efficient at scavenging the mucus for its water content.

And now I wish I could find that boogers blog.

Walnut, January 18, 2012. Category: The Barbarous Craft.