14 Bizarre Bodily Functions You Just Cannot Control ( courtecy;- ( reader's digest ) BY TINA DONVITO
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Your body really is a wonderland. Here are all the strange, and in some cases kind of gross, things it does—that you are powerless to stop!
Your muscles are constantly ripping
BY TINA DONVITO
HQUALITY/SHUTTERSTOCKThis sounds like it hurts, and in some cases it does—the constant tearing of muscle tissue may be why you feel a bit sore after a workout. But, it's also the key to developing more muscle strength. "Placing stress on muscle tissue, such as when weight training, causes tiny, microscopic tears in the muscle fibers, which are actually needed for muscle growth," says Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDE, author of the book 2 Day Diabetes Diet. "When at rest, the body works to repair and rebuild these torn fibers by fusing muscle fibers together to form myofibrils, or new muscle protein strands, that then increase in number and thickness to create growth of the muscle itself." Still, you should listen to your body and not overdo it when exercising to prevent injury. Find out other bizarre things exercise does to your body.
BY TINA DONVITO
HQUALITY/SHUTTERSTOCKThis sounds like it hurts, and in some cases it does—the constant tearing of muscle tissue may be why you feel a bit sore after a workout. But, it's also the key to developing more muscle strength. "Placing stress on muscle tissue, such as when weight training, causes tiny, microscopic tears in the muscle fibers, which are actually needed for muscle growth," says Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDE, author of the book 2 Day Diabetes Diet. "When at rest, the body works to repair and rebuild these torn fibers by fusing muscle fibers together to form myofibrils, or new muscle protein strands, that then increase in number and thickness to create growth of the muscle itself." Still, you should listen to your body and not overdo it when exercising to prevent injury. Find out other bizarre things exercise does to your body.Your hair is falling out
PHIMSRI/SHUTTERSTOCKIf you have long hair, you might worry about how much of it you see clogging up your shower drain—but it's totally natural for us to shed. "Most of us lose up to 100 hairs from our scalp every day, which is normal," says family physician Jennifer Caudle, DO, an assistant professor at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine. But according to the American Academy of Dermatology, excessive hair shedding, which may temporarily occur from physical or emotional stress, is different from hair loss, in which the hair actually stops growing. "About 80 million men and women in the United States have hereditary hair loss," Dr. Caudle says. "But, it's possible to lose hair if you have certain medical conditions or take certain medicines." If you think you have excessive hair loss, see your doctor. Read more about the surprising reasons your hair is falling out.
PHIMSRI/SHUTTERSTOCKIf you have long hair, you might worry about how much of it you see clogging up your shower drain—but it's totally natural for us to shed. "Most of us lose up to 100 hairs from our scalp every day, which is normal," says family physician Jennifer Caudle, DO, an assistant professor at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine. But according to the American Academy of Dermatology, excessive hair shedding, which may temporarily occur from physical or emotional stress, is different from hair loss, in which the hair actually stops growing. "About 80 million men and women in the United States have hereditary hair loss," Dr. Caudle says. "But, it's possible to lose hair if you have certain medical conditions or take certain medicines." If you think you have excessive hair loss, see your doctor. Read more about the surprising reasons your hair is falling out.Your finger nails are relentless
MEOW WII/SHUTTERSTOCKIsn't it weird how you have to cut your fingernails way more than your toenails? Research has suggested that's because your nails, which Dr. Caudle says help protect the tissues of your digits, grow faster the more you use them—and they grow faster on your dominant hand. "Fingernails grow about one tenth of an inch, or 2.5 millimeters, each month, and it can take about three to six months to completely replace a nail," she says. Interestingly, fingernails grow faster during the day and in the summer, leading some researchers to believe the rate of nail growth is also linked with better circulation. There are so many things your nails can reveal about your health.
MEOW WII/SHUTTERSTOCKIsn't it weird how you have to cut your fingernails way more than your toenails? Research has suggested that's because your nails, which Dr. Caudle says help protect the tissues of your digits, grow faster the more you use them—and they grow faster on your dominant hand. "Fingernails grow about one tenth of an inch, or 2.5 millimeters, each month, and it can take about three to six months to completely replace a nail," she says. Interestingly, fingernails grow faster during the day and in the summer, leading some researchers to believe the rate of nail growth is also linked with better circulation. There are so many things your nails can reveal about your health.You're making multiple pints of gas a day
PRANTHIRA/SHUTTERSTOCKWe think of gastrointestinal gas as gross and letting it out as rude, but it's actually a totally normal bodily function. "Everyone has gas, and most people pass gas 13 to 21 times a day," Dr. Caudle says. "According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, most people make about one to four pints of gas a day." It has to be let out somehow! "Gas in your stomach, released with burping, is primarily caused by swallowing air when we eat or drink," Dr. Caudle says. "Gas forms in the large intestine when bacteria ferment undigested food from the small intestine. Bacteria consume some of that gas, but the remaining is released by passing gas from the anus." Some foods may produce more gas than others, and acid reflux and other medical conditions can also cause increased burping. Most gas is odorless, but farts can contain sulfur that gives them an unpleasant scent. Here are more fascinating things you had no idea your body accomplished today.
PRANTHIRA/SHUTTERSTOCKWe think of gastrointestinal gas as gross and letting it out as rude, but it's actually a totally normal bodily function. "Everyone has gas, and most people pass gas 13 to 21 times a day," Dr. Caudle says. "According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, most people make about one to four pints of gas a day." It has to be let out somehow! "Gas in your stomach, released with burping, is primarily caused by swallowing air when we eat or drink," Dr. Caudle says. "Gas forms in the large intestine when bacteria ferment undigested food from the small intestine. Bacteria consume some of that gas, but the remaining is released by passing gas from the anus." Some foods may produce more gas than others, and acid reflux and other medical conditions can also cause increased burping. Most gas is odorless, but farts can contain sulfur that gives them an unpleasant scent. Here are more fascinating things you had no idea your body accomplished today.Your goosebumps think they're being useful
KVITKA FABIAN/SHUTTERSTOCKChalk this one up to evolution—if we had fur, goosebumps would serve a clear purpose. "Goosebumps happen involuntarily and are caused when a small muscle at the bottom of each hair follicle contracts, causing the hair to stand up—in animals this may actually form a layer of insulation," Dr. Caudle says. "They can occur due to cold air or also happen when we experience strong emotions such as shock, fear, anxiety, or even being inspired." According to the Cleveland Clinic, such situations trigger a flight-or-fight response in animals, so they raise their hair to create a bigger appearance in an attempt to scare off their enemy. This is why you get goosebumps when you listen to good music.
KVITKA FABIAN/SHUTTERSTOCKChalk this one up to evolution—if we had fur, goosebumps would serve a clear purpose. "Goosebumps happen involuntarily and are caused when a small muscle at the bottom of each hair follicle contracts, causing the hair to stand up—in animals this may actually form a layer of insulation," Dr. Caudle says. "They can occur due to cold air or also happen when we experience strong emotions such as shock, fear, anxiety, or even being inspired." According to the Cleveland Clinic, such situations trigger a flight-or-fight response in animals, so they raise their hair to create a bigger appearance in an attempt to scare off their enemy. This is why you get goosebumps when you listen to good music.You just can't stop yawning
WAYHOME STUDIO/SHUTTERSTOCKWhy we yawn is one of the biggest unsolved mysteries of the human body. But there are some theories. "Yawning is a natural reflex of the body that allows more oxygen to be inhaled," says Mehwish Awan Khan, MD, PIH Health family medicine physician. In this way, stretching out with a big yawn could be a way to wake us up. Another theory supported by research is that yawning has an effect on brain thermoregulation, and helps to cool it down. Whatever the cause, one studysuggested you can try nasal breathing to stop yawns from continually coming on.
WAYHOME STUDIO/SHUTTERSTOCKWhy we yawn is one of the biggest unsolved mysteries of the human body. But there are some theories. "Yawning is a natural reflex of the body that allows more oxygen to be inhaled," says Mehwish Awan Khan, MD, PIH Health family medicine physician. In this way, stretching out with a big yawn could be a way to wake us up. Another theory supported by research is that yawning has an effect on brain thermoregulation, and helps to cool it down. Whatever the cause, one studysuggested you can try nasal breathing to stop yawns from continually coming on.Saliva is constantly flowing into your mouth
SRUILK/SHUTTERSTOCKAnyone who's ever gotten a wet willy knows saliva can be downright disgusting. But it's crucial for oral health and digestion. "The purpose of saliva is to moisten food to make it easier to swallow," Dr. Khan says. In addition, saliva "assists with taste and improves mouth hygiene by preventing mouth infections and tooth decay," Dr. Caudle says. But what exactly is saliva? "It mostly consists of water, but has other chemicals and enzymes as well," Dr. Caudle says. "Saliva is produced by the salivary glands, which secrete about two to four pints, or about one to two liters, of saliva every day." Having loads of spit is actually preferable to a dry mouth, which can lead to bad breath and bacterial infection. Read about more strange body parts and their surprising purposes.
SRUILK/SHUTTERSTOCKAnyone who's ever gotten a wet willy knows saliva can be downright disgusting. But it's crucial for oral health and digestion. "The purpose of saliva is to moisten food to make it easier to swallow," Dr. Khan says. In addition, saliva "assists with taste and improves mouth hygiene by preventing mouth infections and tooth decay," Dr. Caudle says. But what exactly is saliva? "It mostly consists of water, but has other chemicals and enzymes as well," Dr. Caudle says. "Saliva is produced by the salivary glands, which secrete about two to four pints, or about one to two liters, of saliva every day." Having loads of spit is actually preferable to a dry mouth, which can lead to bad breath and bacterial infection. Read about more strange body parts and their surprising purposes.Sebum is layering itself all over your face
TORWAISTUDIO/SHUTTERSTOCKAlthough too much oil can be a bad thing, you need some of the bodily fluid called sebum to keep your skin moisturized and healthy. "We are a nation obsessed with that 'squeaky clean feeling' and antibacterial soap," says Whitney Bowe, MD, author of The Beauty of Dirty Skin. "If your skin feels stripped or squeaky clean after you cleanse, you are harming your skin's healthy barrier and drying it out." Our sebaceous glands produce the oily substance called sebum to lubricate and waterproof our skin, deliver important nutrients, and protect our skin against environmental pollutants and free radical damage, she says. "Our skin's natural barrier is critical to our skin's health, so use a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser when washing and refrain from scrubbing or using harsh products," Dr. Bowe says. "If we over-cleanse and strip away too much of our skin's healthy oils, our skin tends to over-correct and pumps out even more oil, which can contribute to breakouts and other skin issues."
These myths about oily skin could be ruining your complexion.
TORWAISTUDIO/SHUTTERSTOCKAlthough too much oil can be a bad thing, you need some of the bodily fluid called sebum to keep your skin moisturized and healthy. "We are a nation obsessed with that 'squeaky clean feeling' and antibacterial soap," says Whitney Bowe, MD, author of The Beauty of Dirty Skin. "If your skin feels stripped or squeaky clean after you cleanse, you are harming your skin's healthy barrier and drying it out." Our sebaceous glands produce the oily substance called sebum to lubricate and waterproof our skin, deliver important nutrients, and protect our skin against environmental pollutants and free radical damage, she says. "Our skin's natural barrier is critical to our skin's health, so use a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser when washing and refrain from scrubbing or using harsh products," Dr. Bowe says. "If we over-cleanse and strip away too much of our skin's healthy oils, our skin tends to over-correct and pumps out even more oil, which can contribute to breakouts and other skin issues."
These myths about oily skin could be ruining your complexion.
Your skin is shedding all over the place
TATEVOSIAN YANA/SHUTTERSTOCKIt's true—you're living among piles of dead human skin cells. "Over the course of a day, we shed almost a million dead skin cells, approximately 30,000 to 40,000 every hour of any given day," Dr. Bowe says. "Our stratum corneum [outermost layer of skin] consists of about 15 to 20 layers of dead skin cells, which shed to allow new living cells to push up from beneath them." This organic material is a major contributor to household dust—which some people find gross to contemplate. Though one interesting study found these dead skin cells may have a positive contribution to your environment. Skin cell dust may chemically react with ozone to actually improve indoor air pollution. For skin care, it is important to exfoliate dead skin gently, so it doesn't clog pores. Find out more incredible things the human body does every minute.
TATEVOSIAN YANA/SHUTTERSTOCKIt's true—you're living among piles of dead human skin cells. "Over the course of a day, we shed almost a million dead skin cells, approximately 30,000 to 40,000 every hour of any given day," Dr. Bowe says. "Our stratum corneum [outermost layer of skin] consists of about 15 to 20 layers of dead skin cells, which shed to allow new living cells to push up from beneath them." This organic material is a major contributor to household dust—which some people find gross to contemplate. Though one interesting study found these dead skin cells may have a positive contribution to your environment. Skin cell dust may chemically react with ozone to actually improve indoor air pollution. For skin care, it is important to exfoliate dead skin gently, so it doesn't clog pores. Find out more incredible things the human body does every minute.There are bugs crawling all over (and inside) you
FREEDARST/SHUTTERSTOCKYour body is a hotbed of activity for all sorts of microscopic creatures. But never fear—some of these "bugs" are actually good guys. "There are more than one trillion bacteria in the skin, originating from roughly one thousand different species," Dr. Bowe says. "Through their sheer strength in numbers, these friendly microbes can stop the advance of bad bugs, preventing an invasion and staving off skin infections." When in balance, our skin's "microbiome" is actually the key to a healthy complexion—and these good bugs work inside the body, too. "We want to try to get more probiotics into our diets, to help nourish the good bugs in our guts," Dr. Bowe says. When your intestinal microbiome is healthy, your body is, too. Here are more surprising ways your body can heal itself.
FREEDARST/SHUTTERSTOCKYour body is a hotbed of activity for all sorts of microscopic creatures. But never fear—some of these "bugs" are actually good guys. "There are more than one trillion bacteria in the skin, originating from roughly one thousand different species," Dr. Bowe says. "Through their sheer strength in numbers, these friendly microbes can stop the advance of bad bugs, preventing an invasion and staving off skin infections." When in balance, our skin's "microbiome" is actually the key to a healthy complexion—and these good bugs work inside the body, too. "We want to try to get more probiotics into our diets, to help nourish the good bugs in our guts," Dr. Bowe says. When your intestinal microbiome is healthy, your body is, too. Here are more surprising ways your body can heal itself.You have really weird thoughts
WAYHOME STUDIO/SHUTTERSTOCKHave you ever imagined shouting out in church, swerving your car, or pushing someone in front of a train? You're not alone: Over 93 percent of people in a recent study had at least one "intrusive thought" in the past three months. "Intrusive thoughts are unwanted thoughts or images that seem to pop into our minds against our wishes, and often focus on the thing that would be most inappropriate in a setting or the thing that we most fear," says Hannah Reese, PhD, an assistant psychology professor at Bowdoin College. "For this reason, they are usually upsetting or distressing to the person having the thought." The problem is not actually having the thought, but that as soon as we try not to think about it, our mind starts monitoring whether or not we are thinking about it, which actually makes the thoughts happen more frequently, she says. "So, when we experience an intrusive thought, it is best to recognize it for what it is, not take it seriously, and let it fade away on its own," Dr. Reese says. If you find yourself unable to do this, you could consider seeing a psychologist. Read about more weird compulsions that are totally normal—and others you should worry about.
WAYHOME STUDIO/SHUTTERSTOCKHave you ever imagined shouting out in church, swerving your car, or pushing someone in front of a train? You're not alone: Over 93 percent of people in a recent study had at least one "intrusive thought" in the past three months. "Intrusive thoughts are unwanted thoughts or images that seem to pop into our minds against our wishes, and often focus on the thing that would be most inappropriate in a setting or the thing that we most fear," says Hannah Reese, PhD, an assistant psychology professor at Bowdoin College. "For this reason, they are usually upsetting or distressing to the person having the thought." The problem is not actually having the thought, but that as soon as we try not to think about it, our mind starts monitoring whether or not we are thinking about it, which actually makes the thoughts happen more frequently, she says. "So, when we experience an intrusive thought, it is best to recognize it for what it is, not take it seriously, and let it fade away on its own," Dr. Reese says. If you find yourself unable to do this, you could consider seeing a psychologist. Read about more weird compulsions that are totally normal—and others you should worry about.Your dreams push boundaries
OLENA YAKOBCHUK/SHUTTERSTOCKSpeaking of weird images you can't get out of your head, no doubt you've experienced a bizarre dream or two. Scientists still haven't been able to explain the purpose of these strange reveries, but theories include filtering information and boosting learning and memory. Here's another theory that sleep expert Richard Shane, PhD, creator of the Sleep Easily method, subscribes to: "Dreams are an expanded state of consciousness, beyond the limits of our usual linear thinking, so they can help loosen the constriction and excess control in thoughts, emotions, and body that builds up during the day," he says. "That is a source of rejuvenation and the restful quality we get from sleep." Find out more surprising things your dreams reveal about you.
OLENA YAKOBCHUK/SHUTTERSTOCKSpeaking of weird images you can't get out of your head, no doubt you've experienced a bizarre dream or two. Scientists still haven't been able to explain the purpose of these strange reveries, but theories include filtering information and boosting learning and memory. Here's another theory that sleep expert Richard Shane, PhD, creator of the Sleep Easily method, subscribes to: "Dreams are an expanded state of consciousness, beyond the limits of our usual linear thinking, so they can help loosen the constriction and excess control in thoughts, emotions, and body that builds up during the day," he says. "That is a source of rejuvenation and the restful quality we get from sleep." Find out more surprising things your dreams reveal about you.You suddenly jerk awake
PHOTOMEDIAGROUP/SHUTTERSTOCKYou know the feeling: You're about to fall asleep when suddenly your whole body twitches. This "hypnic jerk" or "sleep start" might even be accompanied by a feeling of falling. According to the National Sleep Foundation, up to 70 percent of people sometimes have them. They're nothing to worry about—although scientists don't know exactly why they happen. Hypnic jerks are likely caused by a natural down regulation of your body that may be misinterpreted by the brain as a reason for concern. "We often hold tension in our muscles from stress during the day," Dr. Shane says. "When we begin to relax on the way to sleep, sometimes that tension releases as a jerk." On the other hand, here are strange things you didn't know were wrecking your sleep.
PHOTOMEDIAGROUP/SHUTTERSTOCKYou know the feeling: You're about to fall asleep when suddenly your whole body twitches. This "hypnic jerk" or "sleep start" might even be accompanied by a feeling of falling. According to the National Sleep Foundation, up to 70 percent of people sometimes have them. They're nothing to worry about—although scientists don't know exactly why they happen. Hypnic jerks are likely caused by a natural down regulation of your body that may be misinterpreted by the brain as a reason for concern. "We often hold tension in our muscles from stress during the day," Dr. Shane says. "When we begin to relax on the way to sleep, sometimes that tension releases as a jerk." On the other hand, here are strange things you didn't know were wrecking your sleep.You are constantly swallowing snot
SYDA PRODUCTIONS/SHUTTERSTOCKEven if you're not consciously hocking a loogie, snot is always there sliding down your throat. Gross, right? But mucus is actually crucial in keeping your body healthy, according to research. "Mucus helps protect very important passages in the body such as the nose, throat, lungs, and the digestive tract," Dr. Khan says. "It helps keep these passages well-moistened and prevents unwanted organisms from entering." How much of this slippery substance do we create? "Humans produce about a liter of mucus a day," Dr. Khan says. Read about more necessary explanations for body gunk.
SYDA PRODUCTIONS/SHUTTERSTOCKEven if you're not consciously hocking a loogie, snot is always there sliding down your throat. Gross, right? But mucus is actually crucial in keeping your body healthy, according to research. "Mucus helps protect very important passages in the body such as the nose, throat, lungs, and the digestive tract," Dr. Khan says. "It helps keep these passages well-moistened and prevents unwanted organisms from entering." How much of this slippery substance do we create? "Humans produce about a liter of mucus a day," Dr. Khan says. Read about more necessary explanations for body gunk.- লিঙ্ক পান
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