What Happens if You Drink Your Own Spit? The Surprising Truth

The Basics: What is Saliva Made Of?

Saliva, aka spit, is often overlooked as just something that pools in your mouth, especially when you're nervously waiting for something important. But hey, it’s a complex liquid! You may be surprised to learn that it's made up of water, enzymes, electrolytes, mucus, and antibacterial compounds. It helps break down food, fight infections, and even keeps your mouth moist.

So, what happens if you decide to drink it? Well, that's a whole different story.

Is It Safe to Drink Your Own Saliva?

Alright, let’s get straight to the point: drinking your own spit isn’t going to harm you. I know, sounds a bit weird, but hear me out. Our bodies produce saliva naturally for a reason—it’s part of the whole digestive and hygiene system. So, if you’re just swallowing saliva throughout the day, you're already drinking it without thinking twice.

The Benefits of Saliva: Really?

We’ve all heard the saying "spit it out," but saliva does actually have some benefits. It's full of enzymes like amylase, which help break down food as soon as it enters your mouth. These enzymes play a huge role in digestion and can even aid in breaking down starches. Some people claim that swallowing saliva can help with digestion (honestly, it makes sense when you think about it, right?). But then again, does this mean it’s somehow magically healthy? Eh, not really.

What Happens if You Drink Too Much Spit?

Now, let’s dive into a slightly more unusual scenario. What if, for some bizarre reason, you start deliberately drinking more saliva than normal? Are you going to suddenly become superhuman, or is this a bit of a gross overstep?

Could This Lead to Any Issues?

Honestly, it's not likely that drinking your own spit in moderate amounts will cause any harm. Your body is used to handling its own fluids. But if you’re constantly swallowing, it could lead to some mild discomfort. You might feel bloated or have a bit of a sore throat if you’re swallowing saliva too aggressively, especially if you’re already dehydrated.

I had a friend, let’s call him Tim, who went through a phase of experimenting with his own saliva (I know, odd choice). He thought it might be like some weird self-cleaning method, but after a while, he complained of a weird sensation in his throat. After a quick visit to the doc, he realized it was just his body’s way of saying, “Yo, chill out!”

Can Drinking Your Own Saliva Make You Sick?

Great question. If you’re concerned that swallowing your own spit could make you sick, don’t stress. As long as your saliva is produced under normal, healthy conditions, it won’t introduce harmful bacteria into your body. Your mouth is constantly full of bacteria, but here’s the kicker: the majority of those bacteria are harmless and live in balance. Saliva helps keep that balance in check.

When Should You Worry?

If you’re dealing with an infection (like a sore throat, mouth ulcers, or something else), the bacteria in your saliva could cause a bit of trouble. But that’s no reason to freak out. Just pay attention to your body. If you’re feeling off, it’s probably better to avoid swallowing too much saliva (or any other body fluid) when you're sick.

A Personal Take: My Weird Experiment

Okay, confession time. A while back, I tried this bizarre experiment out of curiosity. I was chatting with a colleague, Sarah, about saliva and we joked about how often we unintentionally swallow it. So, I decided to keep track of how much spit I swallowed in a day (yeah, I know, TMI, but bear with me). At first, I thought I was going to feel like a gross mess, but honestly, it was a lot less weird than I imagined. The only thing I noticed was that I got a bit more thirsty than usual, which makes sense considering how the body works.

Long story short, drinking your own saliva, as long as you’re not forcing it or doing it excessively, isn’t a big deal. But it’s not a miracle cure or anything. The body’s self-cleaning process is natural, and so long as you’re staying hydrated and healthy, your saliva is more of a help than a hindrance.

Final Thoughts: Should You Drink Your Own Spit?

In the grand scheme of things, drinking your own spit isn’t going to harm you. It’s actually a totally natural process that happens every day without you even thinking about it. However, if you find yourself fixated on it or doing it out of some odd habit, it’s a good idea to take a step back. Just like any bodily fluid, moderation is key.

Ultimately, your body is designed to manage all this by itself, so there’s no need to worry unless you’re dealing with something more serious (like illness). If you’re feeling weird about the whole spit-drinking thing, maybe it’s best to just stick with water and let your saliva do its job naturally.

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How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

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Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.