Our bodies are wonderful but just a little strange sometimes. You know what we mean—haven’t you ever wondered why those little bumps pop up when we’re cold and why we have an appendix? We decided to see what answers we could find for all those body mysteries.
Goose bumps. When we’re cold or afraid, a tiny muscle at the base of body hair contracts causing the skin around the hair to pucker into a mini-hill. Leftover from our cavewoman days, this automatic reflex would warm our bodies if we had as much hair as our cavewoman predecessors. Like a cat, those hairs standing on end made prehistoric ancestors look more intimidating to predators, which also explains why we get goose bumps at scary movies.
Tears from onions. Gas released from onions floats to our eyeballs and reacts, producing a mild form of acid. Tears are just the body’s way of flushing out the nasty stuff. Here’s a little hint: Put the onion in the freezer before slicing. That’ll reduce the amount of those gases.
Cracking joints. When two bones are connected, like in the knuckles, they come together inside a capsule that contains fluid and dissolved gases. When you stretch your fingers, you force those gases to escape, making that crunchy sound. The bottom line: There’s no harm in cracking your knuckles. And if you hear cracks when doing yoga, it might actually mean you’re pretty flexible.
Ears that keep growing. It’s weird but true. Up until about 10 years old, ears grow quickly, then they settle down to a superslow pace. But they don’t stop. (It’s just the outer ear that continues expanding, not the inner part with the ear canal.)
Pins and needles feeling. When your foot, arm, or even butt “falls asleep,” it means that you’re positioned in a way that cuts circulation to a nerve, blocking the signals to the brain. Once you scoot over, you’ll feel the tingling, which is the messages going back to the brain. (If you don’t feel the tingling when you readjust or this starts happening more often, it could signal a problem worth getting checked by a doctor.)
Side stitches. When you run or laugh a whole lot, you’re gulping in air—pushing down on the diaphragm. At the same time, your abdominal muscles contract and push up on the diaphragm. When it happens again and again, the result is that pain in the side. Focusing on slow, deep breathing can settle it down.
The existence of the appendix. Researchers think they’ve finally figured out exactly what the appendix does. Evidently, it produces gut-protecting good bacteria, like the kind found in yogurt. But it’s still not crucial—so don’t worry if you’ve had yours removed.
Those onionswill get you everytime. Thanks for the tip !!!
Dress Up a Plain Suit
