Many people are often in doubt and ask the question is it bad to swallow phlegm. In order to understand whether swallowing phlegm is harmful for the body, it is important to understand exactly what phlegm is and the roles it plays in the maintenance and functioning of the human body. Phlegm is essentially a sticky material that is created by the mucous membranes in the respiratory system and seems to appear differently colored depending on the infection that it is fighting at the time. For example, if a person is suffering from an infection of some sort, the phlegm should appear greenish brown. Under normal circumstances, however, the phlegm should be clear. The development of excess phlegm in the chest area is a very common condition and almost every one of us has suffered from it at some point in time during the course of our lives. Excessive phlegm production could be triggered by the development of a number of illnesses, allergic reactions or even sinusitis. Some of the most common causes of the development of phlegm include influenza, pneumonia, bronchitis, viral infections as well as the knock on effect that inhaling irritants while smoking cigarettes has on the body.
Contrary to a number of regional beliefs, swallowing phlegm is not harmful to the human body in anyway. This is because once it has found its way into the stomach; the digestive juices present in the stomach serve to destroy any infections that may still be alive at this point. The aversion to swallowing the mucus is more of a personal one with some choosing to spit it out while others choose to swallow the phlegm. A lot also has to do with the kind of environment one is in at the time. For example, if you are in a plush and exquisite public place or gathering, it is unlikely that you will want to spit out the phlegm as it will not be seen as socially appropriate. However, were you alone in a bathroom, then spitting out the infection with the phlegm would be advisable - but again, the swallowing alternative is not harmful in anyway. It helps to know that the stomach lining is replaced every week, thereby laying to rest any type of stress that you might endure because of being unsure about the effects that ingesting the phlegm might have on a more long term basis. The stomach acids register at a value of about pH 4 - making them very strong and definitely concentrated enough to kill the infection in the ingested phlegm.
answered by G R