what is snot made of

Snot, or nasal mucus, is produced by glands that line the nose and throat. It is mostly water combined with protein, salt, and a few chemicals. Mucus has a slimy, sticky consistency that traps potentially harmful substances in the environment, such as pollen, viruses, and germs. The nose and throat produce about a quart or more of mucus a day, most of which mixes with saliva and is swallowed, but some stay in the nose. When you have a cold, your nose and sinuses are more vulnerable to a bacterial infection. A cold virus can trigger the body to release histamine, a chemical that inflames your nasal membranes and causes them to produce a lot of mucus. Mucus can act as both a defense against infection and a means of ridding the body of what is causing inflammation in the first place. When mucus remains in the nose and starts to dry out, it becomes dried nasal mucus or a booger. Boogers are made of dried mucus.