Although commonly felt and sometimes tasted, tears still ignite a sense of curiosity among few individuals. There are some people who still dare to ask why tears are salty.

To answer such question, one should first understand that the human body is made up of 60 percent water, according to ScienceLine. And the water that makes up the body contains salt ion. Thus, making a tear, which is a water form, also salty.

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However, the salt ion content found in tears are not the only properties which make them salty. Tears also contain other materials important to proper eye function like protein, which also contributes to its salty taste.

As an overview, tears are produced by the tear glands, known as lacrimal. These glands are situated above each eyeball. The said glands continually secrete a small amount of salty fluid, which are then distributed over the surface of the eyes through the action of blinking.

Apart from helping the eye function to its fullest, tears are released by the body, remove irritants, reduce stress hormones, and fight pathogenic microbes, according to Psychology Today. It helps the body cleanse itself physically and emotionally.

Moreover, the emotional tears also have its own benefits. When you experience sadness, grief, anxiety, and frustration, the body's release valve for stress would then manifest.

These emotional tears are different from reflex tears that are often observed when blinking. The emotional tears contain stress hormones which get excreted from the body through the process known as crying.

The hormones and other toxins tend to accumulate during the stress period. And when a person cries due to any stress-induced events, the body is somehow cleansed from such toxins. That is why one may feel relaxed or relieved after shedding some tears. Therefore, making tears an essential element of the human body.

Watch here below how types of tears: