The Health Benefits Of Sweating

Sweating is a natural response to temperature, exercise and certain situations. As inconvenient as sweating can sometimes be, it really is good for you.

WHY IS SWEATING GOOD FOR YOU?

In essence, sweat is just water mixed with salt. It is the body’s natural method of monitoring its temperature. Your body has on average 2.6 million sweat glands. They are found on almost every part of your body.

HOW SWEAT GLANDS WORK

The main job of the sweat glands is keeping the body cool. Your body learns to react to signals that you are in a warm, stressed or physically demanding environment by putting on its natural cooling system: sweat.

All sweat glands are made up of two main parts – the coiled section where sweat is produced and the duct that acts as the pathway for the sweat to reach the surface of the skin.

It is important to distinguish between the two main types of sweat glands. The eccrine glands are the most common, and the ones found all over the body. Meanwhile, apocrine glands are larger, usually found on the armpits and more likely to be the site of sweat odour.

Sweat is caused when the sweat glands are triggered and secrete water and salt.

Did you know that sweat doesn’t smell? The odour does not actually come from the sweat itself. Instead, the body odour comes from the bacteria on the skin eating up the sweat at the apocrine glands. This is why the most important part of your body to apply your anti-perspirant to is your underarms to stop armpit sweat.

WHEN TO EMBRACE SWEAT AND WHEN TO GIVE IT THE COLD SHOULDER

Sweating can have great health benefits, but sometimes you want the confidence of dry underarms. Here are three of the best ways to get your sweat on and the reasons why they are so good for you:

SWEATING IN THE SAUNA

When you go to a sauna or steam room, you turn up your body’s natural thermostat. As you sweat, you are flushing out toxins. The heat from the sauna also releases endorphins, the feel good chemicals.

SWEATING DURING A WORKOUT

It is a misconception that sweating when exercising means you are out of shape. In fact, it is thought that the body produces sweat early on in your workout to stop you overheating.

SWEATING IN A FACIAL

Facials that involve steam encourage your skin to sweat. This opens up the pores and allows any dead skin cells and dirt to be removed. What may start as a sweaty treatment can leave your skin glowing and rejuvenated.