We Need To Sweat: Here Are The Benefits Of Sweating

When we see or smell sweat, many of us may think it’ssticky, hot, humid -- yuck! Then how can there be any benefits of sweating. Itgets a bad wrap. But the truth is -- we need sweat. So, we’re changing thenarrative of sweat because we believe the best things in life make you sweaty!From working out, to a hot summer day, or even the nervous sweats before afirst kiss or big presentation - perspiring reminds us that we are alive andmore importantly, we are living outside our comfort zones -- in an effort tobetter ourselves.

WHAT IS SWEAT

Also called perspiration, sweating is the release of asalt-based fluid from your sweat glands. Sweat or perspiration, is primarilywater with tiny amounts of chemicals, such as: urea, salts, ammonia, uric acid,lactic acid, vitamin C, fat, zinc, nickel, lead chromium and other substances.

Sweat is our body’s natural coolant, and it helps regulateour body temperature. When our internal temperature rises, our sweat glandsrelease water to the surface of our skin. As the water aka sweat evaporates, itcools your skin and your blood beneath your skin. That cool down especiallyafter working out is a game changer.

SWEAT SCIENCE: HOW IT WORKS

Our body’s are equipped with an average of three millionsweat glands (this doesn’t change from baby to adult, we don’t lose any orproduce any more sweat glands along the way!) Our autonomic nervous systemcontrols our sweating function. This is the part of the nervous system thatfunctions on its own -- without our conscious control. Those three millionsweat glands mentioned above, they actually are divided into two differenttypes of sweat glands: eccrine and apocrine. Here’s more on that and why it’s fascinating:

Eccrine (Common Sweat)

A type of simple sweat gland that is found in almost allregions of the skin. These glands produce sweat that reaches the surface of theskin by way of coiled ducts (tubes). The eccrine sweat gland produces alightweight, odorless sweat.

This light, watery sweat that happens when you’re walking onthe beach during a summer day, or when laying in an infrared sauna. This typeof sweat cools as it evaporates off your skin, and it’s the kind of sweat thatleaves you drenched when you exercise (or sauna!)

Apocrine (Stress Sweat)

The apocrine sweat glands are concentrated in the hairfollicles of the following parts of your body: scalp, armpits and groin.

The sweat produced from these glands feels thick, almostmilky,  and actually contains fat, whichcombined with the bacteria in these areas, becomes the distinct odor or yellowarmpit stains on beloved white shirts. This “body odor” arrives when theapocrine sweat breaks down and mixes with the bacteria on your skin and comesfrom the root hairs under your armpits, groin or scalp.

THE MANY BENEFITS OF SWEATING IT OUT

Not all sweat is treated equally. And because sweat cansmell a certain way, many may not enjoy “sweating it out” -- because of selfconsciousness. But sweating it out is vital to our bodies and extremelybeneficial. A good workout or an infrared sauna session can reap many benefits;such as detoxification of heavy metals, eliminations of chemicals and bacterialcleansing. Other benefits of sweating include: weight loss, improved skin,better sleep and boosting your immune system.

HEAVY METALS DETOX

Toxins of all kinds surround us everyday - heavy metals inour environment, hormones in our meat, and even pesticides on our produce.There are many differing opinions about detoxification of heavy metals throughsweat. But a 2016 study, found that heavy metals were found in the urine andsweat of all of its participants AND were more concentrated in sweat.Perspiring appears to be a potential method for the elimination of heavy metalsfrom the human body. The same study also indicated that the levels of heavymetals were lower in people who exercised regularly.

Regular workouts or infrared sauna sessions can helpdetoxify the body as it rids itself of accumulated highly toxic metals such aslead, mercury, nickel, alcohol, nicotine, sulphuric acid, and other organic andinorganic including salt. Speaking of salt, almost all processed, drive-thrufood has an insane amount of salt in it. Whenever we feel “bloated” or“swollen” we are probably retaining excess water (thanks to salt). Did you knowthat sweating is one of the most effective ways to rid your body of salt! Yep.Bye bye bloat!

CHEMICAL ELIMINATION

BPA elimination

BPA stands for bisphenol A. BPA is an industrial chemicalthat has been used to make certain plastics and resins since the 1960s. It canmost commonly be found in water bottles and containers that store food.

According to the Mayo Clinic, exposure to BPA is a concernbecause of possible health effects of BPA on the brain and prostate gland offetuses, infants and children. It can also affect children's behavior.Additional research suggests a possible link between BPA and increased bloodpressure.

In a 2011 study, it was concluded that sweat is an effectiveremoval route for BPA’s. The results of this study suggest that: 1) Sweattesting may be an additional tool for BPA bio-monitoring; and 2) Inducedsweating appears to be a clinically useful tool to facilitate the release ofBPA through the skin in order to eliminate this toxicant from the human body.

PCB elimination

PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are man-made organicchemicals consisting of carbon, hydrogen and chlorine atoms that can cause anumber of adverse health effects.

Manufactured from 1929 until manufacturing was banned in1979. They have a range of toxicity and vary in consistency from thin,light-colored liquids to yellow or black waxy solids. Although they are nolonger manufactured in the US, it can be found in cable insulation, oil basedpaints, plastics, etc.

A 2013 study in ISRN Toxicology, concluded that perspirationdoes appear to hasten the elimination of some PCB’s, but not all PCBs. Hey, wethink that’s still awesome!

BACTERIAL CLEANSING

A 2015 review suggests that glycoproteins in sweat actuallybinds to bacteria, helping to remove it from the body! Although furtherresearch is needed on the topic, it’s a great find!

SWEATING CAN HELP IMPROVE YOUR SKIN

The profuse sweating carries off deeply embedded impuritiesand dead skin cells. This leaves the skin glowing and immaculately clean. Whetherhitting the weights or breaking a sweat inside a sauna, get ready to glow!

Dr. Marisa Garshick, a dermatologist in New York City, hassaid that sweat helps to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the skin, which keepsthe skin healthy, promotes collagen production, and promotes new skin cellswhich keeps the skin looking glowing and is also helpful for anti-aging!

Anyone else ready to break a sweat in honor of glowing skin?

BETTER SLEEP

Insomnia affects 1 in 3 people. So, let’s talk about sleepand how sweat can help it. Sweat can promote relaxation, balance stresshormones and naturally calm the nervous system.

Breaking a good sweat improves sleep for many people.Specifically when doing moderate-to-vigorous exercise, it can increase sleepquality for adults by reducing sleep onset – or shorten the time it takes tocatch some zzz’s, and the best part? You’ll wake less frequently too.

BOOSTING YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

A recent review published in the Journal of Sport and HealthScience found that obesity and inactivity can lower the function of the immunesystem, but engaging in a healthy exercise and diet can help improve the immunesystem. In another article, Dr. David Nieman has said that, “Each time youexercise, the activity increases the exchange of important white blood cellsbetween peripheral tissues—which help with the body’s immune response—and thecirculation (blood and lymph vessels).” This increases the activity of immunecells in the bloodstream looking for infections or viruses.

An infrared sauna can raise our core body temperature. Theartificial fever that occurs from an infrared sauna is the body’s naturalmechanism to strengthen and accelerate the immune response. An enhanced immunesystem, combined with improved elimination of toxins and wastes via intensesweating, increases your overall health and resistance to disease.

SWEAT AIN’T GOING ANYWHERE EXCEPT LEAVING YOUR BODY!

Sweating is a natural function of your body when youexercise, get nervous, have a fever or are sitting in an infrared sauna.Although we associate it with a smell, color or look, there are many benefitsof sweating. It is essential and we need it. The benefits it has been shown toprovide, should get us excited to break a sweat and reap the rewards! Fromclear skin to detoxification. Sweat is our friend.

Join us on Instagram and learn more about the way PerspireSauna studios can help with your health and wellness!

Sources:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/bpa/faq-20058331

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-we-sweat/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perspiration

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26903134/

https://www.epa.gov/pcbs/learn-about-polychlorinated-biphenyls-pcbs

https://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn/2013/483832/

https://academic.oup.com/glycob/article/26/3/218/2355446

https://www.insider.com/how-does-working-out-impact-your-skin-good-bad-ways-2019-6

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7205734/

https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a32801576/exercise-during-coronavirus-immune-system-study/

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