If you exercise on a regular basis, then sweating may already be a part of your life. But if you’re one of those people who hate to sweat, it’s time to rethink your position. Turns out that sweating offers some real health benefits!
You may think of sweat as nothing but recycling the water you put into your body. There’s a lot more to it. We sweat for good reasons. That liquid on your brow, under your arms, and elsewhere is made of:
- Water
- Amino Acids
- Proteins
- Salt
It’s also impacted by hormones and our health status, including viruses or bacteria that are inside us. The reason we sweat is to keep our body at the right temperature through all kinds of stress, whether it’s physical or emotional. Not only does it cool us down, but it also gets rid of toxins.
11 reasons you should sweat daily
1. Get rid of heavy metals
Heavy metals like mercury, lead, arsenic, and cadmium pollute our environment. We take them in without knowing it. One of the best ways to get rid of them is to sweat them out.
In fact, a recent study done in China found that people who exercised lost toxins through their sweat and had lower levels in their body than those who didn’t exercise. (1)
2. Get rid of PCBs and BPAs
In addition to heavy metals, we take in other contaminants that can harm us, including Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and Bisphenol A (BPA).
One of the worst of these is BPA, which is found in a lot of water bottles and consumer goods. Sweat helps get rid of these endocrine disruptors.
3. That glow will clean your skin
If you want to improve your skin, try sweating! It turns out that our sweat contains important elements to make your skin healthier and encourage cell turnover. No more zits and fresh, younger looking skin!
4. Sweat kills germs
It might be hard to think of sweat in the same way as hand sanitizer, but it turns out that sweating can cut your risk of flu. It does so by attaching to germs and viruses in the body and carrying them outside to your skin’s surface.
5. It’s heart healthy
Whether you’re sweating from a 5-mile run or from sitting in a sauna, both make you less likely to have a heart attack. Both are great for lowering blood pressure and helping you deal with stress.
6. Sweating aids in post-exercise recovery
Your sweat is doing more than cooling you off. It also helps your body deliver blood to muscles. This means faster recovery. And it even helps your body make growth hormone faster.
7. It’s great for stress relief
Not only does exercise make you feel good, but sweating helps your body relax by boosting dopamine and reducing your levels of cortisol. That means greater happiness and less stress!
8. Cuts your risk of brain issues
Alzheimer’s and other degenerative brain diseases have been linked to the accumulation of heavy metals in the body. Sweating helps to carry them out. It also increases blood flow to the brain.
One study done in Finland showed that men who used a sauna once a week had a lowered risk of Alzheimer’s disease. (2)
9. Makes you sexy
When you’ve just finished a run, you probably don’t think of yourself as attractive, but your partner may.
Turns out that sweat has pheromones in it. When we excrete pheromones, we are more attractive to the opposite sex.
10. Cuts down on hot flashes
When you sweat on purpose, you cut down on sweating you can’t control – meaning hot flashes. Studies have shown that menopausal women who sweat and boost their heart rate have fewer hot flashes. (3)
11. Cuts your risk of kidney stones
Your sweat contains salt and calcium, both of which can lead to kidney stones. Sweating carries it out and keeps your body at the right balance.
The right way to sweat
You don’t have to run a marathon to sweat. Try to get out and exercise once a day – even a brisk walk will help. If you aren’t in shape to work up a sweat, try to find a sauna. It has the same effect. Just make sure that you check in with your doctor, especially if you have a heart condition or have high blood pressure. Make sure that sweating is healthy for you, and be sure to hydrate.
So get out there and work up a sweat — however you can! Your body will thank you for it.
You might also like:
Ready to Take Fitness to the Next Level? Try Infrared Sauna!
Don’t Fear the Cold Weather- Shivering is Good for You!
8 Reasons Your Skin Wants You To Workout
Yours in health and happiness,
Danette
P.S. Please share this article with your friends and I want to hear from you in the comments below. Do you like to sweat?
