Hot and sticky come to mind when we think of sweating. However, sweating has a number of health benefits that go beyond that initial impression, including:
benefits of physical exertion detoxification of heavy metals, chemicals, and bacteria sweating during exercise sweating frequently occurs during physical exertion. A lot of the time, exercising has a number of positive effects on one's health, such as:
Boosting energy, maintaining healthy weight, protecting against many diseases and health conditions, improving mood, and promoting good sleep.
Heavy metals detox:
Although there are varying views on sweat detoxification, a 2016 study in China by found that people who exercised regularly had lower levels of most heavy metals.
Heavy metals were found in both the sweat and the urine, with the sweat having a higher concentration of heavy metals than the urine. This led to the conclusion that sweating, in addition to urinating, might be a way to get rid of heavy metals.
Elimination of BPA:
BPA, also known as bisphenol A, is a chemical used in the production of certain plastics and resins. The Mayo Clinic says that the brain and behavior may be affected by BPA exposure, which may also be linked to high blood pressure.
A study done in 2011 by found that sweat is a good way to get rid of BPAs and a tool for monitoring BPA bioaccumulation.
Elimination of PCBs:
Polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs, are organic chemicals made by humans that have been shown to have a number of negative effects on health. According to a 2013 ISRN Toxicology article, sweat may aid in the elimination of some PCBs from the body.
The article also stated that sweating did not appear to aid in the elimination of the most prevalent PCBs in the human body:
Perfluoro hexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluoro octane sulfonate (PFOS) Bacterial cleansing According to a 2015 study, the glycoproteins in sweat bind to bacteria and facilitate their elimination from the body. Microbial adhesion in sweat and its impact on skin infections are the subject of additional study, according to the article.
What is sweat exactly?
Perspiration, or sweat, is mostly water mixed with a few chemicals like:
ammonia urea salts sugar
When you exercise, have a fever, or are nervous, you sweat. Your body cools itself by sweating. Your sweat glands secrete water to the skin's surface when your internal temperature rises. Your skin and the blood under your skin are cooled as the sweat evaporates.
Hyperhidrosis is when you sweat more than your body needs to regulate your temperature. Hyperhidrosis can be brought on by a number of things, like low blood sugar and problems with the nervous system or thyroid.
Anhidrosis is the condition in which you sweat insufficiently. Overheating can be deadly from anhidrosis. Burns, dehydration, and a few disorders of the skin and nerves are among the causes of anhidrosis.
Why is sweat odorous?
Sweat actually doesn't smell. The sweat mixes with things like bacteria on your skin or hormones secretions from your armpits, which are what cause the smell.
The Takeaway:
When you exercise or have a fever, your body will naturally sweat. Sweat has numerous other advantages, including the ability to rid your body of PCBs, BPAs, and heavy metals, which we associate with temperature control.
