The Science of Sweating: Why We Do It and How to Stay Fresh

Our body's cooling system contains between two to five million sweat glands scattered across our skin.

Sweat is vital for maintaining body temperature balance. Overheating can be dangerous, potentially leading to heat stroke, extreme fatigue, and even exhaustion and dehydration. Sweating helps cool the body down.

Through sweating, we cleanse the body of toxins and heavy metals that enter via the food we consume, the air we breathe, and substances we apply on our skin. The body attempts to expel metals like nickel, lead, arsenic, and copper, and sweating is one method of doing so.

Sweating due to dynamic physical activity best removes heavy metals. Sweating in a sauna alleviates pain, especially from rheumatic diseases like arthritis and headaches. Saunas also enhance memory and can prevent Alzheimer's.

Sweat naturally moisturizes the skin, improving its texture and elasticity. It contains substances with natural antibiotic properties, which can fight bacteria that contaminate the skin and serve as a natural protector (though if sweat lingers too long without washing, it can lead to pimples).

Certain conditions can exacerbate sweating—primarily blood sugar imbalances. Even when blood tests show normal levels, consuming high-carb and processed foods increases sweating. Overactive thyroid glands also result in excessive sweating.

Here are some tips to help reduce this troubling phenomenon:

A tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with a bit of honey in a glass of water, twice daily.

Sage infusions—a fantastic plant with multiple benefits. It dries, making it suitable for excessive sweating (not recommended for nursing mothers).

Mint, verbena, and chamomile are cooling herbs. Additionally, it's advised to consume foods with cooling energy, like cucumber, green leaves, watermelon, cold drinks, and best of all, cool water.

Coffee, tea, and caffeinated drinks in any form increase sweating—as the body wants to rid itself of harmful substances. Likewise, spicy seasonings and fried foods will amplify sweating because they possess hot energy, which raises body temperature.