Many people have fears of sweating. Pit stains during a class or being gawked at after a tough workout- judgment is everywhere. Very few people get over this fear. However, there is a great way to get over fear or embarrassment and that is to think of all the benefits of the subject. Sweat doesn’t just mean your heart is beating rapidly. There are many other reasons why our bodies need to sweat.
Everyone has that one friend who always goes to the gym or sauna when they have a hangover to “sweat it out.” They are right. Sweat is used as a channel for your body to get rid of excess salt, alcohol and cholesterol. By releasing these, it allows you to debloat, increase the flow of blood throughout your body and can release endorphins into the brain that make you feel elated. It acts as an all-natural aspirin for a hangover.
The increase in blood flow also has the added benefit of increasing your body’s ability to adapt to frequent temperature changes. When walking to class in the blazing heat during the summer months or getting stuck in the hottest classroom on campus, sweating regularly by being active can help prevent you from being a hot sticky mess while taking notes in Biology.
Being active and breaking a sweat can be great for breakouts, too. Now you can say goodbye to having that annoying, bumpy skin. It’s a natural way to clear your skin of pollutants and bacteria from the air and make-up. Lots of people who are active and maintain a habit of sweating are those who get sick less often. Sweat glands house important cells that help heal your skin of cuts and scars from breakouts. Among these cells is the antibiotic called dermcidin which helps defend the immune system. Sweat acts like an antibacterial ointment for your skin cuts and immune system by helping breaking down germs in and around your pores.
If you or a friend are having trouble with break-outs, get frequent colds, or are possibly stressed out with school, relationship trouble, or just not feeling as good as you could be, try hitting the gym with a buddy. Go try that Zumba or hot yoga class you’ve been too nervous to try or just go for a short run. With benefits like these from sweating during a workout, the only bad workout is not doing one.