By Alan Knight
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| Courtesy of flickr.com |
Let’s face it, sweat has always gotten a bad rap. Think
about it. There are sweatshops, sweat stains, sweatboxes and Richard Simmons’
Sweating to the Oldies.’ Glance over the health and beauty aisles in your local
grocery store and you’ll see dozen of antiperspirants and deodorants to either
stop you from sweating or at minimum, to mask the odor that lingers after a
long day of perspiring. Sweating definitely needs an image makeover (sorry
Richard) because sweat is vital to your health.
Not only is sweat necessary, it is sexy. Think of the
eye-catching images of athletes in top form, with beads of perspiration rolling
down their bodies. This is the epitome of health where the benefits of sweating
far outdo the negatives. Let’s discuss why these droplets of salt water are so
good for you.
THE
SCIENCE BEHIND SWEATING
First of all, let’s look at the facts. Whether you are
engaged in physical activity or simply lolling in the hot sun, your body knows
when it needs to cool down. Our internal temperature is about 98.6 degrees, so
your body gets a little temperamental when that temperature fluctuates even by
a degree or so. It’s time for the 4 million or so of your sweat glands to get
going. Essentially your body is responding to a change that it neither
appreciates nor wants.
As the sweat starts to pour from your pores, the water
begins to evaporate which cools the skin. It’s your body’s built-in HVAC system
that you literally can’t live without. Anhidrosis is the inability to sweat
normally in response to heat. When you don’t perspire your body does not have
the ability to cool itself, which can lead to heat stroke, a potentially deadly
condition.
ALAS,
THE BENEFITS
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| Courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org |
The benefits of sweating are numerous since it’s a natural
bodily function and nature’s way of protecting your internal organs. But let’s
not limit this process to an internal air conditioning system, because sweating
also offers some surprising benefits for your health and beauty.
IT CLEARS
YOUR SKIN
Your pores open up when you sweat which releases the grit
and grime that has built up inside them. Essentially sweating purges the body
of toxins that can clog pores that cause pimples and blemishes. All of the dirt and toxins from your pores is
released onto the surface of your skin which makes it important to wash your
face thoroughly to achieve a healthy glow.
IT
REMOVES TOXINS FROM INSIDE THE BODY
Thought about going on a detox diet? A little juicing
perhaps? The body releases toxins by using sweat as the body’s garbage disposal
Have you ever imbibed a bit too much and
noticed that your sweat may have the scent of alcohol? That’s not just your
foggy imagination. Many experts agree that sweating can flush the body of
substances such as alcohol, cholesterol and salt. That helps take care of a
hangovers, clogged arteries and high blood pressure in one good perspiration
session.
IT’S
THE ENEMY OF KIDNEY STONES
Everyone knows that a bout of kidney stones can be an
absolute nightmare and the sheer thought of that diagnosis will bring many men
to their knees. Fear no more. Sweating can be an effective way of flushing out
the salt and retaining calcium in your bones. As a result, this limits the
accumulation of salt and calcium in the kidneys which is the direct cause of
stone formation. In addition, those who exercise regularly (and sweat more)
tend to hydrate themselves more often and flush their system more efficiently which
helps to control the onset of kidney stones.
“A study presented
at the 2013 American Urological Association conference in San Diego, Calif.,
found that walking for a couple of hours a week could substantially cut the
risk for developing kidney stones. Mild to moderate activity changes the way
the body handles nutrients and fluids that affect stone formation. Sweating
helps flush out the system more efficiently because it demands more hydration
from the body.” (http://www.medicaldaily.com/sweat-it-out-5-surprising-health-benefits-sweating-actually-dont-stink-309718)
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| Courtesy of freestockphotos.biz |
IT BOOSTS ENDORPHINS, HELPS
WITH PAIN, REDUCES STRESS AND MORE
Physical
exercise and sweating go hand in hand. The more you exercise the more you
sweat. Pretty simple, right? The release of endorphins (your happy chemicals)
occurs when you exercise and sweat. Endorphins interact with the receptors in
your brain to reduce the perception of pain. They are also released when your
body is under undue stress to fight its negative effects. Endorphins literally
act similarly to drugs like morphine and codeine but without the side effects.
WASH YOUR SWEAT AWAY
It’s
awesome to work up a good sweat. You know all the good it does. Now it’s time
for the best part; the perfect shower or bath. There is nothing like the
feeling of jumping into a shower or bath after a good workout or just being
drenched with perspiration from being outside on a hot, summer day. Think of
that cool water running over your body cleansing you of the toxins and relaxing
every tired muscle.
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| Courtesy of Tubking.com |
Now that
you’re convinced you need to work up a sweat for your health and well-being,
wouldn’t you want to enhance the entire experience with a perfect shower or
bath? Purchase mineral salts or essential oils to add to the warm (or cool)
water in your soaking tub. They are deep water tubs meant for total relaxation
and luxury. Do you want something more invigorating? Take a contrast shower,
alternating between hot and cold water to get your blood circulating and feel
the relaxation afterwards. All that hard work has its rewards. So don’t sweat your sweat.
This
article discusses the many benefits of sweating. Whether it is through physical
activity or not, the benefits are numerous as your body strives to cool itself
naturally. Ridding yourself of the toxins that have been flushed from your body
is the next step and this part is a necessary indulgence whether it is a bath
in a soaking tub or a shower with all the accessories. The choice is yours.
If you learned anything from this article, please make a comment or pass it along.
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Would you like to receive a free copy of our ebook - Tub King's Ultimate Guide to Cast Iron/Porcelain Tubs, Walk-in Tubs & Safety Suite Showers? Fill in the form below and we will send it to you for free or you can buy it on Amazon.com by clicking on this link.
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| At Tubking.com
Have a question? Feel free to contact me at the number or email listed at the end of this article and I will personally get back to you. It’s been my pleasure sharing this information with you.
Alan Knight is the owner of Tub King, Inc., and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville, Florida. He has many years of experience in the antique and senior bathtub industries. His companies not only provide superior products, the company is also multiple time award winner, receiving the “Best of Jacksonville Chamber Award” four years running. If you would like to contact him, call (800) 409-3375 or (800) 843-4231; or email them at alan@tubking.com. |
