What Is The Purpose Of Sweating?

What is the purpose of sweating, you suddenly asked yourself. You have been doing all sorts of physical activities all your life, where you found yourself sweating every time. Why does this happen, and what does it mean?

The human body is surprisingly made up of 60% water. Actually it is anywhere between 55 and 78% water depending on age, body size and gender. Our blood is about 83% water, for the most part, used to distribute various nutrients, oxygen and other vital substances to the cells residing inside our bodies. Blood also functions to remove unwanted metabolic wastes.

Water itself is a critical component that contributes much to the human bodies’ cooling systems; this is accomplished through the evaporation of sweat. Through water’s electrolyte components the muscle and nerve functions, together with blood acid balance and the fluids in the cells are composed and well regulated. The human body also regulates all the substance levels (minerals, electrolytes and trace elements); and some are eliminated naturally through the sweat.

What is the Purpose of Sweating? The main purpose of sweating is the regulation of the body temperature. Sweat is the medium that transfers heat from within the body and outwards through the skin, released through evaporation into the air. Rigorous exercises inside a naturally hot room have significant effects on sweating and the amounts given off, that result in the neutralizing of more electrolytes and minerals (dehydration).

Healthy diets that emphasize water intake may be sufficient enough for most folks to maintain appropriate electrolyte and mineral intakes. However, if excessive sweating makes you feel some symptoms during a session of physical activities or afterwards, then you should make it a point to consume or increase your daily intake of water. Some of the symptoms involve an excessive thirst, headache and fatigue, having a dry mouth (that sticky saliva feeling), instances of decreased urination, dizziness and muscle weakness.

It must be noted that there is an obvious difference between sweating and the instance of having body odor. Sweating itself does not introduce body odor. The odor that seemingly stems from sweating, is the direct result of bacteria thriving on the skin and interacting with sweat.

A regular bath with water and soap helps significantly to reduce the thriving bacteria on the skin. It also means that it can neutralize most of the body odors given off. One of the common odors that some people emit through sweat after some vigorous exercise regimens would be the smell of ammonia. Ammonia is in fact one of sweat’s natural component, but is usually diluted making it hardly noticeable.

A strong ammonia odor however may be indicative of high protein diets. In this case, it would be smart to balance such diets with an increase of low-glycemic carbs (fruits for the most part, whole grains, legumes, some starchy veggies). Strong and persistent ammonia odors over time may also complicate any liver functions; indicating a need to make an appointment with your doctor.

So, what is the purpose of sweating? Just think of it as washing off all those natural metabolic byproducts that are considered as waste products. So sweating is a good thing, as it benefits the body and skin in a healthy way to eliminate naturally occurring toxins that result from the body’s own cell functions.

So the next time you sweat, even if you feel you look unattractive, recognize that you are experiencing a healthy cleansing and heat reductive function; and be glad that you have the ability to sweat.

Notice: The article you are reading is for your personal edification. The information contained therein is for educational purposes only and is not to be used in place of proper medical advice, nor is it intended to treat, diagnose or cure any ailments. One should always seek out a properly licensed medical professional to answer any questions or render treatment. As always, please check with your doctor before engaging in any new regimen.

What Is The Purpose Of Sweating? by Karen L Davis