Sweating. Not the most favorite past-time, yet the health benefits of sweating are important to the health and well-being of your body. So if you feel uncomfortable, dirty or smelly when you sweat, remember that normal sweating is usually a sign of a healthy body.
Here in the South, ladies don’t sweat, they glisten. That’s what we like to think anyway. Whatever you may call it, a daily sweat is good for your body and good for your emotional wellness. Of course, the real reason for sweating is the body’s internal way to cool down and is critical in the body’s hydration process. On the other hand, anhidrosis is the inability to sweat in response to heat. When you don’t perspire, your body loses the ability to cool itself, which can lead to overheating and sometimes to heat stroke — a dangerous and potentially fatal condition.
One of the many important health benefits of sweating is that it’s one of your body’s detoxification routes that help in the healing and repairing process. Scientists and doctors are beginning to acknowledge what our ancestors instinctively knew — regular sweating restores good health through the elimination of toxins. Sweat carries toxins out of the body and flushes them through the pores of the skin.
DID YOU KNOW? Thanks to brain-imaging studies in humans and neurochemical studies in animals, scientists have found evidence that exercise (sweating) actually makes a stronger brain. Physical exertion induces the cells in the brain to reinforce old connections between neurons and to forge new connections. This denser neuron network is better able to process and store information, essentially resulting in a smarter brain.
Another one of the many health benefits of sweating is that it may help to kill viruses and bacteria that cannot survive in temperatures above 98.6 Fahrenheit. According to Dr. Diane De Fiori, a dermatologist at the Rosacea Treatment Clinic in Melbourne, Australia: “Sweat contains antimicrobial peptides effective against viruses, bacteria, and fungi. These peptides are positively charged and attract negatively charged bacterial, enter the membranes of bacteria, and break them down.”
A 2013 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences proved dermcidin, an antimicrobial peptide secreted by sweat glands that attacks any bacteria on our skin, is a highly effective tool to fight dangerous bugs. According to the researchers these natural substances are more effective in the long-term than traditional antibiotics because germs are not capable of quickly developing resistance to them. This natural antibiotic is naturally activated in salty, slightly acidic sweat.
Health Benefits of Sweating
- improves circulation
- accelerates metabolism
- opens skin pores
- cleanses the skin
- boosts the immune system
- uses energy & burns calories
- relaxes body & mind
- great for stress relief
- helps body release toxins
- sweating is a form of exercise
- helps body to regulate its temperature & cool down
- anti-aging – produces softer skin
- releases endorphins that help with pain
- improves tone & flexibility of skin
- critical factor in body’s hydration process
- contains natural antibiotics that destroy harmful skin bacteria
- can reduce cholesterol & sodium levels
- may improve sleep
Mint Orange Deodorant DIY Recipe
(This recipe is not an antiperspirant and does not prevent sweating.)
6 Tablespoons unrefined coconut oil
1/4 C arrowroot starch
1/4 C baking soda
4 capsules (400 IU) Vitamin E oil (mixed tocopherols and tocotrienols)
10 drops peppermint essential oil
10 drops sweet orange essential oil
Directions
Soften the coconut oil & mix everything together until smooth.
Store in a jar. Apply a small amount under each arm with your fingertips & gently rub in (1/8-1/4 teaspoon).
Reapply throughout the day if needed.
Store in fridge, if too soft.
Recipe from: http://www.edibleperspective.com
†Results may vary. Information and statements made are for education purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor. Oasis Advanced Wellness/OAWHealth does not dispense medical advice, prescribe, or diagnose illness. The views and nutritional advice expressed by Oasis Advanced Wellness/OAWHealth are not intended to be a substitute for conventional medical service. If you have a severe medical condition or health concern, see your physician of choice.
