Why Sweating Is The Best Thing That Can Happen To You

From steering away from light colored activewear in an effort to hide our sweat, to coining the phrase “I don’t sweat, I sparkle'', women everywhere have been taught both explicitly and subconsciously for years on end that sweat is something to be ashamed of. Sweating, this very natural and powerful function of the human body has grown to have a negative connotation attached to it and for the most part, this is only when it is in regard to women.

We are here to shift the narrative and educate you on exactly why you should not only be unashamed to sweat, but why you should learn to love it and embrace it as a part of your daily life.

First things first, let’s clarify - what exactly is sweat? Well, as leading exercise physiologist, Tom Holland, MS, CSCS, CISSN, told Women’s Health, “Sweating is how our bodies release heat in order to maintain homeostasis and our internal temperature” and it is the evaporation of said sweat that releases the heat. Stated quite plainly, it’s the way that our bodies regulate our body temperature - and this looks different for everyone. The amount of sweat that we produce has a lot to do with our body size, age, and exercise level, so with that said, never judge the success of a workout upon your own sweat levels vs. the person working out next to you. Instead, let’s celebrate it, in any amount.

Curious what exactly the benefits of a good
sweat sesh look like IRL? Let us tell you about a few of our favorites –

1. Sweat flushes out toxins

While everyone is off trying the latest juice detox, many forget that sweat alone naturally detoxifies the body. “A 2012 public health study found that sweating plays an important role in expelling heavy metals like mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic from the body because they dissolve readily in water.” Just make sure you’re keeping your body hydrated and nourishing it with healthy foods to avoid other chemical threats! (J Environ Public Health, 2012)

2. It’s A Natural Mood Booster

Who doesn’t want to benefit from the feel-good effects of this natural bodily function? Just like a good workout, perspiration releases endorphins in the brain that make you feel good. This can influence your daily life in a huge way and overall can do wonders for your mental health.

3. Your Skin Will Thank You

Sweating is a natural remedy for clearer and healthier skin. As you know, sweat purges the body of toxins and luckily, this includes those that are clogging up your pores. Routine sweat sessions are thought to improve the tone, clarity, and overall texture of your skin.

4. Sweating Aids in Muscle Recovery

With sweating, comes a boost to your circulation, which ultimately helps you flush out the lactic acid
that can leave you feeling sore after a high intensity workout. This not only alleviates soreness but also speeds up the recovery process for strained muscles.

In the end, sweating is nothing to be ashamed of. It is not dirty or gross at all, but rather something we should celebrate and embrace. We hope this serves as a reminder for you to get out and sweat this summer, because you are worth it, and your body and mind will thank you.

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