Sweat Out Those Toxins

Sweat is a mix of water and salt that's evacuated by our sweat glands. Water and salt are odourless - it's when they come into contact with bacteria our bodies that the pong begins! Sweating affects us all differently, depending on what we're doing or where we are. In order to beat nasty whiffs, apply a deodorant to clean, dry skin so that it's easily absorbed - particularly at night!

Why?

Because deodorants need 6 to 8 hours to penetrate the sweat glands that cause us to sweat.

Even if you're a morning shower person, your deodorant will work better if it's been applied the previous evening. Sweaty words of wisdom!

Toxins are substances caused by our diet or pollution that are found in the body and which prevent it from functioning as it should - hence the reason why they need to be eliminated. These 'poisonous' molecules are residues produced by cellular metabolism, our digestion or stress - lactic acid, nitrogenous compounds, and mucosal substances such as dead cells or leftover sugars, starches and fats. We either breathe in or ingest toxins: exhaust fumes, heavy metals, tobacco, food colouring, preservatives, pesticides, medicines... These toxins stick to body tissue and cause inflammation.

Sweating is a natural process that helps our body to control its temperature. Sweat is slightly acidic and produced by 3 million sweat glands that are spread around our body.

Sweat glands are more concentrated in our armpits, the soles of our feet and palms. We sweat as soon as temperatures rise or if our body temperature is too hot. Sweating helps our body to keep its natural 37°C temperature.

When we sweat, we excrete toxins. Our blood and lymphatic systems transport waste to our liver, kidneys and lungs, where its treated and filtered, or to our skin where it's subsequently sweated out. Indeed sweating is the best way to get rid of heavy metals, pesticides and chemical pollutants.

Sweating is a great way to clean out our skin, as it eliminates waste that's reached the dermis. Plus it's a natural process!

Sweating is 'cleansing from the inside' as it empties clogged pores and helps to wash away dead skin cells. It leaves our skin clean and soft! At the same time, heat produced by our circulatory system irrigates and nourishes our skin tissue. Leaving our skin hydrated and glowing.

Our Tip?

After taking exercise, apply a toner, which will refresh your skin, close its pores and get rid of any remaining surface toxins.

When we sweat, our bodies lose lots of water and minerals. On an average day, we'll sweat out about 0.5l of water and up to 10l during a heavy workout.

Which means we need to drink lots! Aim to drink 1.5l of water, fruit/herbal teas a day. If exercising, drink 500ml before you start and then 100-150ml every 10 minutes. And keep drinking lots for five hours after your session to eliminate any toxins. After a sauna or steam, drink a small bottle of mineral water afterwards and, as with exercise, continue drinking water for several hours.

Increasing the temperature in room heats up our bodies and makes us sweat - which is how saunas and steam rooms work. Ditto for intense physical activity.

Our Tips?

A 40 minute run followed by a 15 minute steam. A Hot or Bikram yoga class where the room temperature is a sweaty 40°C. A 40 minuted infra-red sauna session. Sitting in very hot bath.