Sweet Sweat

by Leslie Aronson — April 11, 2008

Sweat is good! Though perhaps we don't always feel the most sexy when all red in the face and covered in sweat, sweating is one of the ways our bodies get rid of toxins. We absorb toxins through general living - there's no real way around it: they're in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the atmosphere we're surrounded by (though there are ways to limit your intake, like eating organically, drinking plenty of water to flush your system, and not eating lots of processed foods) - and regular exercise helps flush some of these toxins out of our bodies through perspiration. This does not mean, however, that you should go out of your way to sweat more during a regular workout - you don't have to sweat at all in order to benefit from a workout, and overexerting yourself so you sweat more is not necessarily healthy, either. Just don't be squeamish about the amount you do sweat because it's healthy and good for you, and the more in shape you get, the more you'll probably sweat, so get used to it.

Saunas can help in this sweating process and have been the focus of various fad diets/fitness routines over the years, and are cultural mainstays in various parts of the world. Saunas can be a luxurious way to relax and, yes, sweat a ton, but the key here is to not overdo it. Be smart - drink lots of water and don't stay longer than your body tells you to.

Sweating is good. Dehydration and heat stroke are bad.