There’s nothing worse than sweating in public, especially if you have no reason to. And then you have to deal with the potential body odour or yellow stains under your armpits. But luckily, sweating it out comes with a range of benefits.
So if you need another reason to get your heart rate up at the gym, here are five benefits that’ll have you desperate to start.
1. Boosts Immunity
Research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that peptides produced by sweat glands acted as antibiotics to fight off infection. Further, scientists suggest that viruses and germs will find it difficult to develop a resistance to this natural antibiotic and could therefore act as a long term replacement for antibiotics.
2. Clears Your Skin
When you sweat, it opens up the pores on your face releasing unhealthy bacteria. “Sweat purges the body of toxins that can clog pores and plague the skin with pimples and blemishes,” says dermatologist, Dr Adebola Dele-Michael speaking to Medical Daily. The same peptides found in your sweat that can boost immunity can also fight off bacteria on your skin.
3. Body Detox
According to a study published in the journal Archives of Environmental and Contamination Toxicology, many toxins leave the body through sweat. These substances can include alcohol, salts and even cholesterol. Another report found that sweat removed phthalates found in a range of everyday tools and toys such as cooking utensils and paint.
4. Releases Feel good Hormones
It’s well documented that exercise can help reduce symptoms of depression, but what people may not realise is that sweating it out can help boost release feel good hormones. Research suggests that when your body heats up and sweats, neurons are released in the the brain that can improve your mood. This adds to previous studies that showed exercise improves mood.
5.Boosts Sexual Attraction
This one might shock you. Research conducted by the University of California at Berkeley found when women sniffed a chemical found in sweat – androstadienone – they experienced elevated levels of hormones that increases sexual arousal. Just make sure you don’t smell of B.O.
