7 BENEFITS OF SWEATING WITH EXERCISE (PHYSICAL AND MENTAL) - ARTE - 2025

Every day we sweat 10% of the water we drink. Sweating is a natural process in the human body that has many benefits and whose objective is to keep the body cold. Whether you are sweating in the gym, working out or simply from the heat, you will be benefiting your physical and psychological health.

Sweat is primarily made up of water, concentrations of sodium, ammonia, urea, salts, sugar, and potassium. There are two sweat glands: the eccrine glands - in charge of thermoregulation - and the apocrine glands - in charge of the secretion of pheromones.

Below I explain 8 benefits that you will get when sweating and that will convince you to exercise. In the end I will give you tips to sweat more without hardly making an effort.

8 benefits of sweating when exercising

1-It makes you happier and reduces pain

Exercise stimulates certain neurological pathways that stimulate the production of endorphins, hormones that act as natural pain relievers.

2-Helps heal scars

Researcher Laure Rittie from the University of Michigan has shown that the eccrine glands are home to an important reserve of stem cells that aid the wound healing process.

3-Prevents the formation of stones in the kidneys

Sweating can be an effective way to expel excess salt and retain calcium in the bones. This limits the accumulation of salt and calcium in the kidneys and in the urine, which is where stones form.

It is no coincidence that people who sweat tend to drink more water, which is another way to prevent stone formation.

4-Releases toxins

In addition to protecting us from the external environment, the skin eliminates waste, in fact since ancient times (Roman baths, Scandinavian saunas, Turkish baths) sweating has been valued as a form of internal cleaning.

Toxins like arsenic, cadmium, lead or mercury are expelled through your pores when you sweat.

5-Decreases body temperature

The body needs to sweat to prevent its temperature from getting too high. When you start exercising, your body begins to burn calories and maintain high energy levels.

At the same time, your body begins to sweat through the skin so that the temperature does not rise excessively. This is one of the reasons why you must be hydrated; Without drinking an adequate amount of water, you cannot sweat enough. If you don't sweat enough you could suffer from heat stroke or heat stroke.

6-Improves the appearance of the skin

During sweating, the pores of the skin open and dirt and impurities come out of the first layers of the epidermis.

7-Helps lose weight

Sweating helps you lose weight. The weight you lose when you sweat is usually from water, which is regained by drinking (which you should do before, during and after exercise).

However, if you sweat due to exercise, you will be burning calories and if you eat a healthy diet that does not excessively recover those calories, you will be losing weight.

8-Stimulates the immune system

When you exercise, your body temperature increases, you sweat and white blood cells are produced, the cells responsible for the body's defense against foreign substances or infectious agents.

Also, there is a recent study from the University of Tubingen that suggests that sweat contains a natural antibiotic called Dermicidin and that it helps kill bacteria, including E-coli and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, responsible for tuberculosis.

In fact, sweating can help fight TB germs and other dangerous pathogens. Sweat contains antimicrobial peptides that are effective against viruses, bacteria, and fungi.

These peptides are positively charged and attract negatively charged bacteria, enter their membranes and break them down.

Indications after sweating

If you leave sweat on your skin for too long, it will end up doing more harm than good: When the sweat glands become clogged, it can lead to a rash or rashes.

This does not mean that you are obsessed with showering quickly after exercising, but if you have basic hygiene measures to wash yourself if you have exercised or sweated. Also, if your skin is easily irritated, it is recommended that you change your clothes more often.

How to sweat more?

In fact, any type of intense exercise will make you sweat and this is the most recommended, since you will receive all the benefits of exercising. However, doing it in hot water or in a warm room (like Bikram Yoga) will make you sweat even more.

You can also induce sweat through the sauna; either the traditional sauna or the infrared sauna. The difference is that the traditional ones raise the body temperature from the outside, while the infrared ones do it from the inside, which is said to expel sweat made up of 20% toxins, compared to 3% toxins from saunas traditional.

In any case and whatever you choose, remember that sweating will cause your body to lose water and become dehydrated, so stay well hydrated.