Sweating is the body's natural way to regulate its core temperature.
Even if one of the most accredited beliefs is that sweating causes you to lose calories, and therefore weight, this is not really the case.
it is produced by the sweat glands located in the subcutaneous layer of different areas of the body and is composed of water and mineral salts such as magnesium, sodium, chlorine and potassium.
Its role is to keep the body temperature around 37 degrees and thus prevent excessive overheating that could occur due to internal factors such as fever or external factors such as physical exertion or other temperatures. it is not so much the sweat itself but its evaporation, by means of a process called convection.
because it doesn't burn calories. What gives the opposite feeling is the fact that by sweating you lose a lot of fluids and that if you weigh yourself after this event you can actually notice a lower number on the scale. However, we must not be under any illusions. It is in fact a temporary loss, once the liquids are rehydrated by drinking water or eating, the lost weight will be immediately regained.
However, although sweating by itself does not lead to weight loss, it is undeniable that the physical activities that usually cause you to sweat are particularly demanding and require a great deal of energy, this is responsible for weight loss.
Running, for example, allows you to burn between 360 and 550 calories in one "hour, walk briskly for the same amount of time 200, and take a 60 minute 540 minute spin class.
But calories are also burned by engaging in activities where you don't feel sweating, such as swimming. Here are the summer physical activities in which the most calories are burned.
In short, if it is not correct to say that sweating makes you lose weight, it is sometimes to take sweating as a barometer to measure the intensity of the physical activity that is taking place, and consequently understand how many calories are eliminated. Even in this case, however, it is a little more than an indicative and certainly not a scientific method.
, it is also the fact that there are people who sweat less than others, and some who hardly do it at all. The level of sweating is in fact subjective and depends on a number of elements including genetics, environmental factors, age, fitness level and weight.
Of these, weight and fitness level have the greatest influence on the amount of sweat produced during physical exercises. Usually, the higher the weight, the more you sweat because a heavy body needs to use more energy to function and move in the space around it and this results in more sweat, which is needed to cool more body mass.
What are the benefits of sweating
The main purpose of sweating is to cool the body, but there are other benefits of sweating.
Maintain healthier skin: Intense exercise, and therefore sweating, circulates blood in the body faster and this allows oxygen and nutrients to reach the cells and nourish the skin.
Challenge yourself: while exercising, you often sweat because you are making a considerable effort and beyond your abilities. This mechanism can only generate great satisfaction and a unique motivation. But be careful not to overdo it, if while exercising you suddenly feel dizzy or extremely tired or sore, it means that you are pushing yourself too far and that you probably need to slow down.
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When it comes to dehydration
Sweating means losing fluids and, consequently, doing so exposes you to an inevitable risk of dehydration, especially if you sweat while exercising intensely in a hot or humid environment. Indicatively, for every kilo of sweat that is lost, you should try to drink half a liter of water. In order not to take risks, it is better not to wait until you are thirsty to start hydrating but do it regularly throughout the workout, carrying a water bottle. water always ready for use.
In fact, severe dehydration can be quite dangerous. If some of these symptoms occur, it is advisable to seek medical assistance immediately:
- severe tiredness or confusion,
- prolonged dizziness when standing up,
- do not urinate for eight hours or more,
- weak or too rapid pulse,
- loss of consciousness.
In summer, attention must also be paid to heat disturbances.
Hyperhidrosis
If, on the other hand, you often sweat excessively and even in the absence of particular exertion, you could suffer from a condition called Hyperhidrosis and for which you may need to contact your doctor.
The spies not to be underestimated in this case are:
- sweating so profuse as to make the normal daily routine difficult,
- night sweats
- sweats with fever of 40 ° C or more, chest pain, shortness of breath or rapid heartbeat.
In order not to sweat, a workout in the pool is excellent.
