Sometimes sweating can be embarrassing, but you have to remember that it is an important body function. An excessive amount of sweat or the lack of it can point to underlying problems with your body as well.

Why Do We Sweat?

When you sweat, your body releases a salty liquid which comes from your sweat glands. When this liquid evaporates, it helps to cool the body. Sweating is regulated by the autonomic (sympathetic) nervous system and signals, using the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, are sent to the sweat glands releasing sweat to the skin surface through ducts.

According to the National Library of Medicine, people have around 2 million to 4 million sweat glands, with the highest density of sweat glands on the palms of hands and soles of feet.

Two others characteristics of sweat are that it is odorless and colorless. If sweat has a bad odor is due to bacterias on the skin.

Normal Sweating

You might have noticed that some people sweat a lot and others don’t. There is no normal range for sweating, it depends on the person and the intensity of the physical activity being performed.

A person’s size and gender can play a key role in how they sweat and where they sweat. People who are out of shape, for example, tend to sweat in a central pattern, such as at the center of their chest or back. Those who are more in shape tend to sweat more evenly across their body.

In comparison, women sweat less than men. This difference is explained because women have fewer sweat glands, as well as less muscle mass, so they produce less heat; therefore they need to sweat less.

Sweat Rate

The sweat rate is the amount of sweat you lose during activity. Marathoners and other athletes should be aware of their sweat rate to know how much water they need to drink during the activity to prevent dehydration.

  • How to Measure Your Sweat Rate?

Firstly, you have to weigh yourself naked, on a set of scales. Then, you should do intensive physical activity for an hour, like running under the conditions in which you might compete, or exercise regularly. Finally, you weigh yourself naked again.

Following these simple steps, you determine your sweat rate as follows. Every pound (0.45 kilograms) of weight you lose equals 16 ounces (0.47 liters) of sweat lost. This rate can vary depending on the intensity of the activity, the humidity, your blood sugar and some other factors but is specific enough for you race needs.

Once you established your sweat rate, you will be able to replace the water and electrolytes you lost during that period of time. Remember, you must compensate for the fluid and energy that you lost in addition to the electrolytes in their correct biological ratios.

Athletes and Sweating

Here, you will find some reason why sweating is good for you and how you can capitalize on these points to improve your health or physical condition.

  • It helps you to cool off: As some people are not able to sweat normally ( anhidrosis), they are more prone to heat stroke and other heat-related illnesses, so if you do sweat normally, you are safe from this health condition
  • It is a sign that you are working hard. It might be the first visual proof of your work.
  • It reveals how much water weight you lost: If you go into a hot run well-hydrated, it’s safe to lose some water weight via sweat.

Replace What You Lost

By consuming just water or a mass market energy drink, your body will not recover what it lost during a race or other physical activity, so you will have to compensate for this by incorporating hydration supplements to your routine.

Eload Hydration Formula is formulated to replace those electrolytes and fluid that you have lost through sweating per hour per liter. Our supplements are formulated on scientific evidence and include only those ingredients tested to help you improve your performance.

Next time you are engaged in a physical activity like running a marathon or half marathon, try Eload Hydration Formula to replace the fluid and electrolytes you lose on a per liter per hour basis. And to recover faster use Eload Recovery Formula. Your body will thank you!