Health. The truth about sweat: demystifying sweat

TRUE . Its main purpose is "to cool the body ," reports the website of the Geneva University Hospitals (Switzerland). The challenge, therefore, remains to maintain the body at a temperature between 36.5 and 37.8°C. This is particularly true when it is too hot or when engaging in intense physical activity. Experts refer to this as " thermoregulation ."

Sweat secreted by perspiration has a salty taste

TRUE. It's 99% water! The remaining 1% includes plasma constituents, including sodium chloride, which is what gives it that salty taste.

Sweat generates an unpleasant odor

FALSE. When present, the odor in question does not appear to be linked to the components of sweat themselves but to bacteria present on the skin and which feed on the liquid produced by the sweat glands: those called aprocrine , mainly located in the axillary region, but also around the mammary areolas, on the scalp and in the genital region.

They produce sweat in very small quantities – compared to the eccrine glands – and in reality play no role in thermal regulation.

On the other hand, the solute produced on these parts of the body in contact with the skin has a composition richer in proteins. This is enough to cause that famous " sweat smell ".

FALSE… Sweating profusely doesn't cleanse your body. Any toxins, such as alcohol or drug metabolites, are eliminated by our kidneys and liver, which filter the blood, transforming toxins into waste.

Sweating makes you lose weight

FALSE. We only lose water! Of course, the approach—not recommended—of making yourself sweat excessively by running while warmly dressed can be used by boxers or other judokas to get "up to weight" before a competition.

But it doesn't help you lose weight. The weight lost due to water loss and lack of nutrition is immediately regained as soon as you start eating and drinking again...

Stress makes you sweat

TRUE. Sweaty hands before an exam, an important meeting, or a public speaking engagement... Like heartbeat, sweating is controlled by the autonomic nervous system (neurovegetative system).

In response to an emotional situation, such as stress, for example, the body releases certain hormones, the most well-known of which are adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine. Their blood levels increase, causing physiological changes, including overstimulation of the sweat glands. This explains excessive sweating during times of stress.