After long months of great cold that is not at all typical of the State of Israel, this week reminds us to ask ourselves to be confused. At the end of the day, we are still one of the hottest places in the world. The next few days will be characterized by heavy heat after the Sabbath, and they are a reminder to us that another moment and we are going to sweat, every day, all day and very much. Undoubtedly one of the side effects of heat that we would be happy to get rid of.
Yet despite the discomfort it causes us, sweating is actually a very essential action since through it the body cools itself and also gets rid of chemicals. The problem is that in most cases, it comes with an accompanying odor that is not related, by the way, to the sweat itself. According to Mako Health Sweat has no odor at all because it is made up of water and salts. What adds to the physiological phenomenon the aromas that cause discomfort, are all those bacteria that are on the pores of the skin and which in contact with sweat create a chemical reaction that releases unpleasant odors. What else is worth knowing about the phenomenon and is there a way to combat it? Here are some facts about a smelly summer phenomenon.
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Why do some people sweat more than others?
“Some people sweat more than others because the level of sweating is affected by many parameters such as anemia, thyroid activity, mental stress, autoimmune diseases, taking medications and periodic conditions such as menopause,” explains Dr. Monica Elman, a senior dermatologist with a network of clinics. Skin and national aesthetics. “Some people are born sweatier because of genetics.” Regarding gender differences, Dr. Elman notes that “it is true that women sweat more in the postpartum period and also during menopause, but these are temporary symptoms that pass. In practice, men sweat more than women throughout their lives because their surface area is larger and their skin is thicker, which means that the amount of sweat glands relative to their body area is larger than in women. “
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Places you never thought you could sweat
In August 2021, Olympic champion Linoy Ashram revealed that she was suffering from excessive sweating in her palms. A fairly familiar phenomenon that many suffer from, so here for example another place that is not an armpit, but is not alone. “In stressful situations there is a phenomenon of increased sweating in the scalp and in adolescent children the hormonal activity also causes sweating in the lower back and buttocks,” says Dr. Elman. And that is not all because according to an article published on The Davidson Institute Most of our skin area is covered with sweat glands called acrine glands and their job is to secrete odorless sweat that helps regulate body heat. Apart from these glands there are other sweat glands in our body called apocrine glands and they are the ones that are responsible for secreting sweaty odor. These glands are found, among other places, in the armpit, around the nipples, in the ear canal and in the genitals. Have you ever sweated in these organs?
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Sweating has a survival role
As published on the website Houston Methodist Sweat secreted by apocrine glands is created in stressful situations, and it is a hereditary human response that our ancestors relied on when dealing with threats and survival situations. This reaction is characterized by the release of adrenaline, as well as stress hormones that increase the rate of heart and respiratory activity and increase blood circulation. These reactions also activate the apocrine glands that secrete fragrant sweat.
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How do we help ourselves sweat (and stink) less?
As mentioned, sweat does not stink at all – in fact it is devoid of any odor and the unpleasant odor is created because of the bacteria on our skin. Another factor that affects the smell of sweat is our diet. So what are those foods that make the smell of sweat more pungent? According to The Science Times These are alcohol, garlic, asparagus, onions, cabbage, spicy spices, broccoli, curry, cumin, ambala, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. According to Forbes Even a reduced-carbohydrate diet in which the body produces energy from fat, can cause an unpleasant sweat odor reminiscent of acetone.
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What foods will cleanse your scent?
In order to smell good during the next bush Mako We are advised to eat a lot of chlorophyll, ie vegetables that are rich in it and especially lettuce. Chlorophyll is effective in cleansing the bacteria that cause sweat to be fragrant and actually acts as an odor remover. Citrus fruits and other fruits like strawberries and pineapple will also ensure a pleasant body odor. Did you eat fenugreek and have a date? Not bad, drink water with lemon or jasmine tea which are known as the most effective cleansers of the fragrant substances from the body and who knows, maybe no one will notice what you ate. Want to smell really good without using deodorant? Herbs like rosemary, thyme and mint will do the job
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Is it better to use a natural deodorant?
Although hyperhidrosis also exists in children, the use of deodorant is only allowed from the age of 10. “Today there are deodorants with different percentages of aluminum,” explains Dr. Elman, “and there are natural agendas that dictate the choice of deodorant that does not contain chemicals. “People who suffer from excessive sweating will not find a solution in this or that deodorant and in fact regular deodorants are just as good enough as natural deodorants because there is no scientific basis for the fact that natural deodorant is better or healthier than non-natural and contains aluminum.”
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Sweating is a cultural matter
It is true that in a hot country like ours it is difficult to see sweat as a positive thing and yet, remember that sweating is an essential physiological process that cannot be eliminated but can be influenced. According to an article published in the New York Times, in ancient Mexico they survived The vitality of sweating in healing processes performed in special structures in which volcanic stones were burned. The Mexicans saw the joint sweating process they experienced as rebirth and release of negative energy. The Turkish bath is another example of how the attitude to sweat is a cultural matter and so is the Russian “banya” and the Finnish sauna where people voluntarily choose to sweat together to feel better in body and mind.