You just completed a kick ass spin class which not only got your heart rate up, but left you in a pool of sweat. That can get annoying. Although it’s a necessary body function, for some sweating is very unpleasant.
Sweat is moisture exuded through the pores of the skin, typically in profuse quantities as a reaction to heat, fever, fear or in this case, physical exertion. This clear, odorless liquid is produced by skin glands and is how your body cools itself down. Your body has two main types of sweat glands, eccrine glands and aprocrine glands. Eccrine glands which produce salty sweat appear all over the body and are mainly for cooling. They cause sweat on our face, arms and head, and are responsible for sweaty hands and sweaty feet. Women have more eccrine sweat glands than men, but men’s eccrine glands are more active
Apocrine glands appear mainly under the armpits and in the groin or genital area and are mostly active when we’re exercising or experiencing strong emotions like stress. Sweat from this gland produces body odor which can smell bad, when combined with bacteria found on the skin. That’s because it has a high protein component which bacteria can break down. People who are obese, those who regularly eat spicy foods, as well as individuals with certain medical conditions such as diabetes, are more susceptible to having body odor.
Unusual changes in sweating, either excessive perspiration or sweats without the triggers of heat or physical activity (hyperhidrosis), or little or no perspiration (anhidrosis), can be cause for concern. Likewise, changes in body odor may be a sign of a medical problem.
I like to sweat when working out because it’s a physical confirmation that I’m exerting myself, but if you think your sweat is excessive or bothers you, below are some remedies that may help reduce the amount of sweating you experience.
Deodorants
Antiperspirants contain aluminum-based compounds that temporarily block the sweat pore, thereby reducing the amount of perspiration that reaches your skin.
Deodorants can eliminate odor but not perspiration. They’re usually alcohol-based and turn your skin acidic, making it less attractive to bacteria. Deodorants often contain perfume fragrances intended to mask body odor
Note that antiperspirants are not solely for underarms and can be applied to sweaty feet and hands. If over-the-counter antiperspirants don’t help control your sweating, your doctor may prescribe aluminum chloride (Drysol, Xerac Ac). For best results, apply the antiperspirant at night to the areas most prone to sweating. If none of the above work, periodic Botox injections by a physician have been found to control excessive sweating by paralyzing sweat gland activity.
Food and Nutrients
Calcium-rich foods help control sweating because calcium acts as a temperature regulator. These include low fat yogurt, cheese, almonds, and calcium fortified low fat or skim milk. Note that whole milk can add to a sweat problem and should be avoided.
And of course fruits and vegetables which are great for everything related to a healthy lifestyle are going to help keep sweat in check. That’s because they’re made up of mostly water which keeps you hydrated and makes it easier to digests food. In particular, grapes and melons are great examples of hydrating fruits
Unlike vegetable oils, olive oil works with your digestive system, letting your body use almost no effort to process it. Whenever your body has to work harder at digesting certain foods, you will almost always sweat more. Not only can olive oil help reduce sweat, but it also promotes healthy blood pressure and cholesterol. Olive oil is delicious and can be substituted pretty much anywhere you would normally use vegetable oil.
Avoid spicy foods. Curry, garlic and some other spicy (piquant) foods have the potential to make some people’s sweat more pungent. Some experts believe a diet high in red meat may also raise the risk of developing body odor.
Below are some home remedies suggestions that may help, taken from Homeremedyshop.com.
- Natural Vinegar – Intake of two teaspoons of natural vinegar and one teaspoon of apple cider vinegarthrice in a day is an excellent remedy to cure excessive sweating. Take this mixture on an empty stomach, half an hour after or before the meal.
- Tomato Juice – Every day drink a glass of fresh tomatojuice made at home to get rid of the problem of excessive sweating.
- Herbal Tea – Sage tea has proven to be a great remedy to cure the troubles of excessive sweating. Brew some sage herbs in warm water and let them cool. Drink this every day as sage is rich in magnesium and Vitamin B, which reduces the activities of sweat glands. This remedy is especially meant for stopping excessive sweating in the underarms.
Green tea is equally effective if you don’t have sage herbs readily available.
- Potatoes – This is the easiest remedy to get rid of too much sweating. Simply cut slices of potato and rub them under your arms and other sweat-prone areas.
- Witch Hazel – This herb is a great astringent and antiperspirant, which gently dries up the sweating area. Tea made up of this natural herb can also be used.
- Cornstarch and Baking Soda – To get rid of excessive underarm sweating, apply a mix of cornstarch and baking soda under the arms after thoroughly cleaning them. Let it stay for half an hour and wash it off later. You can also add any essential oil as a deodorant into the mixture.
- Wheatgrass Juice – A glass of wheatgrass juice a day is an effective remedy for treating the problem of excessive sweating. Wheatgrass juice neutralizes the acids in the body and is a rich source of vitamin B6, protein, vitamin C, folic acid, and vitamin B12.
- Tannic Acid – Tea is the prominent source of tannic acid. Steep some tea bags in the boiling water. When the water cools down, immerse your palms in it. This is a superb remedy if you face a lot of perspiration in your palms.
- Coconut Oil – Infuse about 10gms of camphor in a bowl of coconut oiland apply it on the sweat prone areas to treat the trouble naturally.
- Tea Tree Oil – Thin layers of tea tree oil can be applied to the high perspiring areas. Tea tree oil contains natural astringents, which will give you the desired results within a few days of using it.
- Grapes – Eating grapes every day can soothe out the problem of extreme sweating. It has natural antioxidants and it balances the temperature of the body.
- Salt – Mix a tablespoon of salt with lime juice and massage your hands with this mix. It will decelerate the activities of sweat glands and will cure excessive sweating.
