Tag: toxins

Sweat and sweating

Today’s topic is about sweat, sweat glands and sweating.

This stems from an article I read this morning discussing whether we shower ‘too much’. It quoted a study conducted by the University School of Nursing in Columbia, which claims we don’t need to wash once a day.

The idea being that the body does a good job of managing it’s own bacteria and too much soap can kill off the good stuff. According to the study, showering twice a week is enough, as long as you are regularly washing your hands and changing your clothes.

Scott has recently been studying Biology and this article created a discussion about sweat and sweat glands.

Maybe it doesn’t get as hot and humid in Columbia as Queensland.

I am sure that most of us have found that a crowded train or bus can sometimes be a bit smelly at the end of a hot summer day. Usually this is a result of sweating and for some people this means body odour.

Sweat itself isn’t smelly at all; it’s the bacteria that feed on the sweat and some of the expelled toxins that cause the offensive odour.

Showering doesn’t actually damage the skins bacteria; it’s the soaps we use that can do this.

 The technical stuff …

Sweat glands are used to regulate temperature and remove waste by secreting water, sodium salts, and nitrogenous waste (such as urea) onto the skin surface.

We have two different types of sweat glands: eccrine sweat glands, which are distributed over the entire body, and apocrine sweat glands, located on the scalp, armpits, and genital area.

Interesting fact – we are born with anywhere between 2 million and 4 million sweat glands. The number of such glands we have will determine, in part, how much we sweat. As we age, our sweat glands actually decrease in size and become less effective.

As the body’s’ temperature rises, it will automatically perspire to release salty liquid from the sweat glands to help cool it down.

This is controlled by our autonomic nervous system, which cannot be consciously controlled. However, certain emotions, such as anxiety, anger, embarrassment, or fear, can prompt us to sweat more.

 Sweating is beneficial

The skin is the largest organ of the body, and serves important roles just like any other bodily organ. Sweating actually helps the body in many ways:

– It maintains the body’s temperature to keep it from overheating

– Sweat expel toxins, which supports proper immune function and helps prevent diseases related to toxic overload

– It kills viruses and bacteria that cannot survive in temperatures above 37 degrees Celsius.

– Sweat also cleans the pores, which will help eliminate blackheads and acne.

Despite its many health benefits, most of us use some kind of product to control or stop the sweating process.

 And body odour…..

 There are many different factors that can contribute to body odour.

Some studies into body odour have revealed that our diet plays a large role. This is probably due to the sweat expelling the toxins from the body.

This subject, however, maybe a topic for another post.

Until the next one,

 

Live clean n prosper

Baths, Epsom Salt and Lavender for muscles

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Today I’m going to write about my relaxing bath.

Recently Scott and I have been doing a bit of renovating around the home. This usually means sore backs and aching muscles.

So, I decided that a nice hot bath with Epsom Salt would be just the ticket. I also added some fresh Lavender and some dried Calendula flowers. After a soak, my back and aching muscle felt so much better.

This prompted the question – Why do these flowers and the salt help to soothe our muscles?

After some Internet searching, this is what I found out.

Epsom Salt

It’s called a salt because of its chemical structure. The “Epsom” part is a place in England where it’s found in natural springs.

This salt is made from naturally occurring minerals Magnesium and Sulphate. These ingredients can help improve health in numerous ways. Magnesium helps muscles to release. If you aren’t getting enough magnesium, your muscles may cramp and spasm more easily. Also, by-products of metabolism such as lactic acid become harder to flush out without enough magnesium, which may lead to sore muscles.

Sulphate is also essential for many biological processes. It helps to flush out toxins and helps form proteins in joints and brain tissue.

So together, these minerals assist with the elimination of lactic acid, which contributes to sore muscles.

How Does It Work?

In water, it breaks down into magnesium and sulphate. The theory is that when you soak in an Epsom salt bath, these get into your body through your skin.

In a study conducted in 2006, levels of magnesium and sulphate in the blood and urine were measured, both before and after people bathed in Epsom salts. The study found the levels were higher after the baths! So, bathing in Epsom salt enables the body to absorb the Magnesium and Sulphate.

Then add Lavender….

Lavender essential oil is known as an excellent remedy for various types of pains including those caused by sore and tense muscles, muscular aches, rheumatism, sprains, backache, and lumbago. A regular massage with lavender oil can provide relief from pain in the joints. A study done on postoperative pain relief showed that combining lavender essential oil vapor into the oxygen significantly reduced the amount of pain experienced, versus those patients only revived with oxygen after a major surgery.

And Calendula….

You may not recognize the name Calendula. Perhaps you have heard of Marigolds, which is the name most commonly used describe this family of plant. Calendula officianalis is the most common species, but all possess certain compounds and substances that make them a valuable part of herbal health in certain parts of the world.

You may not have known that the petals are edible and have traditionally been used in soups and stews and salads, while a powerful chemical extract can be removed from the stems and leaves of calendula plants.

Calendula oil has anti-inflammatory compounds and unique antioxidant compounds.

Regardless of where the inflammation is occurring, calendula can significantly reduce the discomfort.

So together these 3 things can make a difference to our wellbeing, and a bath is always relaxing.

Till the next post,

Live Clean n Prosper

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