The body produces sweats for two basic reasons: to regulate the body temperature and to rid the body of toxins. Water and lack of water have something to do with both functions. Drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily is the minimum requirement. We need sufficient water to maintain normal body temperature. Lack of water can make our sweat glands overactive and may result in excessive sweating.
Water Regulates Body Temperature
Many people will refute the idea that the human body sweats excessively because it lacks water. Some misconstrue that excessive sweating is due to excess water in the body. But actually, the body needs more water that is why it sweats a lot. Sweating is the body’s way of telling you that it doesn’t have enough water and that you have to replenish it.
Have you ever noticed how runners sweat a lot after a race? Exercising under the heat results to excessive sweating that is beyond what the body actually contains. This can result to hypohydration or lack of water as well as electrolyte losses. Electrolytes are released through the sweat and hydrating yourself with fluid, especially water, will prevent electrolyte imbalance. Drinking 4 to 6 oz of fluid or water every 15 minutes of exercise can help maintain electrolyte and water balance. If you need to work out for an hour, you should drink sports drinks or drinks that contain vitamin supplements.
Hypohydration and electrolyte imbalance therefore increases heat storage and revs up the sweat glands to secrete more. It is only water or any fluid which can regulate the body heat and prevents excessive sweating.
Water Removes Body Toxins
One body system works in coordination with other body functions. The food and fluids that a person ingests are metabolized, but oftentimes the body has to work harder to break them into chemicals before releasing the waste materials or toxins. The body will metabolize longer when the food is hard to digest. You may notice that there are people who sweat a lot when they are suffering from certain disorders related to food and diet. This is called secondary hyperhidrosis. It is the body’s way of telling you that it is sick. Diabetics, for example, shake and sweat a lot and become extremely distressed and experience palpitation. When this happens, the sweat glands are working up to release toxins out of the skin pores.
On the other hand, if you have enough water or fluids in your diet, some of these diseases can be prevented. Eating more fruits and vegetables as part of your diet, as well as drinking more than 8 glasses of water can be the best cleansing agent.
Drinking enough water can help you stop excessive sweating because water has a cooling effect that allows the body to normalize its temperature. When your body’s temperature is normal, your sweat glands do not have to work extra hard to normalize body temperature. Therefore you actually sweat less when your body is receiving sufficient hydration.
On the contrary, if you do not drink enough water, you actually sweat more because your body has to release the heat that builds up during exercise or under warm conditions. Water also prevents the sweat glands from over secretion by flushing out the toxins easily through other excretory means.