We've already debunked elsewhere some of the most common misconceptions about staying hydrated[1] . But what about sweat itself? In an effort to better understand the body's complex heating and cooling system, here are some surprising facts about sweat you may not have known.


You have about two to four million sweat glands[2] . They look a little something like this:


sweat gland

Women have more sweat glands than men.

men sweat more than women

But men's sweat glands actually produce more sweat[3] .


Sweating from the heat, sweating from exercise and sweating from stress are all different, chemically speaking. Stress sweat[4] smells the worst.

stress sweat

That's because smelly sweat is only produced by one of the two types of sweat glands called the apocrine glands, which are usually in areas with lots of hair, like the armpits, groin and scalp. The odor is the result of the bacteria that break down the sweat[5] once it's released onto your skin.


Some people's sweat is saltier than others.

salty sweat

If you have sweat that stings your eyes or stings if it trickles into a cut, tastes salty or leaves a gritty feeling or white streaks on your skin or clothes after exercising, you're officially a salty sweater[6] . Keep in mind you'll need to replace those essential electrolytes after sweating them out.


During intense exercise in the heat, athletes can sweat off 2 to 6 percent of their bodyweight.

sweat bodyweight

That could be up to 9 pounds for a 150-pound person! The American College of Sports Medicine recommends replacing liquids[7] at a rate of a pint of fluids for every pound lost.





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  • Drink First Thing


    "Place a glass of water by your bed and drink it first thing when you get up," suggests Keri Gans, M.S., R.D., a nutrition spokesperson and author of "The Small Changes Diet," in an email to The Huffington Post. Try drinking it <a href="http://www.health.com/health/library/topic/0,,abk5466_abk5467,00.html" target="_hplink">before your usual coffee or tea</a>.
    <br><br>
    <em>Flickr photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jkonig/2168435597/" target="_hplink">JKönig</a></em>




  • Sip At Your Desk


    Keep a reusable cup or bottle at your desk. When it's empty, go refill it. It's a great way to fit in <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/13/sitting_n_1202800.html" target="_hplink">more steps during the day</a>, too!
    <br><br>
    Neglecting the bottle? "Put a sticky note on your computer to remind you to drink up," says Gans. If that <em>still</em> doesn't work, try setting a reminder alarm on your phone or calendar.
    <br><br>
    <em>Flickr photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcestnik/3889059326/" target="_hplink">jennypdx</a></em>




  • Bring Water To Go


    If you don't have a desk job, or even if you do, toss a water bottle in your bag to sip while you're out and about, says Gans.
    <br><br>
    <em>Flickr photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/yourdon/4105822390/" target="_hplink">Ed Yourdon</a></em>




  • Drink Before You Eat


    When you sit down to a meal, have a glass or two of water before you start to eat. Not only can it serve as a reminder to drink more, but a 2010 study found that drinking <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100823142929.htm" target="_hplink">two glasses before meals</a> helped people lose five pounds more over 12 weeks than people who did not increase their water intake.
    <br><br>
    <em>Flickr photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/earlg/237204111/" target="_hplink">Earl</a></em>




  • Dilute Your Juice


    If you're the type of person who'd rather reach for a sweet sip than plain ol' water, you don't have to cut out juice cold turkey. Instead, Gans recommends filling 1/4 of your glass with 100 percent fruit juice, then topping it off with water or seltzer.
    <br><br>
    <em>Flickr photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/73981677@N00/5401688691/" target="_hplink">badoir</a></em>




  • Skip The Soda


    If you find yourself reaching for a soda or other sweet drink that isn't 100 percent fruit juice, use that craving as a reminder instead to grab a glass of H2O. And if you can't quit those bubbles? "Seltzer counts as water," says Gans.
    <br><br>
    <em>Flickr photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spencereholtaway/1412762050/" target="_hplink">Spencer E Holtaway</a></em>




  • Give Your Water Some Flavor


    Still can't get over the bland taste? "Use fresh fruit or veggies to flavor your water," says Gans. Cucumber, lemon, lime and watermelon are tasty options, she says, and high in water themselves.
    <br><br>
    <em>Flickr photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riekhavoc/4665442112/" target="_hplink">Kaytee Riek</a></em>




  • Track Your Intake


    Just as <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080708080738.htm" target="_hplink">keeping a food diary</a> can help you key into what and when you're eating, tracking your water intake can similarly shine a light on where you could fit in more fluids. There's even <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/waterlogged-drink-more-water/id352199775?mt=8" target="_hplink">an app for that</a>!
    <br><br>
    <em>Flickr photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ari/765880039/" target="_hplink">Steve Rhodes</a></em>




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