Why you SHOULD Sweat your Assets

6pm  – And it felt like the sun was just clocking in on this blistering Late-July evening, the crowd began to swell, a few thousand gathered for an annual charity run at Long Islands Jones Beach. 5K (or 3.2 miles) was the task at foot (Hah! Get it, Ya Get it). It’s one of those things that your really happy you did……once it’s over, but leading up, my excitement for racing in 95ºF summer heat was lacking, especially after a long day of work. By this point in the day you begin to become mentally depleted, your brain CPU’s are lagging. But getting it done – especially when your not feeling it – is what it’s all about! It’s a skill, a mental skill, and as with any skill it can be built, you just have to endure the urge to quit along the way.  We all gazed at the big board, counting down the seconds to the opening horn, soon the un-enthusiasm will be sieged by an army of endorphins and little sweat, what could go wrong….

Fast forward –I dont know – 90 minutes.  The sirens were barely noticeable from the reclined chair of this medical escort, yep I was in an ambulance. In a deep scrambled focus, tapping my finger with reckless precision upon the screen of knowledge (or a cell phone), unsuccessfully might I add. The simple task of typing in a 4-digit password to unlock a phone, something that the unconscious self usually takes care of (as part of your standard operations), was now utilizing every ounce of focus I could stir up, and it wasn’t enough.  In the mists of all this, my arm was seized, extended, needle inserted, and fluid dripped. With that, consciousness began to magically re-emerge.  It’s quite the experience when you lose the bodily functions that you take for granted day-in and day-out, you realize that your most valuable asset isn’t built on some plot of land, sitting in a bank account, a safe, or a driveway. It’s the person that your in constant conversation with, the one staring straight at you every time you look in a mirror. It’s You!

Now, that was an extreme situation that developed as a result of several natural and environmental factors. In hindsight, it’s easy to point out that I wasn’t properly hydrated or nourished, the heat and humidity was unforgiving and I did nothing but simple stretching as preparation (which would have been fine if I wasn’t running to win the damn thing). I remember the final sprint when everything (except the road) began to go downhill, I stopped about 100ft shy of the finish, thinking I had just crossed the line. It took a kind spectator to point out I was still in the race, stumbling and bumbling ensued,  Ohh Boy….

The likely causes of this fiasco, were a combination of all the components previously listed. Throughout the run, my body temperature began to rise as a result of muscle contractions and environmental heat factors.  Once temperature begins to deviate from the average 98.6º F, your body will naturally try to find its way back to homeostasis (or equilibrium). In this case, it needed to cool down, so it began to excrete Sweat – otherwise known as a Water heavy mixture with Sodium, Chloride and Potassium (or Electrolytes).  OK, we all know water is important but these electrolytes are no joke either – Our cells, particularly our muscles, use certain chemicals together with water to make sure that the electrical charges in our bodies work properly. If you haven’t guessed, those chemicals rely on electrolytes,  The Main Components:

Sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium and magnesium are minerals which dissolve in water and form electrically charged electrolytes particles called “ions”. Maintaining the correct concentrations of these ions in and outside cells in the body is essential for transmitting electrical impulses along nerves and for muscle contraction. They allow us to perform all the “bioelectrical” functions such as moving, heart-beating, thinking, and seeing.¹

For humans and other warm-blooded animals, excessive body temperature can disrupt enzymes regulating biochemical reactions that are essential for cellular respiration and the functioning of major organs.

Whoa! Looks like we solved our mystery. Good job Gang, who would’a thought it was poor preparation the whole time. By not being properly hydrated or nourished – And putting on a gym-class-hero performance at a charity event – , I had literally sweat my assets to the point that my assets began to go into survival mode. But sweating your assets is actually a good thing and has been linked to many benefits, you just need to do it right (or the opposite of what I did).

SWEAT IT OUT

When your not running yourself into biological bankruptcy, and have a steady flow of capital coming in (or water/food/minerals) than getting your Sweat On is actually a good thing, a really good thing.   Research has shown, sweat produced by physical activity boosts endorphins (feel good chemicals) and detoxifies your body.

A 2011 study published in the journal Archives of Environmental and Contamination Toxicology found many toxic elements appeared to be excreted through sweat. Induced sweating appears to be a potential method for the elimination of many toxic elements from the human body.

Along with feeling great and detoxifying your body, sweat is also associated with a number of additional benefits like:  Removing Endocrine Disruptors, Promoting Healthier Skin, Fighting Harmful Microbes, Detoxing Heavy Metals, Aiding Heart Health, Boosting Sex Drive, plus lowering risk of Kidney Stones and Alzheimer’s. These biological assets are a tad different than the terms you’d find in the dictionary:

Asset – a useful or valuable thing, person, or quality.

• Sleep
• Water
• Plant Based Diet
• And Ummm SWEATING…..(or Exercise)

It’s as simple or Complex as ya wanna make it.

Pro-Tip – Don’t forget to consume that water stuff prior to sweating.  If not, you may lose the ability to operate……..Everything