Health

Can I sweat toxins out?

I've heard people talk about sweating the toxins out of your body. Can you really do this?
T Spencer, by email

Some toxins dissolve naturally in sweat and leave the body through the sweat glands. Because of this, some believe that stimulating sweating with heat or exercise helps clear toxins from the body. However, scientific medical evidence for this is scarce, and it’s important to be aware of the possible problems that may occur, such as dehydration, which may cause more health problems than the toxins themselves would.

The liver and kidneys play an important role in removing toxins from the body. It’s vital not to put the liver under unnecessary stress from excess alcohol or infection, and to keep the kidneys healthy by drinking plenty of non-alcoholic liquid and avoiding high blood pressure and diabetes. Of course, with regards to toxins, the best advice is not to put too many into the body in the first place.