The body basically has two types of sweat glands; these are the Eccrine glands, (also known as merocrine), and the Apocrine glands. These glands are located all over the largest organ which is the skin, and are very important to the overall well-being of the body.
They help to control the body's temperature, and also help to remove harmful toxins from the body every time the body sweats.
The Eccrine glands are coiled tubular glands which release the sweat directly onto the skin's surface, and are located almost all over the body. They are smaller than the Apocrine glands, and do not stretch as far into the dermis. These glands help to control the temperature of the body especially in hot weather, and during exercise. The sweat produced by these glands is high in salt content, and the scent is usually odorless.
The Eccrine glands are also located in the soles of the feet, and in the palm of the hands where they help to create friction, in order to get a better grip, and to better turn the pages of a book.
The sweat produced from these glands can also protect one from harmful toxins, or chemicals in the environment by diluting them with sweat as they come in contact with the skin.
The Apocrine glands are coiled and tubular glands mainly located in the armpits and groin areas, where they release the sweat into hair follicles. In these areas these glands help to remove harmful toxins from the body. In the ears these glands are known as ceruminous glands, and these help to produce ear wax. And in the breast they are known as mammary glands, which help to produce milk.
The Apocrine glands work to remove toxins from the body through sweating, and so when the body is toxic the sweat produced will cause body odor. But when the inside of the body is clean the sweat produced is odorless. These glands do not begin to function until the age of puberty, which is why no deodorant is needed during childhood.
In order to prevent the toxins from entering the body, one must eat a healthy diet, consisting mainly of fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and sprouts, as well as nuts, seeds and whole grains.
Drinking lots of fluids is recommended because the fluid lost during sweating must be restored throughout the day. Freshly squeezed fruits and vegetable juices also help to restore the lost fluids, plus they are high in nutrients.
