Body Heat

I've been thinking a lot about sweat and heavy breathing lately. Mostly because I have been working in the yard , and sweating copiously while breathing deeply. ( And I sweat; I don't "glow" or "glisten" or "perspire.")

Anyway, did you know that only 25% of chemical energy ( body fat and food consumed) is converted into mechanical energy( movement?) The other 75% is released as heat through the breath or sweat. 2.6 million sweat glands can't be wrong.

Elite athletes release heat up to 30 kcal/minute! Core body temperature can rise up to 6 degrees in 15 minutes, which can slow reaction time by up to 30%!

And perspiration of 1 ounce releases 0.19 kcal of heat, increasing core body temperature by .02 degrees every minute.

My friends at Sport Science (THE coolest show on TV, except for "Sons of Anarchy") recently reported on football players' performance in the heat. The average temperature for summer camp is 84.16 degrees, which can create a temperature of 130 degrees on the field.

And as little as a 2% loss of bodyweight due to perspiration can reduce mental acuity, muscular power by 20% , and reaction time by 20%.

Now you see why hydration is key to performance. Hydrate fully the day prior to an athletic event, and consume plenty of liquids throughout.


Matty Walker: My temperature runs a couple of degrees high, around a hundred. I don't mind. It's the engine or something.

Ned Racine: Maybe you need a tune up.

( Body Heat, 1981)