Jul 12, 2022

LYMPH, what is it good for?

The lymphatic system is possibly one of the most overlooked systems in your body - and performs some of the most crucial day-to-day functions for our bodies and is an essential part of the immune system.

The lymph is a reflection of your overall health!

The lymphatic system is the body's filter that is conducive to its ability to compensate or regulate.

Like your car's oil filter, if it hasn't been changed or cleaned recently ~ it will get clogged, lessening the efficiency of potentially every system in the body.

The lymphatic system; represented by green lines and dots

It is no easy job to clean our lymphatic filter these days; toxins are everywhere, in the food we eat, the air we breathe, and the products we use. We must assist our body in draining waste and toxins efficiently and get our drainage system to work competently.

The lymphatic fluid is located in the fascia - under the skin. Fascia tissue is also known as secondary nervous system tissue. It is understood to hold the emotions and traumas of the body. Physical scarring, injuries, or stagnancy in the body damages the fascia.

The lymph system is known as the 'trash dump' of the body. Despite being the most abundant fluid within the body, the lymphatic fluid does not have a singular pump (whereas the cardiovascular system has the heart.) Consequently, only when the fascia moves is the lymphatic fluid pumped by every muscle in the body. As it travels around the organs, muscles, nerves, nodes and blood vessels, the fluid collects cellular waste and toxins that necessitate elimination from the body. The body eliminates waste through the bowels, urine, breath, blood (menstruating women) and sweat.

When we are moving, our bodies will expand and contract. Our muscles will pump lymphatic fluid throughout the fascia, collecting cellular waste and toxins, allowing for proper elimination through stools, urine, breathing, sweat and blood. Therefore, the body must move to stay healthy.

Whilst this may sound very simplistic, you will be inflamed if your lymph system isn't functioning optimally. Moreso, your body is going to have trouble eliminating impurities from your body.

Did you know that we have almost three times more lymphatic fluid than blood?

Signs of Lymphatic Congestion

Brain Fog
Migraines
Insomnia
Depression
Chronic Sinus Issues
Allergies
Acne + Skin Conditions
Swelling
Weight Gain
Cellulite

Steps to lymphatic health

Nutrition ~ Consume a low carbohydrate, Mediterranean-style diet aiming to reduce inflammation. Include whole foods such as fruit, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fish and extra virgin olive oil. Foods to avoid include; processed products, sugar, dairy and gluten, as they are all pro-inflammatory.

Sleep ~ Did you know the lymphatic system is highly active at night? In particular, the glymphatic system works at night to clear toxins from the brain. When you get inadequate sleep, this interaction cannot happen, and this is another way the lymph system becomes congested with toxins, compromising your immune responses.

Stress ~ To have a healthy, well-functioning lymphatic system, we need to be healthy. Excessive stress compromises the lymphatic system and can weaken our immune system.

Lifestyle ~ The lymph system, unlike the circulatory system, has no pump. When your body moves, your lymph also moves. Lymph flow does not happen automatically; for lymph to flow, it needs to be moved manually. This manual movement comes from any physical exercise. A sedentary lifestyle is one of the biggest obstacles to proper lymph flow.

Hydration ~ The lymphatic system is made of 96% water. If our bodies are not adequately hydrated, the lymph flow becomes sluggish and can quickly become congested in areas of high toxicity. We all need to assist our bodies in enabling the lymph system to work efficiently to drain waste and toxins, getting our drainage system to perform competently.

Scars ~ Scars can hold toxins and trauma and disrupt the fascia, lymphatic drainage, and circulation of the tissues surrounding the scar. Our intricate lymph system is spread throughout the body and can intersect with scars in many ways. These scars can disrupt the pathways for lymph in the body.