The Lymphatic System

Hello everyone, today we are going to discuss what exactly the Lymphatic system is and why it is so essential to take care of. I know a lot of people do not understand what the lymphatic system does so I hope to clear that up today along with providing information on to keep it healthy.

To start things off, we need to understand what the Immune system is and how it plays a role in our health.

"Your immune system is a balanced network of cells and organs that work together to defend you against disease. It stops threats like bacteria or viruses from getting into your body. Think of it as a powerful "search and destroy" task force that sends out immune-cell forces to hunt down the unwanted intruders and get rid of them." (WebMD, Medical References, 2020)

The Lymphatic system is a part of your Immune system. A system within the system. The immune system helps your body remember previous foreign invaders to provide you protection against them. This is what it looks like. Since the Immune system protects you from disease, so does the Lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is compiled of lymph nodes and lymph vessels. There are around 600 lymph nodes within our bodies which will swell when there is infection.

"The lymphatic or lymph system involves an extensive network of vessels that passes through almost all our tissues to allow for the movement of a fluid called lymph. Lymph circulates through the body in a similar way to blood". (MacGill & Luo, Medical News Today, 2018)

The vessels within the Lymphatic system drain our body of lymph fluid into the nodes. There are around 600 lymph nodes within our bodies which will swell when there is infection. This is a build up of the lymph fluid within the system. This buildup occurs in several areas throughout the body where nodes are present... all 600 of them. This is where they are.

Now, you must be thinking, how do we move lymphatic fluid within our body? Well it turns out the easiest way to do this is...

EXERCISE!!!

Great, right? Any type of physical activity or exercise will help the body move it's lymphatic fluid. Here are a few other great ways to take care of this system by encouraging lymphatic flow.

​1. Eat a healthy diet. Including anything that is anti-inflammatory to the body. Such as green leafy vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, berries, nuts & seeds.

2. Massage. This can be done by a professional, yourself, or your significant other. Since we cannot go out in public during the pandemic, it is best to focus on self massage. Following @TheLymphaticMessage on Instagram is your best guide to self lymphatic massage! She is amazing.

3. Rebounding or jumping. Give that fluid a shake. This can be best done on a trampoline.

4. Lemon water. Since your Lymphatic system consists highly of water, it is smart to stay hydrated and alkaline to mineralize the body.

5. Dry Brushing. This is one of my favourite ways to encourage lymphatic flow. My best friend Angela bought me one from The Body Shop a few years back and I love it to this day. It is best done before a shower or bath to get rid of excess skin cells and improve circulation.

6. Ditch the bra. Underwires only harm our lymphatic flow! These can be getting in the way of the lymphatic vessels and nodes, it's best to go braless ladies.

7. Yoga. Especially the pose, legs up the wall. This will help lymph fluid stay moving and draining the lower half of the body.

8. Warm salt water bath. Epsom salts can help improve circulation, relieve sore muscles and promote relaxation = less stress on the immune system.

Above are a variety of ways to keep the lymphatic system in good health which will in turn encourage a healthy Immune system as well. If you are interested in diving deeper into this topic, I really suggest following @thelymphaticmessage on Instagram. Her posts educate me daily!

The Immune and Lymphatic systems are deeply connected in their abilities to influence each other's state of health. It is best to learn to take care of both by including small life changes into your routine that can encourage wellbeing. Once again, the best way to create a stronger defensive system in the body is to provide it with essential nutrients from our earth along with performing physical activity to our bodies.

I do hope this information makes sense to you and if you have any questions, please feel free to ask me. I have not always been invested in my lymphatic system health yet once I became educated on its importance in our wellbeing, I couldn't stop learning more!

I also hope you enjoy the week to come.

Thanks for reading!

This is how we flourish

​Abby