Healthy Lymph Flow Keeps Immunity Boosted
Denise Boehm, Massage Therapist
A healthy flow of our body's lymphatic system is critical for optimum health. Part of the body's circulatory system, think of the vast and intricate system of fluids, bodes, glands,ducts and vessels as our waste disposal system. It continuously cleans and removes waste from the body.
The lymphatic system is part of the body’s circulatory system and is a critical part of our immune system. It is vast, intricate system of fluids, nodes, glands, ducts and vessels that continuously clean and remove waste matter from the body. Think of it as the body’s garbage collector — our waste disposal system. Its job, in part, is to remove bacteria, cellular debris, excess water, proteins and wastes from the tissues with lymph fluid. The lymph fluid in your body is not unlike the oil in your car. If it becomes dirty it moves slowly, builds up sludge, impacts performance, and can cause a host of problems with your automobile. The same is true for the fluid in your lymph system. A sluggish and inefficient lymphatic system degrades and impairs the immune system. Swelling, inflammation, pain, fatigue and a variety of illnesses are possible when your immune system is impaired. Every part of the body is influenced by the lymphatic system, because no matter what the purpose of the cells, they all need to be nourished and cleansed.
There are a variety of contributing factors to poor lymphatic flow. Most obvious are surgeries, physical trauma, swelling and edema. However, the most common causes of an inefficient lymphatic system have to do with the lifestyle choices we make. We are a society “on the run”. We don’t have time to take the time to take care of ourselves. As a result we often don’t get enough sleep; we eat on the run and tend to eat convenience foods that are loaded with preservatives and chemicals that our bodies were never meant to process. We don’t get enough exercise and interestingly enough the lymphatic fluid needs muscle power and contraction to move it around the body so it can do its job.
Ben Franklin said that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. So, if you are suffering from low energy, fatigue, pain or inflammation; or susceptibility to colds, viruses, or the flu here are some tips to consider:
- Do a 5-7 day Detox
- Clean up your food choices. Reduce/eliminate preservatives and chemicals from your diet
- Get out and move. If you can’t commit to a gym use your feet---walk, bike, swim
- Encourage lymph flow with a lymphatic drainage massage
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