HELPING YOUR LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
Let's take a minute to talk about a part of your body that doesn't get much attention. Frankly, I'd say it doesn't get nearly enough attention! This is your lymphatic system
Your lymphatic system works to clear your body of debris (think proteins, bacteria, pus, damaged or dead cells) to keep fluid levels in your body in balance and to defend against infections. Interestingly, your lymphatic system doesn't have its own pump to rely on. These fluids are moved through vessels in your body by the contraction of surrounding muscles. *This will be important knowledge in a minute. :)
The lymph vessels pass through lymph nodes (perhaps the part you've heard more about) clustered in your neck, abdomen, groin, backs of your knees, and your armpits. When your lymph nodes are swollen you can actually feel them, usually indicating that they're hard at work defending your body using cells inside the nodes to "sweep up" debris like you sweep up crumbs under the kitchen table.
Trust me when I say that you want this system doing its job!
So here are seven (because that's my favorite number) ways you can lend it a hand:
Breathe deep breaths. Your lymphatic system gets a boost when you breath deeply, causing pressure changes in your chest and abdomen and helping with thoracic pumping. Pause a few times a day to breathe 5-6 deeeeeeeeep breaths.
On your toes. The simple act of going up and down onto your tip-toes helps with lymphatic drainage in your legs. Walking naturally produces this action so that's one of the best exercises for lymphatic drainage. But this up-down motion is something you can do even if your job involves a lot of sitting or standing in one place. Simply push your foot up onto the tiptoe and back down again.
Jump! When your body doesn't move around enough, the lymphatic system struggles but activity, specifically jumping, can really help. Grab a mini trampoline or a rope and do some jumping.
Drink more water. The lymphatic system relies on fluids so give it a leg up by drinking at least 64 ounces of water a day.
Cut back on fats so your system doesn't have to work quite so hard. Try some olive oil in place of butter and eat nuts for fats instead of processed fatty foods.
Eat and drink more greens. Greens are full of life-boosting vitamins, minerals, enzymes and trace elements that help your body detox.
Detox your mind and your mood. Some believe that lymphatic system problems can be seen as a warning sign that your mind needs to be refocused on positivity, love and joy. Practice breath work - breathing out negativity, the inner-critic, and that which doesn't serve you, and breathing in new possibilities, opportunity and self-worth. Investing in a coach to help you with this can be life-changing both for your emotional state as well as your physical.