Did you know that there are two fluids that circulate around your body? One is blood and the other is lymph. The lymphatic system is lesser talked about, but plays an extremely important role in our health.
Whilst the blood acts as the carrier, it takes nutrients to the cells, the lymph acts as the sewer system of the body, it carries waste away from the cells and is filtered through the kidneys (and ultimately should end up in your urine!). When we don't look after our lymphatic system, the waste is kept within your body and dumped - almost all the problems and diseases imaginable become a risk, from acne to cancer.
So how do we keep our lymphatic system working optimally? You have to make sure your kidneys and adrenals are working!
1. To test if your adrenals are working, test your blood pressure! Your systolic rate (the number on top) should be about 120. If it is lower than this, taking licorice root each day can help boost your blood pressure up, which in turn helps the adrenals to kickstart proper kidney function (which then filters lymph properly!).
2. To check if your kidneys are filtering properly, one evening you should stop drinking fluids a couple of hours before you go to bed. In the morning, pee into a glass jar and check for cloudiness, if the urine is not cloudy, you're not filtering dirty lymph!
3. Unlike blood, which is pumped by the heart, lymph is moved through the movement of your muscles. This means if you don't exercise, you're allowing lymph to become stagnant. So get moving!
4. Consume lots of acid fruit (some of these include citrus fruits, strawberries, grapes, nectarines and pineapple), these act as an internal cleanser and astringent which helps the kidneys and encourage filtration. Along with this, taking lemon water each day is a simple and easy way to start cleansing.
5. Hot and cold showers. Yep, unfortunately this method is one to use to kick start the lymphatic system and I personally don't find it very fun - but it is very beneficial and I can testify that you feel so much more alive afterward. Remember, a cold shower can't harm you, it's more of a mental game of trying to withstand being uncomfortable!
6. Herbs, herbs, herbs. They're here to help us and specific internal organs. Echinacea is a great lymphatic boosting herb to add each day.
Being aware of the importance of your lymphatic system and how to treat it is essential, especially if you have any health issues, we talk so much about bringing nutrition to our bodies that we sometimes forget that our body has an entire system set up to take away the waste that isn't entirely centred around our bowel habits (but does include this!). Think lymph!
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