Educate yourself on the basic rundown of your hard-working lymphatic system and the anti-inflammatory foods that will fight for you instead of against you.
The Lymphatic system is a wonderful mechanism with many facets to its purpose. First, lymph fluid is defined as the excess plasma that does not make it back into the blood stream but instead seeps into the body’s tissue. Some examples of the nutrients carried by lymph include proteins, minerals and fats, and some wastes would be pathogens and damaged and/or cancerous cells. Every day, an estimate of seventeen liters of plasma will be taken through the circulatory system removing waste and transferring nutrients, but three liters of excess plasma will be transported by the lymphatic system in the body’s tissue to be taken to the bloodstream. The 600-some lymph nodes throughout your body are filtering glands that are connected through lymph vessels where they help clean the fluid before it enters the right and left collecting ducts. From here, the subclavian veins under the collar bone retrieve the lymph and carry it into the superior vena cava which will send the clean lymph back to your heart. As far as where the waste in the lymph nodes go, it too gets picked up by the blood vessels which take it to the liver and kidneys so it can be filtered out and excreted through bowel movements and urine. As amazing as this intricate and precise system is, if we don’t nurture it with God-made, wholesome food, then we can’t expect it to do its job keeping us healthy and strong.
Here are some great anti-inflammatory foods and drinks you can take in that will help boost your lymphatic system to its optimal health.
- Leafy green vegetables: spinach, kale, chard, arugula, collard greens, beet greens
- Cruciferous vegetables: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts
- Berries: these are known for their high antioxidant effect through their many phytochemicals
- Omega 3’s: salmon, wild sea food, chia seeds, flax seeds
- Nuts and seeds: chia, flax, hemp, pumpkin seeds
- Herbs and spices: turmeric, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, rosemary, black pepper, and cardamom are fabulous spices to incorporate into your diet.
- Extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil: healthy, anti-inflammatory fats
- Water: Is a key ingredient to the health of your immune system. It is easy to be dehydrated when you don’t even realize. Try to get half your body weight in fluid ounces of water per day.
- Ginger tea: Cancer fighting, high antioxidant that decreases the decaying/aging process of the body.
- Green tea: contains a powerful antioxidant called EGCC that helps protect cells from damage, was found to assist in weight loss, and helps blood sugar regulation.
- Coconut water: can be a great isotonic( no osmosis or shifting is happening with the cell) fluid enhancer to decrease swelling. It’s low in fat(94% water) and high in potassium. It’s a good source of hydration and great for your skin.
- It’s never to late to improve your immune system through the simple steps of education, application, and repetition. We hope to teach and encourage you as you continue on your journey of naturally blessed health.
- (-My.clevelandclinic.org/lymphaticcapillaries)
- (-Apexptwellness.com)
- (-AMTA journal-Michelle Vallet)
