Health is not limited to one area of the body. It is a holistic, ongoing process. For example, did you know that a healthy lymphatic system function is of paramount importance to everything from weight loss to heart health?
As a lymphatic massage therapist, I have helped countless clients achieve better health through the healing power of touch. However, there are many things you can do on your own to maintain a healthy lymphatic system.
Down below I’ve listed my lymphatic system checklist to help you achieve a healthier system. But first, let’s see why our lymphatic systems are so crucial to our body’s health.
Why Health Starts with Your Lymphatic System
Before I became a lymphatic massage therapist, I did not realize how important the power of touch was. The lymphatic system, in all its intuitive glory, is responsible for removing waste from every single cell in the body.
As a part of our immune system, it also is important for maintaining fluid balance and helps our body absorb fats and fat-soluble nutrients. Through miles of vessels in our bodies, the lymph system circulates lymph fluid like our heart circulates blood.
When our lymph system isn’t doing well, some of our over 600 lymph nodes can swell because of infection or a build-up of lymph. This leaves us feeling sluggish, out of sorts, and even overweight.
In short, if your lymph system isn’t circulating lymph correctly, you could develop more complicated problems—all the while never knowing what the issue is.
Every system in our body is connected, and when one area is affected, the entire body suffers. So, whether you are trying to lose weight, stave off premature aging, or simply working to get in the best health of your life, the first step is to heal your lymph system.
With that in mind, here is my healthy lymphatic system checklist to get you moving in the right direction…
My Recommended Healthy Lymphatic System Checklist
Exercise
Exercise is so important to our entire body. We were designed to move, stretch, lift and bend. Unfortunately, most of us spend our days hunched over a computer or waddling around an office. For a healthy lymph system, you have to get moving.
Some of my favorite exercises include:
- Jumping on a trampoline for at least 10 minutes per day
- Yoga, daily.
- Walking, running or jogging
- Pilates
Spending just a few minutes per day doing these exercises will help your lymph system circulate more efficiently.
Fluids
Lymph is a fluid, and as such it requires more fluid to move around the body. I highly recommend consuming at least eight glasses of fresh spring water per day to support the lymphatic system. More if you live in a hot climate or are highly active.
Foods
I’ve spoken quite a lot about healthy foods on the blog, most recently I’ve listed some of my favorite lymphatic friendly foods. Check out that blog for some of my topic picks, but I would also recommend staying away from the following foods:
- Fried foods
- Sugars
- Artificial Sweeteners
- Processed Dairy
- Refined Grains
- Table Salt
Clothing
Another recommendation for my healthy lymphatic system checklist is to avoid restrictive clothing. In my previous post, I go into greater detail about why clothing is so important. Learn more about why I recommend loose fitting clothing over on that post.
Toxins
There are so many toxins in our environment. There are a few we can avoid though, like those in our foods and skincare. Do your best to purchase all natural items that have a minimal ingredients list to reduce your exposure to harmful toxins.
Lymphatic Massage
Lymphatic massage is a core part of your regular health. I recommend at least 4 massages per year, and more if you struggle with your lymph system health.
And when you’re ready to book your lymphatic massage with me, please visit my contact page. I would love to hear from you!
I hope my lymphatic system checklist helps push you in the right direction for lifelong health, and if you have any questions I would be happy to answer them via my contact page.