We talked previously about liver support, and how to help our livers function at their best. We know that the liver is the organ that’s responsible for flushing excess fat and toxins out of our bodies. That leads to maintaining a healthy weight, and healthy organs and systems.
But what happens if our liver is sluggish or not functioning correctly? If our liver is overwhelmed or over-capacitated, some of the toxins and fats in our system get pushed onto our lymphatic system. As incredible and effective as our lymphatic system is, having to push large molecules of toxins and fats around can become too much work. I believe this is what can lead to illness and cancer in these systems.
My mother had lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system), and so I had a first-hand look at how integral the lymphatic system is to whole body health and how severely an ill lymphatic system can affect all parts of the body.
The lymphatic system is just as important as the liver for cleansing waste, even in a healthy body, on a cellular level. Think of it as the grass-roots level cell cleanser. Keeping our lymphatic system flushed, moving and healthy is a large part of why we need to move our bodies on a daily basis. Boosting our blood circulation doesn’t just benefit our blood vessels and circulatory system. It also gets our lymph moving.
I found an article that I felt was very informative. These are the parts I feel are most relevant:
“(Paraphrased from Draxe.com and Dr. Axe) – The best way to protect the complex series of crisscrossing lymphatic vessels and “nodes” that span almost the entire body (everyone except for the central nervous system) is to eat a healing diet, exercise daily and take steps to detoxify the body naturally.
The lymphatic system carries a liquid called lymph, which stores our white blood cells. Lymph is a clear, watery fluid and also carries protein molecules, salts, glucose and other substances, along with bacteria, throughout the body.
Eating a healthy diet, exercising, not smoking, getting enough sleep and reducing stress are all critical for lowering oxidative stress (Oxidative Stress – Free radical damage that ages the body and lowers immunity) and halting the body’s natural detoxification processes. The circulatory system and lymphatic system rely on one another
Good blood circulation is important for keeping the lymphatic system running smoothly, otherwise tissue can become swollen with excess waste.
To keep circulation pumping and the lymphatic system functioning optimally, it’s important to load up on all the essential nutrients, like vitamins, minerals, electrolytes and antioxidants, that you need.
The more nutrient-dense your diet, and the less chemicals entering your body, the better your lymphatic system can work. Foods that put stress on the digestive, circulatory and immune systems include common allergens (like dairy products, gluten, soy, shellfish or nightshades, low-quality animal products, refined vegetable oils and processed foods that contain chemical toxins and preservatives.).
Anti-inflammatory foods, on the other hand, supply much-needed nutrients and antioxidants while also lowering free radical damage that ages the body and lowers immunity.
The lymphatic system works best when you move your body, which helps keep fluids circulating and nutrients reaching your cells. There’s a reason why being stagnant causes you to feel more achy, stiff and prone to becoming sick.
Any type of regular exercise and movement (such as simply walking more) is good for keeping lymph fluid flowing, but some exercise seems to be particularly beneficial, including yoga (which twists the body and helps fluid drain), or high-intensity interval training (also called HIIT workouts, which is great for improving circulation).”
How the lymphatic system works on a micro-level, moving waste from cell to lymph to nodes and eventually out of our bodies is fascinating and something I recommend everybody look into.
The importance of a healthy lymphatic system cannot be overstated. Fortunately those of us following Anthony William’s suggestions in his book “Thyroid Healing” have a leg up. We’re already cutting back on inflammatory and pesticide-rich foods, giving our lymphatic systems a chance to cleanse and purge.
Remember to keep your body moving on a daily basis. Yoga is a low-impact exercise with high pay-off in terms of how good your body feels afterward and the benefits to your body. If you’re not into yoga, try taking a walk, or even dancing.
I dance like a toddler on too much sugar, so I try not to do it in public. But I have a few Just Dance games for Wii that I love to get moving to. I also have Zumba, which gets me really moving. Both are great because both get me off my butt and moving my body.
Other ideas for exercise would be swimming (one of my favorites), rollerblading, bike riding …and more. The point isn’t to become a cross-fit athlete, it’s merely to get yourself moving. You’re only competing against yourself, so don’t feel like you have to perform to a certain level to justify getting yourself moving.
You’ve come this far, you’re committed to eating healthy, you can almost remember what it felt like before your thyroid disease hijacked your energy and your life. Don’t stop now! Get out there and take back your future. A life full of vitality and joy are only a minute away when you’re ready and willing to make the change.
If I can do this, anyone can do this. So let’s do this together!
Vital Living Life 