Anyone who is interested in health and well-being will benefit from having a fundamental understanding about how their body works.

Your lymph system is a vital part of your immune system, essential for protecting you from inflammation and disease.

Its main role is to maintain your fluid levels in balance, at the same time protecting you from infections and potential threats to your health.

It’s a vital part of keeping your body healthy and can act as a crucial aid in your weight-loss journey too.

Are you aware of the importance of regularly detoxing your lymph system?

Our body is mostly made up of water. Part of that water is found in the bloodstream, however way more fluid is actually found in the lymphatic system.

Your lymph system is a network of lymph nodes and blood vessels that work together to carry fluids from your tissues to your blood, and from your blood to your tissues.

Our cells are actually surrounded by and bathed in lymph fluid.

This lymphatic fluid transports oxygen from the blood vessels to nourish our cells.

Cellular waste such as carbon dioxide, lactic acid, and metabolites are also removed via the lymphatic fluid.

You can think of your lymphatic system as your body’s inner drainage system.

It is similar to your circulatory system, which is comprised of veins, arteries, and capillaries which carry your blood around.

Your lymph vessels are smaller than your veins. Its these that carry around the lymph - a clear, watery fluid.

How does it get congested?

One of the main causes of so many chronic health issues that is also responsible for lymph congestion is chronic stress.

A stressed body creates stress-fighting hormones that result in free radical waste products.

Chronic illness can lead to lymph congestion due to the fact that your body creates more white blood cells to fight inflammation, and these can end up filling your lymph nodes, congesting the system and creating swelling.

Other reasons for congestion include digestive imbalance, lack of nutrients, and not drinking enough water or getting enough physical activity.

The Importance of Movement and Breath

Our lymphatic system is hugely dependent on our moving and breathing. Sounds deceptively simple, right? But unlike our cardiovascular system where the constant beating of your heart acts as a built in pump, the lymph system has no such pump.

It relies on the pressure from muscle movement and breathing to move fluids around. Your rib cage acts as a major lymphatic pump, essential for healthy lymphatic flow, but of course you have to activate it with deep breathing and movement.

Everything is fine as long as the lymphatic system is flowing freely, but when it gets congested, the body’s functions are compromised and it enters a weak state, unable to defend against foreign invaders such as infection and illness.

Luckily, there are some easy and powerful ways to detox your lymph system and keep congestion at bay.

Try to use these 8 tools regularly to keep your lymphatic system clean, clear and running smoothly.

8 Ways To Detox Your Lymph System

Deep Breathing: Be mindful of your breathing and ensure that you take deep breaths from your diaphragm to maintain easy flow of your lymph fluids. This kind of diaphragmatic breathing allows your lungs to press into the thoracic duct which presses fluid back into your bloodstream. This kind of breathing facilitates proper lymph movement.

Clean up your diet: A healthy, clean and balanced diet produces less waste for your lymph system to clean up, reducing your chances of congestion. Try to avoid processed foods that are high in salt, sugar and preservatives.

Optimal Hydration:Lymph is about 95% water, so it’s not surprising that you need to be drinking lots of water each day to keep things flowing smoothly. Aim for 6 -8 glasses of filtered or purified water a day.

Exercise and rebounding: Physical activity is vital in all its forms but a specific movement that has proven amazing for purifying your lymph system is rebounding.It is a low impact exercise that involves jumping on a mini trampoline. It promotes the flow of lymph and increases the drainage of fluids and the removal of toxins.

Dry Brushing : This is an Ayurvedic technique to boost circulation, lymph flow and detoxification. It helps to remove dead skin cells and toxic waste, improves immunity and promotes lymphatic cleansing.

Alternating showers: Alternate showering can boost your lymph flow and circulation in a powerful way. The sudden exposure to cold constricts your blood supply, and then the heat dilates and expands your blood vessels.

Massage therapy: Massage can increase the flow of the lymph fluid and blood flow to your muscles, whole also reducing fluid buildup, prevent swelling and help tissues repair.

Sauna: Regular saunas/ infrared saunas and steam rooms will help you to sweat out toxins from your lymph.