In combination with your circulatory system, the lymphatic system removes waste produced by your cells. This includes excess fluid, dead blood cells, cancer cells and toxins. This toxic waste then gets filtered through your kidneys and liver, and exits the body through faecal matter and urine.
Without proper care, lymph nodes can become congested and swollen. Here are 10 things you can do every day to help detox your lymphatic system naturally.
1. Exercise
Unlike your circulatory system that rely on the heart, your lymphatic system doesn’t have a pump. This means that in order for lymph fluid to be pumped throughout your body, you need to be moving. As explained by Dr. David Williams,
“Our lymphatic system is basically our body’s sewer system. Although it has millions of vessels just like the blood system, it has no strong heart to keep lymph moving.
Instead, lymph is moved by breathing, walking, intestinal activity, and muscle action. As muscles tighten, lymph vessels are squeezed and lymph is pushed along and filtered through lymph nodes on its way back to the veins and the heart.”
In short, exercising helps pump lymph around your body. For optimal lymph health, start your day with an early morning jog. Cardio is particularly good for decongesting your system. You can also do a full-body cardio workout if the weather’s bad.