Move Your Lymph

Lymph isn’t a sexy thing to talk about. We all have it and yet there are not tons of articles and trending posts about how to keep your lymph health. It is this quiet little area of our bodies that just is there until we are sick though even then I am not sure there is a lot of understanding for its function. I know I don’t wonder daily about my own lymph and am much more concerned with the number on the scale or something more tangible in the forefront of my own health.

Perhaps though lymph should be at the forefront.

With increases in autoimmune disorders and cancers in lymphatic systems it seems time to look more deeply at this system and ways we can improve this system to support health and vitality.

What is Lymph and the Lymphatic System?

This is an interesting system that intertwines and runs parallel to our blood vessels and veins. It works in conjunction with blood flow to support immune response. This could explain why most of us don’t think about our lymph system until we encounter an illness. Nonetheless, it is there working all the time in companionship with our immune system doing its best to respond to bacteria, pathogens, viruses and everything in between.

There are a few components to the lymphatic system including the lymph itself, lymph nodes, spleen, thymus gland and tonsils. The lymph vessels move lymph itself to the different areas of the body and act as an intermediary between tissue and blood. Lymph is a straw colored substance that is between the blood and tissue of our bodies.

Lymph is used to kill bacteria, foreign matter and particles in our body that can harm our health and gets it to the right place for elimination. It works with our immune system to produce the cells needed for organ health. The lymph nodes located throughout our body, works to sequester pathogens so the immune system can deal with them hopefully before a problem festers. Our spleen kicks in to help by filtering out bacteria and storing extra red blood cells and platelets we need for healing.

The lymph system lacks a pump to move lymph around. In the blood system for instance, blood is pushed around by the beats of the heart to reach all corners of our body. The lymph system relies on muscle contractions and body movement to push lymph where it needs to go. The more you move the more it moves. Herein lies the reason a sedentary lifestyle can add up to major health issues. If you are not someone who moves frequently or has other ways for movement to occur in your day, then lymph sits too.