Greeks are curious..and when we make our trips to our villages, we honor the Greek cuisine properly. Fatty meats, sweets, salty foods and a lot of alcohol are the reasons that with our return to everyday life we find it quite difficult to get back into rhythm as our body has returned, albeit rested, but full of toxins!
We hear a lot about detoxing, especially in the pre-and post-holiday period. The media and health gurus convince us that "detox" is a solution to the health issues of the modern world. But what is the detoxification process and what exactly are we trying to do when we "detox" our bodies?
This article will focus on the lymphatic system, a network that has a primary role in the detoxification process. So we're going to talk about how to improve your health by helping your lymphatic system work at its best.
What is detox and why should you care?
Simply put, detoxification of the body is the removal of toxins and waste from our bodies. There are several ways to detoxify the body and the leading organs are the liver, kidneys, lymphatic system, and skin.
Full of fat food, alcohol, stress and poor lifestyle choices force these systems to work harder. When they cannot cope with the demands, they cause difficulties such as bowel dysfunction, metallic or bitter taste in the mouth, tiredness, bad mood, headache, hair loss, obesity, cellulite, edema, skin problems. Therefore all diseases are burdened when it exists intoxication.
During the holidays many of us are a little over exceed with the celebrations and suffer on our way back for it and here are some tips for optimizing your health this time of year.
The tips in this article are relevant any time of year and anytime you need to take a break and detox your body!
What happens when our lymph circulation is not optimal?
Retention of water – Swollen feet, hands and other parts of the body can be caused by water retention, often as a result of poor lymph function.
Swelling of tissue – When the lymphatic system is blocked, our tissues can swell with lymph fluid, a condition known as lymphedema.
Other signs of possible blockages include: bad skin condition, the chronic fatigue, the αύξηση βάρους, the cold and flu and arthritis.
How to Detox the Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system is one of the most important networks in our body used to fight infection and remove waste.
Maintaining a healthy lymphatic system is essential all year round. It's not too complicated, but during the holidays our immune system is under a lot of pressure. Foods high in sugar, fat, alcohol, lack of sleep and holiday stress destroy our body's natural waste disposal systems. The result is an increase in colds and flu, acne, dull skin, fatigue and irritability.
Here's how you can maintain a healthy lymphatic system:
One of the easiest ways to improve your body's lymphatic function is to have a lymphatic massage, which is not only a pleasant experience, but also really good for your body! Lymphatic massage aims to improve lymphatic circulation to treat problems such as cellulite, swelling and fluid retention. The method used is Dr. Emil Vodder which aims to improve the natural mobility of the lymphatics. It helps to decongest swelling and helps athletes increase circulation while recovering from an injury. The massage is low pressure and is done on the body for 45' with 15' of rest at the end of the session.
When the lymph node system in your body isn't working properly (it can sometimes be sluggish and ineffective due to toxic overload), a massage therapist can help stimulate the nodes into action. Therapists use their hands to gently squeeze the areas of the body where the lymph nodes are located. This helps to push the lymph around the body and the result is the elimination of toxins, increasing immune function and reducing edema, swelling and water retention.
If you haven't tried lymphatic massage yet, we recommend you book a session to experience what a detox massage can do for you. It's one of the best ways to clean your system and start fresh.
#2. Use herbs for lymphatic system benefits
We love natural remedies for anything to do with the body (and that includes massage). Nature has given us herbs that heal, cleanse and promote good health. Why not use them? Science has shown us that many of the most common herbs can help detoxify and boost the immune system. Dandelion, ginger, coriander, artichoke leaves and milk thistle are great detox allies.
Try ginger and turmeric tea with a spoonful of natural honey. It's a great detox drink that's easy to make and doesn't contain caffeine. Herbal teas are a great way to add some of these foods to your diet.
If you want to know more about nutrition for health, why not book a session with a nutritionist? Small improvements in diet can make a huge difference in your energy levels, skin and overall health.
#4. Eat naturally
Good and quality nutrition is one of the pillars of health. No matter how much you exercise, rest, sleep and take care of your body, if you are not eating right for your body, you will always be fighting against toxic overload.
The following foods will help cleanse the lymphatic system:
Brazil nuts, Spirulina, Avocado, Flaxseed (oil and seed form), Green leafy vegetables
#5. Exercise for lymphatic drainage
Yes, we know you're probably bombarded with ads for new gym memberships and weight loss programs to whittle away your points until summer, but exercise isn't just about losing weight (did you know that, though). As humans, we need to exercise to maintain the health of the systems in our bodies. We were designed to move and when we don't, things start to get a little sluggish. Our body's lymphatic system is prone to a sluggish response when we don't get enough exercise.
We need to move lymph around the body to maintain optimal health. Muscles help move lymph around the body. Whether through breathing, bowel movements or muscle action, lymph is pushed around the body helping to remove toxins. Even just moving around will do good. Sitting at a desk all day or on a couch after work will make things worse.
The body removes toxins from the body through various channels and breathing is one of the main ways we can improve the elimination of waste. Deep breathing works better than the shallow breathing most of us do in our sedentary jobs. Any exercise that increases our heart rate will help us breathe more deeply and encourage the body to flush out toxins.
#6. Visit the sauna, hot tub or steam room
Not just for relaxation purposes, saunas and steam rooms can really help with the detoxification process.
Sweating is one way the body removes toxins from the body. But saunas, steam rooms and other forms of heat therapy help our lymphatic systems in the following ways:
- It reduces stress
- Cleanses the skin
- It flushes out toxins
- It relaxes and soothes the muscles
Improvements in sleep quality have also been observed with sauna use. As we've already mentioned, a good night's sleep will do wonders for your lymphatic system
If you follow most of the tips in this article, you should be able to make significant changes in your lymph node function. Consult a doctor before making drastic changes in diet and exercise. If you are already healthy and have no problems with exercise, then making some immediate changes will see immediate results.
Want the fastest ways to improve the health of your lymphatic system? Drink lots of water, walk 30 minutes a day, breathe deeply and do a lymphatic massage once a week. With these changes you will see a difference in the way your body works and it won't be long before you enjoy the benefits of a healthy body.
Source of Valuable Information from Bodywise Clinic
