Keeping your immune system dynamic. Top tips and a lymphatic boosting exercise routine
Top tips and a lymphatic boosting exercise routine for you
It is crucial that we have excellent circulation and drainage throughout the body, in our arteries, veins, lymphatics and around and within our organs for our immune system to work at its optimal best.
Stress, illness, poor nutrition and no exercise cause tissues to become inflamed and congested. Inflammation is literally like glue to the body, it is sticky and reduces the natural slide and glide between the tissue layers.
The body begins to feel heavy and sluggish and our physical and mental energy deteriorates, leaving us feeling foggy headed, tired, bloated, constipated, slow to heal and prone to infection.
To generate freedom of movement within the fluids of the body we must generate freedom of movement outside of the body, both by what we are putting in our mouths and by how we move, stretch, relax and unwind each day.
Diets low in beige, processed food and high in wholegrains, lean organic meat protein, pulses, green leafy veg, pre and pro-biotic rich foods and plenty of water actually improve the motility of the gut by making it work hard to digest your food.
Relaxation and stress reduction is vital in reducing inflammation. Taking the time for regular breathing, mindfulness, yoga or mediation practices can make all the difference to your mental health and energy, and help promote vitality, healing and fluid flow throughout the body.
Taking lots of movement breaks throughout the day is so important in keeping the circulation flowing, especially to the brain, to help keep you focused and productive.
Our immunity also suffers when our bodies are congested. The immune system relies on an efficient lymphatic system, but unlike the circulation of the blood, it doesn’t have a big heart pump, but relies on body movement to be the pump.
The lymph system has areas of nodes, which are like little filters for the white blood cells, mainly found in the neck, arm pits, chest and groin. Interestingly, the areas for most of the nodes are situated near a joint – an area of maximal movement.
Or should be an area of maximal movement! But of course, what happens in reality is with lots of working, driving, sitting and sedentary time, these nodes don’t get enough stimulation and the lymphatic and immune system become compromised.
So I bring you a node-squishing-releasing 6 minute exercise routine designed exclusively to target mobilising the joints where the nodes are most abundant. If this doesn’t help your lymphatics find its flow, I don’t know what will! Oh, actually just a good power walk will also do the trick.