The Importance of the Lymphatic System

  • By Sandi McGriff
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  • 10 Oct, 2018
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The Lymphatic system's job is to filter and pump lymphatic fluid out of our bodies. This fluid consists of waste products from cellular activity, also known as toxins. The single most important thing you can do for your lymphatic system is to stay hydrated. I always tell my patients and clients to drink half of their body weight in ounces of water every day. Staying hydrated is extremely important for everyone, and especially those with a compromised lymphatic system. You may think that drinking water would increase swelling but it has quite the opposite effect.

Staying hydrated not only keeps our tissues healthy but also aids the lymphatic system in flushing toxic wastes out of our bodies. Along with staying hydrated,  it is also crucial to exercise on a regular basis to keep your lymphatics clean. I would recommend doing something active at least five days a week for at least twenty minutes, whether it be cardiovascular exercise or weight training.

Eating a healthy diet and limiting alcohol is also important. If you are one that enjoys drinking socially on a regular basis, I do recommend cardiovascular training and sitting in the sauna on a regular basis!

Is Your Body Stressed?

By Sandi McGriff • October 1, 2018
Signs that your optimal level of stress has been exceeded include chronic muscle tension (especially in the neck and back), short temper, anxiety, excessive worry, insomnia, chronic fatigue, general nervousness, feeling "burnt-out" or stressed out." People experiencing too much stress are frequently more clumsy and forgetful than usual, and may be involved in more accidents. These are the signs of "stress gone bad" or distress.

The physical component of distress is revealed in figures of speech like "carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders," and "pain in the neck." Chronic health problems associated with a prolonged stress response include tension headache, backache, ulcers, colitis, blood sugar irregularities, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

Chronic stress has been proven to impair the immune system- our first defense against many diseases ranging from the common cold to cancer. Thus too much stress has a general negative effect, leaving us vulnerable to many diseases, and inhibiting recovery as well.
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