Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Flush The Lymphatic System

Yoga sessions aid in healthy lymphatic function.


You body's lymphatic system plays a vital role in maintaining your health. The lymphatic system removes waste, toxins and even cancer cells from lymph, or intercellular fluid. Once lymph nodes are cleaned, lymph is flushed back into the circulatory system to make room for more lymph to enter and be cleaned. Flushing the lymphatic system helps it stay healthy and functioning. A healthy lymphatic system becomes especially important during times of illness, when more toxins must be removed from the lymph. Dietary cleansing and exercise can flush the lymphatic system.


Instructions


Dietary Cleanse


1. Start a fasting cleanse. Three days before the fast, reduce your intake of heavy foods, such as meat, grains and legumes. Eliminate processed foods, sugar, alcohol, tobacco and coffee from your diet. Begin eating fruit, cooked vegetables, broths and whole grains, which are easily digestible. This is the beginning of a dietary cleanse outlined by Jeevan Raksa, an Indian health organization.


2. Eat only fruit during the first day of the cleanse. Choose fruits that are low in sugar, such as apples, pears, berries, watermelon, apricots, cherries and prunes.


3. Drink only pure water and herbal teas during the second day. Chamomile, raspberry leaf, spearmint, hyssop, pau d'arco, red clover and echinacea are some types of herbal teas that aid in flushing the lymphatic system.








4. Eat steamed or raw vegetables on the third day. Avoid boiled vegetables as boiling destroys the valuable nutrients your body requires for cleansing. Continue drinking pure water and herbal teas.








5. Make a vegetable broth on the fourth day. Stew the broth from cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, onion, green peppers and parsley. Do not add other vegetables. If you need seasoning, use natural salt that still contains trace minerals. Drink the broth, pure water and herbal tea throughout the day.


6. Build back up to your normal diet. On the first day after the cleanse, eat fruits, vegetables, broths, juices and teas. Add sea plants, such as kelp and rice cream, on the second day. Introduce soy products and legumes on the third day. Add new foods slowly. Consume small amounts to shift back to your normal diet.


Simple Cleansing Steps


7. Exercise often. Exercises such as walking move lymph through your vessels and keep your lymphatic system from stagnating. If your exercise abilities are limited due to disability or illness, yoga is effective.


8. Schedule whole body massages or perform self massage whenever possible. Like exercise and deep breathing, massage stimulates lymph flow, thus flushing the lymphatic system.


9. Perform deep breathing exercises to promote healthy lymphatic function and lymph movement.

Tags: lymphatic system, healthy lymphatic, herbal teas, lymphatic system, pure water, pure water herbal