The lymphatic system is one system that often gets overlooked in the body until it is too late. It is not as complex as the brain and the nervous system or as flashy as the cardiovascular system, so it is easy to ignore it and not give it the love and care it needs. But once the lymphatic system fails, your health will go down drastically.
The good news is that with some knowledge and great lymph system support supplements, healthy habits like staying hydrated, regular physical movement, and the right supplements can get back on track, fight off infections, beat out some of the bad side effects, and live your best life!
Basics of the Lymphatic System
While supplements are a great way to help improve the lymphatic system, understanding what this system does and why it is so important to your overall health is critical as well. Basically, the lymphatic system is a network of vessels, organs, and nodes that work together to maintain fluid balance, protect against infections, and remove waste.
This system is composed of a few different components, including:
- Lymph vessels or tubes that transport the lymph
- Lymph: A watery, colorless liquid that transports nutrients and waste from cells back to the bloodstream.
- Lymphatic organs: These include small intestines, appendix, tonsils, thymus, and spleen.
- Lymph nodes: Lymphatic tissue that houses the immune cells and will filter lymph. Your body has close to 600 of these nodes!
- Lymphocyte: A type of white blood cell part of the immune system.
- Lymphatic muscles: Muscle cells specific to this system that will contract to move lymph.
Work of the Lymphatic System
While there are a lot of different components of the lymphatic system, that doesn’t tell us much about what the system does inside of our bodies, at least when it is working properly. Some of the tasks of this system include:
- Maintains the balance of fluids in the body to promote homeostasis.
- Protects the body from any pathogen that wants to get in.
- Transports fats and fat-soluble vitamins into circulation throughout the body.
- Detoxes the body
- Restores fluid and protein from the spaces between our cells into circulation.
Recently, scientists discovered the glymphatic system – a lymphatic system within the brain. According to NeurologyLive, it plays a key role in clearing brain waste and may help prevent neurodegenerative diseases like dementia. This emerging research highlights the importance of maintaining a healthy lymphatic system throughout the body.
When the Lymphatic System is Off
There are times when the lymphatic system will not perform as it should. Noticing that more swelling and water retention are present in the body, specifically around the ankles, or that digestive issues, including constipation, are a constant friend can be worrisome signs.
Frequent infections, from the common cold to something much worse, can also be a problem. In addition, symptoms like chronic fatigue, inflammation, allergies that were not there before, and enlarged lymph nodes can all point to a problem with the lymphatic system.
How Supplements Support the Lymphatic System
The right supplement will do wonders for helping to support the body through some of the natural processes for waste-clearing and overall wellness. Our body produces waste as a natural part of us being alive, but when the body cannot release that waste, we are more likely to get sick.
A few supplements are specifically good for helping promote our overall wellness as the body does what it was naturally designed to do. Some of the best supplements for your lymphatic system include:
Cleavers
This herb helps promote fluid movement while reducing swelling and boosting the immune system.
Burdock Root
This supplement is a powerful herb that will help detox the body so your lymphatic system can flow and work better again.
Red Root
Red root stimulates lymph flow while clearing out toxins inside the body. It can also help promote natural detoxing.
Dandelion
You may know this as a garden weed, but the natural diuretic properties will help remove excessive fluid in the body, so the lymphatic system will work better.
Echinacea
This is the number one herb that will help support your immune system while helping to manage toxins and waste simultaneously.
When the system works well, we feel really good, and our health is some of the best around. But when the lymphatic system stops, we will feel it. When you want to give your body the best it deserves, check out some of our lymph system support supplements to see if they are right. A little care for your lymphatic system can go a long way toward enhancing your overall well-being.
