Lymph System 101
During open heart surgery, the surgeon cuts through
the breast bone to expose the heart. The
thymus gland is completely removed.
Having had open heart surgery, I was concerned about the loss of my
thymus because it is part of our immune system.
Lymphocytes (white blood cells) are transformed into T cells in the
thymus. T-cells or T-lymphocytes mature
in the thymus and these help fight off infections, viruses, bacteria, fungi and
general inflammation.
The thymus plays a vital role in the lymphatic
system and endocrine system. Thymosin is
a hormone produced by the thymus that promotes the development of T cells from
stem cells. I was glad to know that T cell production in the thymus is active
mostly in adolescence and slows down as we age.
In our later years, T cells are maintained outside the central lymphoid
organs. New B cells, produced from bone
marrow, continue to nurture our immune system.
Lymph Nodes
Once T cells have fully matured in the thymus, they
migrate to the lymph nodes - groups of immune system cells throughout the body,
where they aid the immune system in fighting disease.
Healthy gut flora will help keep your lymph fluids
clean and healthy. It’s that
simple. Before I had my health crisis
and began to study nutrition, I had a wound that drained small
calcifications. The old term for this
was “blood sand.” It is the
calcification that can occur when you do not have the proper ratio of calcium,
magnesium, vitamin D and K2.
I learned about lymph first hand and I remember how
that drainage smelled. It had a chemical
smell that reminded me of overheated plastic.
It was thick and dirty looking.
As I began to regain my health, the lymph ran clear as water and I instinctively
knew I was on the right track.
Blood Cancer
Lymphoma is the most common blood cancer. The two
main forms of lymphoma are Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Cancerous
lymphocytes can travel to many parts of the body, including the lymph nodes,
spleen, bone marrow, blood, or other organs, and form a mass called a tumor.
The body has two main types of lymphocytes that can develop into lymphomas:
B-lymphocytes (B-cells) and T-lymphocytes (T-cells).
Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is a rare and
often grows fast. T-cell lymphoma can be found in the blood (leukemia), lymph
nodes (lymphoma), skin, or multiple areas of the body. ATLL has been linked to
infection by the human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1).
With so much pollution in our day to day environment,
it should be no wonder that these diseases are on the rise.
Keep your lymph system clean
Eat healthy foods.
Exercise regularly
Drink plenty of clean water
Get some quality down time. Meditate, do yoga or tai chi. Relieve as much stress as possible in your
life.
Do a liver cleanse. Eat little or no processed sugars. The liver works hard to process these.
Detox Your Liver With These 19 Super Foods
1. Beets and Carrots: Carrots are rich
in Glutathione, a protein that helps detoxify the liver. Both are extremely
high in plant-flavonoids and beta-carotene. Eating beats and carrots can help
stimulate and improve overall liver function. (Source) (Related
CE Article: The Mother of All Antioxidants)
2. Tomatoes: They have abundant amounts of
Glutathione (see article above) which again, are a great detoxifier for the
liver. As a side effect Lycopene in tomatoes will protect against breast, skin
and lung cancer. (Source)
3. Grapefruit: Another source of the
liver cleansing glutathione. It’s also high in vitamin C and antioxidants, this
boosts the production of the liver detoxification enzymes and increases the
natural cleansing process of the liver.
4. Spinach: Raw Spinach is a major
source of glutathione that triggers toxin cleansing enzymes of the liver.
5. Citrus Fruits: Lemons and Lime
contain very high amounts of vitamin C, which helps stimulate the liver and
aids the synthesizing of toxic materials into substances that can be absorbed
by water.
6. Cabbage: The isothiocyanates
(ITCs) made from cabbage’s glucosinolates provides liver detoxifying enzymes
that help flush out toxins. (Source)
(Source)
7. Turmeric: Turmeric is the liver’s favorite
spice and helps boost liver detox. It does this by assisting enzymes that
actively flush out dietary carcinogens. (Source)
8. Walnuts: Walnuts are a good source
of glutathione, omega-3 fatty acids and amino acid arginine, which support the
normal liver cleansing actions, especially in detoxifying ammonia.
9. Avocados: The nutrient-dense
superfood, avocado helps the body produce glutathione
10. Apples: They are high in pectin and other
chemicals essential to cleanse and release toxins from the digestive tract.
Apples make it easier for the liver to handle the toxic load during the cleansing
process.
11. Brussels sprouts: Brussels sprouts are
high in sulfur and antioxidant glucosinolate, which forces the liver to release
enzymes that block damage from environmental or dietary toxins.
12. Garlic: Garlic is loaded with sulfur that
activates liver enzymes that help your body flush out toxins. Garlic also holds
high amounts of allicin and selenium, two natural compounds that aid in liver
cleansing.
13. Dandelion: Dandelion root tea assists the
liver in breaking down fats, producing amino acids and generally ridding it of
toxins. There are other good natural
supplements you can use, such as milk thistle.
14. Leafy Green Vegetables: Green Veggies are
extremely high in plant chlorophyll’s that absorb environmental toxins,
increase bile production, neutralize heavy metals, chemicals and pesticides,
which lowers the burden on the liver.
15. Cruciferous Vegetables: Eating broccoli
and cauliflower will increase production of enzymes glucosinolate in your system
that help flush out carcinogens and other toxins.
16. Asparagus: Asparagus is a great diuretic
helping in the cleansing process and sharing the detox load of the liver and
kidneys.
17. Green Tea: Green tea is full of plant
antioxidants known as catechins, a compound known to assist liver function. Fresh lemon juice added in your tea is also
good.
18. Olive Oil: Cold-pressed organic oils such
as olive, hemp and flax-seed are great support for the liver, providing the
body with a liquid base that can suck up harmful toxins in the body. Don’t forget the coconut oil.
19. Alternative Grains: Gluten rich grains
such as wheat, flour, or other whole grains increase the load on the liver’s
detox function and enzyme production. Switch to alternative grains like quinoa,
millet and buckwheat.
References
and further reading
Lymph
capillaries are bigger than blood capillaries and remove unwanted
fat, waste, toxins, poisons, excess water and proteins. Laying directly underneath the skin and
covering your whole body they mingle between all the spaces between your
cells. Dirty lymph fluid when
collected travels along the lymphatic system then back into the blood
and through the heart.
Stimulate
Your Lymphatic System
In
your body, your lymphatic system is the system responsible for eliminating
cellular waste products. Hundreds of miles of lymphatic tubules allow waste to
be collected from your tissues and transported to your blood for elimination, a
process referred to as lymphatic drainage. When your lymphatic system is not working
properly, waste and toxins can build up and make you sick. Lymphatic congestion
is a major factor leading to inflammation and disease. By stimulating your
lymphatic system and helping it release toxins, dry skin brushing is a powerful
detoxification aid. When you dry brush your skin, it increases circulation to
your skin, which encourages the elimination of metabolic waste.
Immunobiology:
The Immune System in Health and Disease. 5th edition.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK27123/
Thymosin
beta-4 and cardiac repair http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20536454
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