If you guys know anything about me, then you know that I am completely OBSESSED with the lymphatic system. I was always into reducing bloat, but things went into overdrive after my double jaw surgery.
Anyway, your lymphatic system is so important because it is literally your body’s defense against toxins, bacteria, viruses, & other gross stuff. Just the thought of all those toxins building up in my body? No thanks. So, you can find me massaging my face, neck, & lymph nodes with The Skinny Confidential ice roller in the morning, before makeup & at night.
If I learned anything from Lisa Gainsley, lymphatic expert, it’s that your lymphatic system is one of the MOST IMPORTANT circulatory systems in your body. Healthy lymphatic drainage can help with your weight, immunity, detoxification, circulation, skin tone, & the list goes on & on. Plus, it doesn’t have to be this time consuming, complicated thing.
Dry brushing is a super effective way of exfoliating, detoxifying, & stimulating lymphatic drainage. It gets all those pathways pumping & gets that cellular-sized waste out of your system. Not to mention it just feels really fucking good.
Lymphatic drainage massages & dry brushing are essential if you ask me, but let’s not forget that nutrition also plays a very important part in the health of your lymphatic system. There are tons of foods out there that can improve your lymphatic drainage, cleansing, health, & circulation. So, here are the best foods that you can incorporate into your diet ASAP to get your lymphatic system up to speed. Let’s go.
15 Foods For Lymphatic Drainage
♡ WATER
DRINK. YOUR. WATER. There are so many reasons to drink plenty of water & a healthy lymphatic system is one of the most important. The lymphatic system is made up of like 95% water which means any dehydration could lead to swollen, & clogged lymph nodes.
If you need help drinking more water scope get a fun tumbler & stalk the best water pitcher & my favorite spa water medleys.
♡ Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Extra virgin olive oil is very easy to incorporate into your diet & it has tons of amazing anti-inflammatory properties.Top your salad, sautée your veggies, or massage it right into your lymph nodes to reduce swelling & promote drainage.
Hot tip: if you’re traveling, order a side of EVOO from room service to remove your makeup & do a little facial massage.
♡ Lemons & Limes
Acidic fruits like lemons & limes are natural detoxifiers for the whole body. Add lemon & lime to your water each day to help purify your lymph nodes & get rid of all that nasty, built-up gunk.
♡ Oranges
Oranges are my secret little hack to super-hydration. They contain tons of water, antioxidants, & enzymes which all work together to cleanse, support, & protect your lymphatic system.
♡ Apricots
Give your lymphatic system a little jumpstart by eating some apricots. Apricots are a super rich source of potassium, which is known to trigger your lymphatic system & increase circulation through all your lymphatic vessels.
♡ Berries
Cranberries. Blueberries. Raspberries. All the berries. Berries are so good for your lymphatic system because they are full of antioxidants that help break down blockages in & around your nodes. You can eat berries on their own, add them to pancakes or oatmeal or smoothies, or make my 5 second jam. Yum.
♡ Leafy Greens
My quick fix for a lazy lymphatic system is to add in some leafy greens. Veggies like broccoli, kale, & spinach are full of chlorophyll, a natural super cleanser, & have properties that stimulate lymph drainage & circulation.
Adding chlorophyll drops to your water is a great way to get all the benefits too. Lately I’ve been obsessed with Sakara Life Detox Drops. And you can use code SKINNY for 20% off your first order. More on all the benefits of chlorophyll here.
♡ Seeds – Pumpkin, Sunflower, Etc.
Slow digestion of food can slow lymphatic drainage & lead to clogged lymph nodes. But the magnesium & healthy fats in pumpkin & sunflower seeds promote digestion which increases the speed that those toxins leave your body. You can eat these seeds plain or add them to your salads, yogurt, cereal, etc.
♡ Garlic
Don’t you just LOVE the smell of roasted garlic? Turns out garlic is good for more than just the delicious taste. It actually contains tons of antioxidants that work to reduce swelling, break down all that gross bacteria, & circulate the lymph fluids. Plus, garlic is absolutely incredible for your immune system. I’ve been known to pop a raw clove or two. Sorry Michael.
♡ Herbs & Spices
Love to spice it up. Eating herbs & spices like ginger, cilantro, parsley, & calendula are so great for cleansing & rebooting your lymphatic system. They are known to cleanse most bodily systems, give your immune system a little boost, & reduce any swelling or pain you might be having.
♡ Brown Rice
Swollen feet, face bloat, & puffy eyes? No thx. If water retention is an issue for you, then you definitely need to incorporate some brown rice into your diet. Brown rice contains a super important vitamin called pyridoxine, or vitamin B6, that is used by your body to reduce swelling & kickstart your immune system. I just run puffy, like all the time, especially after travel, so this is something I need to try to eat more of.
♡ Avocado
Avocados are like the ultimate natural beauty hack. You can use them in your hair, on your face, & in a lip mask, & they provide SO MANY health benefits when you eat them. Like the seeds mentioned above, avocados are another super rich source of healthy fats that promote digestion & detoxification.
♡ Ocean Veggies
Ocean veggies like seaweed, spirulina, & kombu are amazing for the whole body, inside & out. These veggies are nutrient dense & full of potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, protein, & antioxidants…it’s no wonder they work some serious magic on your lymphatic system.
♡ Nuts
And last, but not least, NUTS. Nuts like peanuts, almonds, walnuts, Brazil nuts & cashews are a super healthy snack & of course, they’re full of vitamins & nutrients that support proper lymphatic drainage. With omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, & fiber, it seems like nuts were literally made to help us detox & unclog our lymphatic systems.
The last thing you want is for your body to store toxins & your lymphatic system to be stagnant. Especially now that you know how easy detoxing can be by focusing on your lymphatic health.
If you’ve never given yourself a lymphatic massage, I’ve got you covered! This post on how to use an ice roller is a game changer & this post is super helpful for reducing puffy eyes.
Also, be sure to grab your lymphatic massage essentials like The Skinny Confidential ice roller & my favorite dish brush for dry brushing ( yes, a dish brush ).
Off to ice roll & snack on some sunflower seeds.
Cheers,
x, lauryn
+ check out these easy ways to boost your energy.
++ if you’re into wellness hacks, check out my latest post on shungite stones.
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