Top foods and herbs for lymphatic system support

Boost Your Lymphatic System with These Healthy Foods and Herbs

The lymphatic system plays a vital role in maintaining your body's immune function and detoxification processes. It's responsible for transporting lymph—a fluid that contains white blood cells—throughout your body, helping to protect against illness and inflammation. Supporting your lymphatic system with proper nutrition can boost its function, ensuring your body runs smoothly. Below, we’ll explore some of the best whole foods and herbs to keep your lymphatic system in top shape.

Whole Food Proteins to Support the Lymphatic System

Boiled free range or farm raised local eggs
Boiled eggs are a simple and convenient source of protein. Packed with high-quality amino acids, boiled eggs help rebuild and repair tissues, which is crucial for lymphatic health. The essential fatty acids and vitamins found in eggs, such as vitamin D and B12, also support immune function and reduce inflammation—key aspects of maintaining a healthy lymphatic system.

Salmon, wild caught not farmed
Salmon is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are well-known for their anti-inflammatory properties. Chronic inflammation can overwhelm the lymphatic system and hinder its function, so incorporating wild-caught salmon into your diet can help combat this. Omega-3s also help boost immune function, aiding your lymphatic system in fighting off harmful pathogens.

Unsweetened Yogurt, or coconut yogurt
Rich in probiotics, unsweetened yogurt promotes a healthy gut microbiome, which is essential for optimal lymphatic health. A healthy gut is closely linked to a strong immune system, and probiotics help regulate the flow of lymph by supporting the digestive and immune systems. Opt for plain yogurt without added sugars for maximum benefits.

Healthy Fats

Avocados
Avocados are a fantastic source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, which support the lymphatic system by reducing inflammation. Rich in fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins like vitamin K and E, avocados help with nutrient absorption, which is essential for detoxifying the body. Their high content of potassium also supports fluid balance, important for the efficient movement of lymph.

Olive Oil
Real* olive oil is a powerhouse when it comes to healthy fats. This oil is loaded with antioxidants, specifically oleocanthal, which has been shown to reduce inflammation. The healthy fats found in olive oil also help the body absorb fat-soluble vitamins, like vitamin A, D, E, and K, which are vital for immune function and overall lymph health.

*How do you know if you have real olive oil? Put a few tablespoons in the fridge over night- real olive oil will turn solid.

Walnuts
Walnuts are another great source of omega-3 fatty acids. They are particularly high in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a plant-based omega-3 fatty acid that helps reduce systemic inflammation and support the body's detoxification processes.

Nutrient-Dense Veggies to Supercharge Detoxification

Spinach
Spinach is packed with antioxidants like vitamin C and beta-carotene, which protect your lymphatic system from oxidative stress. It also contains high levels of magnesium, a mineral essential for cellular energy production and fluid regulation.

Kale
Kale is a nutritional powerhouse rich in vitamins A, C, and K, all of which play a significant role in lymphatic health. Vitamin C helps with collagen production, which is vital for maintaining the health of your blood vessels and lymphatic tissues. Kale is also high in fiber, which supports the detoxification process by helping to eliminate waste products from the body.

Arugula
Arugula is another leafy green vegetable that supports the lymphatic system. It contains antioxidants, including vitamin C, which protect the lymphatic system from free radical damage.

Herbs to Enhance Lymphatic Health

In addition to these nutrient-dense foods, several herbs can further boost your lymphatic system’s function.

Echinacea
Echinacea is an immune-boosting herb that enhances the function of the lymphatic system. It's often used to prevent and treat colds and infections, making it a great ally for immune support. Echinacea helps increase white blood cell count, improving the body's ability to fight off harmful pathogens that the lymphatic system works to eliminate.

Ginger
This warming herb has long been used for its anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties. It helps stimulate lymphatic flow and supports the body in detoxifying. Ginger’s natural compounds also help reduce inflammation and improve circulation, which supports the effective movement of lymph throughout the body. Try fresh ginger tea or add it to soups.

Red Clover
Red clover has traditionally been used to support the lymphatic system, promoting detoxification and improving circulation. It contains isoflavones, compounds that support healthy hormone balance and reduce lymphatic congestion. Red clover is also known for its cleansing properties, helping to flush out toxins and boost overall immunity.

Final Thoughts: Nourishing Your Lymphatic System

Incorporating these foods and herbs into your diet will provide your lymphatic system with nutrients it needs to function optimally. From whole food proteins like eggs and salmon to healthy fats from avocado and olive oil, along with the detoxifying power of leafy greens and herbs, you're giving your body the support it needs to stay healthy and resilient.

Remember, a balanced diet is key to supporting your lymphatic system, so make sure to enjoy a variety of nutrient-rich foods that help reduce inflammation, fight oxidative stress, and promote detoxification. By nourishing your body with these wholesome choices, you'll be setting yourself up for better immune health and enhanced overall well-being.

How many sessions will I need post operative?

This is a question I get a lot, so let me answer this for you with a few guideline and best practices.

How soon can we start?

Clinical manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) can be started in most cases within 72hrs post operative, sometimes sooner if your surgeon feels it would be beneficial. Pleas note—This is not that deep pressure reopening draining technique that are often called MLD but are a different modality all together, check out my blog post Real Talk to find out more on why that modality fad is not what true MLD is and why it is not the best option for your body after surgery.

How often should I get MLD?

Typically you will want to have 3 MLD sessions the first week after surgery, then drop to twice a week for 2-3 weeks, if your swelling and healing are progressing nicely you can then drop down to just one session a week for a few more weeks. Remember depending on your recovery and your procedures this can very, sometimes I see clients less and some see me more, it all depends on you and your body. Just as your surgery was custom to you so is your MLD treatment plan.

What about scar tissue work?

We have already been working close to the incision and puncture points to help keep the new fluid coming to the areas and to help the collagen fibers lay nicely as they built back up. Gentle scar tissue work can start at around week 6 with deeper work waiting for week 10-12 or even later. Your first year after surgery is all considered recovery time keep this in mind when you look at your incision lines.- Pro tip——Keep your incisions out of the sun and no red light therapy on these areas, UV rays will lock in that color on your scars.

Have questions? Give me a call or drop me an email I am here to help.

Warmly,

Jenny

Real talk time

Okay real talk time.

Are you thinking about cosmetic surgery? Do you hear so many different things about the after care and specifically about post-operative manual lymphatic drainage? Should it hurt? When to start?

And the big one: Is it needed or not?

First lets be very clear. Manual lymphatic drainage (or as it is sometimes called Lymphatic massage) at its core is an option to aid in healing. Manual lymphatic drainage/lymphatic massage was never designed to help smooth out or correct bad surgery techniques.

Manual lymphatic drainage should never be painful-that is a different modality completely.

So what was manual lymphatic drainage designed for post operatively? Which means.. moves out dead immune and other dead cells, move waste from the interstitial fluid, reduce swelling to speed the healing process and to boost the immune system. It accelerate lymphatic fluid flow. If you look at this list what does all of this have in common? Yes, that is right the lymphatic system helps the body’s own healing and removes excess swelling.

Did you know that the only lymphatic system massage therapists can physically access from outside the body is the superficial lymphatic system? The superficial lymphatic system is located just under your skin---press too hard and you collapse the fascia which collapse the lymph vessels. You can’t move fluid via a vessel that is collapsed. Think of a garden hose.. kink the middle and what comes out the end? Yup nada.

The hard reality is that no amount of any kind of massage modality after cosmetic surgery has to ability to alter the long-term results that were created during that procedure. The truth is that your results will be determined during surgery, by the surgeon. Read that again….That is why it’s so important to choose an experienced cosmetic surgeon that has the years to fully develop these techniques to create the smooth, even minimally scaring results you really want. This takes great skills and artistry.

Dr. Cat, owner and surgeon at Beauty by Dr. Cat a cosmetic practice out of Los Angels CA, states it this way on her blog: “When choosing a surgeon, remember that these procedures must be performed in a precise, even, and artistic fashion to create natural and smooth results. Many patients waste time and money after having botched liposuction or tummy tuck, thinking lymphatic massage will smooth out the bumps.”

If Dr. Cat is correct, you may be asking why get clinical manual lymphatic after cosmetic surgery at all? Simple--Protect that artistry by helping your body’s healing process and to reduce your pain, swelling and recovery time. . remember lymphatic massages at its core is simply an option to aid in healing.

Post-operative manual lymphatic drainage work should clinical, it should be GENTLE and PAIN FREE. Period.

Anything else is not true manual lymphatic drainage and does not help your body heal.

Clinical manual lymphatic drainage is the safe modality after surgery.

It is gentle, light and pain free.

It can boost your immune system along with your healing time by removing waste, reducing swelling to allow nutrients to get the area easier, and assisting your body as it lays down new collagen to stay hydrated, moveable and nonfibrotic. Many patients feel lighter after just the first session and find their compression a bit easier to get back into and find that manual lymphatic drainage helps them get feeling back quicker too.

So do your research on surgeons and on your manual lymphatic providers. This is a big investment and you deserve to be completely happy with your end results. Ask questions-this is your body and you are allowed to be in control of it choose wisely and you will love your results.