What Is the Best Tea for Lymphatic Drainage?
The lymphatic system, also called the lymphoid system, is an important part of our immunity and overall health. Its major role is to remove excessive toxins and other forms of bodily waste that threaten our vital organs. It works in close conjunction with the immune system and consists of lymph vessels and lymph nodes. The lymph vessels are similar to the blood vessels, but instead of blood, they carry a liquid known as lymph.
The lymph’s main responsibility is to carry the protective immune cells, such as lymphocytes and phagocytes, to areas in the body that are under external attack. Alongside that, the lymph takes the detrimental waste from cells and transports it to the lymph nodes for destruction – a process known as lymphatic drainage.
In today’s article, we are going to familiarize you with the best tea for lymphatic drainage and swollen lymph nodes and will make you acquainted with useful tips on how to detox your lymph system.
What is the best tea for lymphatic drainage?
There is no doubt tea is among the healthiest drinks on Earth. The famous infusion is the second most-consumed drink globally after water. It comes in all sorts and varieties, including true tea (coming from the tree Camellia sinensis), fruit (obtained from various fruit trees), and herbal tea (made from a range of herbs and spices).
True tea is further divided into black, white, and green varieties, depending on the harvesting technology and fermentation process. Whichever brew you choose to add to your daily routine, your body will benefit from numerous bioactive compounds and mighty antioxidants. Flavanols, theaflavins, and catechins are just a fraction of the powerful nutrients found in tea.
Having said that, different teas are helpful in different health circumstances, meaning that if you want to treat a specific pathological condition or help the normal functioning of a certain body system, you have to choose the right type of tea. The same applies when it comes to the functioning of your lymph system. So, what is the best tea for lymphatic drainage?
Below are not one but five of the best teas for lymphatic drainage that scientists have found particularly helpful for aiding the normal functioning of the lymph. Include these teas into your weekly nutrition routine and you will soon notice the beneficial effect of the precious liquids.
- Red Root
- Green tea
- Ginger
- Echinacea
- Cleavers
- Nettle
Nevertheless, if we have to point out the best tea for lymphatic drainage, the gold medal undoubtedly goes to Red Root tea. According to science, the herb is particularly helpful for the normal functioning of the lymphoid system, for reducing swollen lymph nodes, decreasing lymph congestion, reducing costs, and relieving fluid stagnation.
What else can I drink for lymphatic drainage?
By far we have already made you acquainted with the best tea for lymphatic drainage, including several additional teas that are great for the lymphoid system. However, these infusion drinks are not the only ones that you can use to improve the lymphatic drainage in your body. Perhaps you will not be surprised if we told you that one of the most beneficial liquids for the lymph (apart from the popular brew) is water.
Over 65% of our bodies consist of water. The vital liquid is found in every cell, tissue, and organ, and takes part in more or less every living process that goes on inside us. Water plays an integral part in the lymphatic drainage mechanism of our body, which is why you should get enough of the liquid during the day. According to health scientists, you should aim at drinking at least 2 – 2.5 liters a day.
Apart from water, there are other drinks that you can add to your diet plan for strengthening your lymph system. Among the best ones are:
- Freshly squeezed juices made of citrus fruits, leafy greens, ginger, apple, berries, and other similar plants
- Various broths, including vegetable broth, fish, chicken, and others
- Adaptogenic herb infusions and tinctures made of goldenseal and astragalus
- Essential oils that you can add to your water, such as citrus oils. Be aware that not all essential oils allow internal use, so proceed with caution
What is the best tea for swollen lymph nodes?
As already mentioned previously, the lymph nodes are part of our lymphoid system. These are glands that are located in various parts throughout the body, including the underarms, groin area, and throat. Yes, in their true essence, the tonsils are lymphatic nodes, as are our spleen (the largest lymph node), our bone marrow, and hundreds of other smaller nodes, located in key areas under the skin.
The main task of the lymph nodes is to filter harmful substances that have been transported into them by the lymph fluid. They can do so with the help of the lymphocytes (the white blood cells) located inside them. This way, our lymph nodes help the body fight severe infections, invading pathogens, and numerous dangerous diseases.
Once the lymph node gets to deal with a virus or a bacteria, it gets swollen which is a normal process caused by the increasing number of white blood cells in it. Having said that, we can still help it in the fight by taking an appropriate drink or tea. Below are some of the best teas for swollen lymph nodes, including the overall winner – Red Root tea. This should not come as a surprise, provided it has been voted the best tea for lymphatic drainage.
- Red Root
- Peppermint
- Ginger Root
- Calendula
- Cleavers
- Echinacea
- Chamomile
How do you detox your lymphatic system?
Our bodies are bombarded with numerous harmful substances, toxins, and pollutants daily. The bigger the cities we live in, the larger the detrimental impact on our organism. Our bodies indeed possess powerful protective mechanisms that are great at dealing with environmental attacks, but as the battle becomes more fierce, our immune and lymphatic systems need our help.
For instance, to sustain an optimal and healthy lymphatic system, we need to perform regular detox and body cleansing. This way, the lymph will have to deal with fewer invaders, and not get overworked or struggle to catch up. But how do you detox your lymphatic system? Well, there are plenty of different methods you can implement as part of a healthy lifestyle. Here are some of the most prominent ones:
- Keep your body well hydrated – drink plenty of water, freshly squeezed juices, broths, and herbal teas, such as Red Root or green tea
- Use contrast showers – alternate between hot and cold water while taking a shower for anywhere between 5 to 10 minutes
- Get a lymphatic drainage massage – the massage is ideal for reducing swelling, detoxifying the body, and helping to speed up cells regeneration
- Improve the quality of your diet – focus your weekly diet on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and pulses
- Engage in whole-body vibration (WBV) – according to scientific evidence, WBV – an exercise that is performed on a body vibration platform, has been linked with numerous health benefits, including improved lymphatic drainage
Summary
The lymph system plays an integral role in the overall health and wellbeing of our bodies. Together with the immune system, it makes sure our organism is protected from outside invaders, toxins, and all other sorts of detrimental substances. It is made up of vessels, nodes, and lymph, all of which work in unison to keep us safe.
Due to over pollution, unhealthy eating, and harmful lifestyles, our lymphatic system has been struggling. This is why we should do our best to help it stay on track. Among the best practices are getting plenty of liquids, (including the best tea for lymphatic drainage – Red Root tea), adopting healthy eating, and implementing various exercise activities, such as whole-body vibration.
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