Stretch yourself! Whilst we would just love it if everyone could have a Body Ballancer® session two or three times a week, we realise that right now this is something we can only dream of! So, to help keep the lymph flowing until we reach this Nirvana, here are a number of simple stretches that will promote muscle contraction and movement, thus stimulating lymphatic flow. The first four exercises are the most important, as they focus on the neck and shoulder area, a part of the body that is especially significant, being the location of the upper thoracic [...]

How the lymphatic and immune systems work together: One of the many benefits of a healthy, well-functioning lymphatic system is an improved immune system, but why is this so? What is Immunity? Immunity is the ability to resist illness and damage from undesirables such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and moulds. The body has a number of protective methods for preventing these nasties from entering the body in the first place, or preventing them from taking hold if they do. This is called non-specific immunity. Specific immunity on the other hand gives us the ability to identify, destroy and [...]

Water, water everywhere: The cynics amongst us may like to think that it is the bottled water companies of the world that are keen on making sure that our intake of water stays high - to the level of a small reservoir per person per day at the very least.  Indeed a number of articles in the press in recent years have indicated that the eight glasses or two litres a day we have been encouraged to drink is a guideline only and not based on any firm scientific study. But before you ditch the water habit, consider [...]

Why the quality of the fats we consume is vital: Whether it comes from the finest extra virgin olive oil or the 3 a.m. burger van raid, all the fat we eat is absorbed by the lymphatic system before onward transmission into the bloodstream where it can be used as fuel. Unlike other nutrients, fat cannot be absorbed directly into the blood from the gut because fat molecules are simply too large to be taken up by the tiny capillaries that line it; it would simply clog them up. Instead, it must be absorbed by another route – [...]

How does the brain clean itself and why is it so important?: Every organ of the body produces waste as part of the metabolic process, and the brain is no exception. However, the way in which it rids itself of waste has been something of a mystery as it was thought that there were no lymphatic vessels in the cranial cavity. Indeed, in any representation of the lymphatic system, there is a huge space where the brain is located. This omission has always been problematic as the brain is both very active and extremely sensitive to waste build-up, [...]