by Lucienne Steel – Naturopath
- Keep hydrated! The more fluid things are, the easier your body can move them on. Dehydration = thick, sticky fluids that move sluggishly, we want it free-flowing! Be mindful of the water content in your food as well what you’re actually drinking – processed, dry bread or crackers will suck up water out of your digestive tract while fruits and vegetables add it in. Consider the water content of soups, slow-cooked foods, stewed fruits versus a pizza, beef jerky, dried fruit.
- In particularly hot weather or illness, consider electrolyte rehydration solutions to ensure you have the right balance of salts in your body. These minerals control the flow of water in and out of your cells, so if they’re off-balance, you can be well hydrated in the blood but dehydrated on a cellular level. You might remember osmosis from Yr 9 Science… this is when it becomes important! The natural saltiness of foods like celery can help here as well, but if you’re going to consume a lot, please buy organic! Celery is very heavily sprayed with pesticides.
- Move your body. As the others will discuss, your lymphatic system relies on muscle movement to pump it around the body. Gentle exercise, stretching and massage are a must for circulation woes.
- Adding ginger, garlic and chilli to your food not only boosts the flavour but also the medicinal profile. These are wonderful circulation stimulants!
- Seaweeds such as dulse, kelp and nori are lymphatic cleansers and can be added to many different dishes.
- Other herbal medicines to discuss with your practitioner or try as herbal tea:
- lymphatic support: calendula, echinacea, dandelion, red clover
- circulation stimulants: garlic, ginger, gingko, hawthorn
- Green smoothie recipe for circulation:
- Large handful green leaves (spinach, kale, rocket, dandelion greens, etc)
- 1 stick organic celery
- Knob of ginger or turmeric (or both!)
- 1 orange
- Sprinkle of black pepper or chilli flakes (pepper boosts turmeric absorption but is also a digestive and lymphatic aid itself)