Ever Have a Gut Feeling?

Your gut plays a pivotal role in the health of your lymphatic system and the effectiveness of your body's lymphatic drainage. When people think of the lymphatic system and lymphatic drainage, most of them think about it in relation to what is happening under the skin. But the lymphatics in your gut make up 70% of your immune system and, under normal conditions, more than half of all lymph originates from the gut. So, if excess lymph is being produced because of diet or disease, you may unintentionally be taxing your lymphatic, and thereby immune, systems. Liver disease (specifically Fatty Liver Disease) or a high-dietary fat intake can cause your body to produce 2 to 10 times the normal lymph volume. The result of overproduction is an overload of the central lymphatic vessels, and that overproduction contributes to swelling elsewhere in the body. 

This is true of any one of us. All of our bodies respond to this stimulus, so arguably everyone would benefit from an awareness of when and how they are triggering their bodies lymph production. It becomes especially important for those of us with lymphedema or lymphatic systems that are already impaired due to medical treatment or disease. If your system isn't functioning optimally to move your lymphatic fluid through your body, then you already are compromising your immune system and putting your body at risk for serious medical conditions. Add to that increased production because of lack of awareness of dietary responses, and you may be adding congestion to a system that is already struggling.

It is possible to change your lymphatic baseline. To do so requires investigation and analysis of your diet and your triggers. For many, it's easiest to take big steps, like eliminating gluten, for two weeks to monitor how you feel and how your body responds. But there are many smaller steps that can also be tried, from making certain food choices or adjusting the timing of your meals. Learn more about these choices here at The DEMA, as we continue this conversation in our journey to understand more about lymphatic wellness.  We invite you to be a part of the conversation.