The lymphatic system (Pt. 2)

31 Oct 2017 no comments HAB Extract Categories General Suppliments

Nutrients from the ground up

Studies have shown that a diet high in fresh foods like fruits and vegetables boosts ATP production, keeping the cells’ mitochondria healthy throughout the aging process. This is due to “naturally-occurring fulvic and humic acids (which) are natural compounds found in soil that convert the minerals from the earth into bio-available nutrients for the plant, and then us” (13).

Humic acids found in soils break down nutrients and deliver them to plants in a digestible form. In the body, they play a similar role. Specifically, fulvic acids stimulate the transfer of energy along the electron transport chain in the mitochondria, making the energy production of ATP in the mitochondria more efficient, and allowing it to ward off oxidative stressors linked to aging (14).

However, the use of farming chemicals like pesticides drastically reduce the amount of fulvic acid and other minerals present in soil. Since organic farmers don’t use pesticides or other chemicals, organic vegetables are far more likely to contain fulvic acid than non-organic vegetables. Due to the diversity of soil, there is no simple way to measure the amount of fulvic acid in vegetables (15).

How the Heart and Body Extract can help

The Heart and Body Extract drops are a blend of wild-crafted herbs grown in the Pacific Northwest without synthetic fertilizers. In their natural environment they receive fresh air, clear mountain water and sunlight. They are also prepared in a way that allows the maximum amount of nutrients to be preserved (16).

What is more, because it contains ginger, the Heart and Body Extract helps with digestion by preventing undigested foods from clogging up our digestive system. Ginger is known as a carminative herb and one of the best foods for producing stomach acid, gastric juices like hydrochloric (HCL) acid and bile and for a healthy liver. It has also been shown to inhibit inflammation of liver tissue aiding in the removal of toxins (17).

The acid-alkaline balance theory

Our body works better at a neutral pH of 7. The wrong pH can affect our health greatly because many functions in the body can only be carried out at a certain pH. The heart, for example, needs the blood to be at a constant certain pH of 7.37-7.43. Variations can cause palpitations or arrhythmias.

This is why an alkaline diet is important. Alkaline foods are all those that are fresh and minimally processed like fruits and vegetables that have been organically grown. On the contrary, acidic foods are those that have been processed, altered and had chemicals added to preserve their shelf life. Acidic foods change the pH of our blood and constrict lymph not allowing toxins to be removed. For a complete list of alkaline-acid foods please check this site:   http://www.rense.com/1.mpicons/acidalka.htm

The problem with eating a diet high in acidic foods is that too much acid slows flow of lymph and creates a condition known as ‘acidosis’. Without the proper flow, cells cannot detoxify themselves, creating a toxic environment due to fluid retention around our cells. This can show as excess fluid in our tissues affecting the whole body as:

  • Fluid filled cysts
  • Enlarged prostate and spleen
  • Cirrhosis of the liver
  • Excess fluid in the brain

Acidosis can silently damage our organs and tissues and destroy the cells that make our lymph, blood vessels, nerves, and organs like the heart. Cells that are surrounded by toxic waste have no option but to become damaged, mutate or die. Overtime this can end up as cancer, heart disease, diabetes or depression (10).

How can we become acidic?

Mainly the acidic foods we eat, but also the air we breathe, medications, stress and lack of exercise. The food we eat leaves an ash residue that, depending on the mineral content, can leave an acidic, neutral or alkaline waste. The body stores the alkaline minerals on the skin, bones and teeth. These are calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron and manganese,  and they are found abundantly in organically grown vegetables and fruits.

If our diet is mainly acidic, the body has to use up these mineral reserves in tissues, teeth, bones to buffer this acid building up, causing osteoporosis (10).

How does this process of detoxification in the body break down?

In the toxic world we live in, the lymph system can get congested very easily (19). Because the lymphatic system is the largest circulatory system in the body, it is uniquely susceptible to stress.

Stress, the wrong diet, excess environmental toxins, shock, poison, injury or heavy exertion, cause acids and toxins to build up. When this happens, organs start to lose their function, which leads to more toxicity and inflammation and more organ dysfunction. Examples of this would be enlarged prostrate, enlarged spleen, heart disease, cancer, etc.

Stress can cause blood proteins and water to escape the bloodstream via tiny pores in these blood vessels. The excess fluids, excess sodium, and lack of oxygen cause the sodium-potassium pump to malfunction, and leave it unable to make energy. This leads to acidity in the body, loss of energy, free radicals, pain, and disease. Excessive stress will cause the lymph system to atrophy, making it unable to detoxify our cells.

Specifically, when we are under stress, cortisol, in an attempt to wall the area off and prevent excess fluid circulation, is released and lymphatic drainage of the area is reduced. Excessive stress severely compromises the lymphatic system, allowing dangerous toxins to migrate to different areas of the body (20).

Healing is all about circulation!

If areas of our body are too acidic, a build up of protein and waste starts forming, and circulation is decreased to these areas. This is known as fibrosis.

An injury that doesn’t receive oxygen, nutrients and cannot be detoxified will feel like pain. Pain in the body can be treated by changing the pH and improving circulation. By improving lymph and blood flow we increase circulation, increasing oxygen and nutrient delivery. This will decrease pain in parts of the body that have been blocked by acid. Pain and toxicity has caused many people to have sedentary lives, but when the circulation is restored and the internal environment of the body is improved these people can start moving freer. Increased circulation helps the cells to start working again (21).

Heart disease and the lymphatic system

There is a possibility that clogging of the arteries may be due to acid damaging the heart cells. When this happens, the body sends fibrin, a protein, to try to repair the damaged vessel. The excess protein mixes with collagen, cholesterol and other cellular debris to make plaque, which builds on the artery walls leading to decreased circulation. If the lymph system is congested it may create a toxic backup in the lymph vessels in the blood vessel wall. Then oxygen cannot get to the heart cells and proteins cannot be removed efficiently, creating angina, and fibrosis in the heart tissue. This makes the heart less efficient where it cannot pump enough blood (10).

High blood pressure

One of the hallmarks of high blood pressure is kidney failure. When we are overly acidic the excess proteins can be trapped in the kidney and harden it. Because the kidneys filter the blood, then waste accumulates. The kidneys also play an important part in alkalizing the body, regulating blood volume and blood pressure. It takes pressure to move blood through the kidney to make urine. If the kidneys become congested the heart must pump harder.

When waste, cellular debris and excess proteins accumulate the blood can start thickening, impeding circulation, causing blood clots, heart attacks and strokes. All of this will increase blood pressure because the heart has to ‘push through’ this thick blood to get nutrients and oxygen to the cells.

There is some new research being done in the role the lymphatic system could have in reducing the damage to the heart after a heart attack. While more evidence is being released, make sure you take care of your circulatory and lymphatic health by adding the ‘Heart and Body Extract’ to your health protocol!

Thank you for reading.

References:

  • https://lifespa.com/fight-fatigue-brain-fog-shilajit/
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lymphatic_system
  • http://www.dummies.com/education/science/anatomy/what-organs-are-part-of-the-lymphatic-system/
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lymphocyte
  • http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/lymph
  • http://nebula.wsimg.com/c208e7e9b34e44c6b080e98bb9ec50d4?AccessKeyId=595C4B8AB93BA7805DC1&disposition=0&alloworigin=1
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br14hzqKM7U
  • https://www.backtonaturalhealth.com/blog/2017/10/17/why-dry-brushing-for-lymph-and-skin-health-is-important-for-cellulite-and-detoxification)
  • https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1899053-overview
  • Ossipinsky, John. Warning, an Undetected Acid-Alkaline Imbalance Is Slowly Killing You and Severely Hurting Your Children! Vision Publishing, 2006.
  • http://zerodisease.com/archive/Bio_of_Dr_Stephen_E_West.pdf
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2vPQYP0dpI
  • https://lifespa.com/fight-fatigue-brain-fog-shilajit/
  • https://lifespa.com/top-10-benefits-shilajit-ayurvedas-panacea/
  • http://www.livestrong.com/article/34898-foods-fulvic-acid/
  • https://www.heartandbody.com/
  • http://drjockers.com/following-a-ketogenic-diet-without-a-gallbladder/
  • Guyton, Arthur C., and John E. Hall. Textbook of Medical Physiology. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders, 1996. Print.
  • https://lifespa.com/6-steps-to-decongest-your-lymph/
  • https://lifespa.com/rescue-lymph-stress-late/
  • https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/294216.php?sr