As I have shared before, we get a monthly lifestyle email at work.
I thought this one was, also, share-worthy!
Happy Hump Day, Wednesday!
Exercise
to Detoxify
We all know that
exercise has many benefits…..it helps us maintain a healthy weight, tones our
muscles, increases our circulation and breathing, and increases the strength of
our heart. But there is another important, hidden benefit of exercising. It
helps to detoxify the body. Our bodies naturally detoxify every day.
Detoxification, which is cleaning of the blood and the internal organs, is a
normal body process of eliminating or neutralizing toxins in the body. It does this mainly by removing impurities from the blood
in the liver, where toxins are processed for elimination. The body also
eliminates toxins through the kidneys, intestines, lungs, lymph and skin.
Just as our hearts beat nonstop and our lungs breathe continuously, our
metabolic processes continuously dispose of accumulated toxic matter.
How
Exercise Detoxifies the Body
The body is engineered to heal itself and get rid of toxins.
With exercise, you clean all of your internal organs at the same time. Exercise
helps the body’s organs of elimination to function optimally simply by getting
them stimulated. Exercise increases the circulation of your body fluids, the
blood and lymph. The blood and lymphatic fluids distribute essential nutrients
to the cells and remove metabolic waste and other toxic substances from the
cells.
Exercise Burns
Fat
When we exercise, the body burns fat and reduces our
subcutaneous fatty tissue. When toxins build up in the body, they get stored in
our body tissue, specifically in our body fat. Aerobic exercise burns the fat
and tissue containing toxins and releases the toxins into the body to be
eliminated through the cleansing organs. Once these toxins are released into the
blood stream, it's the job of the lymphatic system to remove
them.
Exercise
Improves the Function of the Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system is part of the immune system responsible
for transporting white blood cells and other immune cells in and out of the
bloodstream, as well as transporting bacteria to the lymph nodes to be
destroyed. Exercise improves the function of the lymphatic system by helping it
move lymph fluid through the vessels in the body. Unlike blood circulation which
is powered by the heart, the lymphatic system has no pump to help the lymph
fluid circulate through the body. It relies solely on the body’s movements for
circulation. During resistance training, or strength training exercises, your
breathing rate increases along with the rate of contraction in your skeletal
muscles. The increased breathing and skeletal contractions cause your muscles to
push or pull against a force which results in your muscles pushing fluid from
your tissues, thus increasing the flow of lymph fluid throughout your
body.
Exercises That
Enhance Detoxification and Stimulate the Lymphatic System
Any type of aerobic
exercise that gets your whole body moving, increases your heart rate and gets
your body fluids circulating will benefit you, along with some stretching
exercises:
·
Jogging
·
Swimming
·
Bicycling
·
Dancing
·
Jumping
Rope*
·
Rebounding*
(Bouncing on a trampoline, it’s less strenuous on the
joints)
·
Strength Training
(lifting light weights)
·
Resistance Training
(exercising in a pool, using the water as resistance)
·
Yoga (massages the
internal organs)
*These exercises
are great for lymph flow.
Give
Your Body a Boost and Renew
Exercise is an
effective way to help your body detoxify and it should become a regular part of
your life. If you are feeling tired and sluggish, engage in some regular
exercise. Increased respiration and circulation support and help the body’s
detoxification process. Practice deep abdominal breathing while exercising to
help stimulate your lymphatic system. Remember to drink lots of water, as the
combination of good hydration and exercise helps to flush your system of
toxins.
If you currently do
not exercise, you should consult your physician before you begin any type of
exercise routine or program. Always start out slowly when beginning an exercise
routine. Your strength and endurance will build up over time if you stay on a
regular and consistent schedule.
Sources:
Linda Rector-Page,
N.D. Ph.D.; Author, Healthy Healing: An
Alternative Healing Reference
© 1998-2012 Mayo
Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER): Lymphatic
System
Copyright
© 2012 Demand
Media | LIVESTRONG.COM: Does Physical Exercise Cleanse Your
Body?
www.the-natural-path.com:
Benefit of Exercise
Copyright
© 2006 Lymphatic Research Foundation, Inc: Importance of the Lymphatic
System
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