Immunity-boosting recipe ideas!
Read moreYour Zerona Questions Answered
Did you know that Zerona fat-cell shrinking lasers aren’t just for cosmetic purposes? Today we explore the health benefits of our Zerona treatments and more. You’ve asked and we’ve answered!
Q: What is Zerona?
A: Zerona is a non-invasive fat removal laser.
Q: How many treatments do I need to get in order for it to be effective?
A: If Zerona is new to you, we recommend starting with a package of 6 treatments every other day.
Q: What does it feel like?
A: Some patients feel a light tingling sensation. That’s the laser doing its job.
Q: How long does one treatment take?
A: Each treatment takes about 40 minutes, so just sit back and relax!
Q: What are the benefits?
A:
Shrinking fat cells, leaving you slimmer
Offers benefits of liposuction without an invasive procedure and associated risks
A decrease in BMI has been associated with lower risk of diabetes and heart disease
Reduced body fat has been linked to lowered risk of death from cancer and cardiovascular disease
Q: How does it work?
A: The laser emulsifies/liquefies and releases fat from your cells. That fat is metabolized, leaving you slimmer.
Q: In which areas can I get the procedure?
A: The procedure has proven effective for slimming typical problem areas like the waist, hips and thighs.
Q: Anything else I should know?
A: For best results, be sure to stay well-hydrated during the course of your treatment and refrain from alcohol and coffee which can interfere with the lymphatic process that removes and metabolizes fat. Also, you shouldn’t use Zerona if you’re pregnant or if you have diabetes or metabolism-impairing disorders.
If you have any questions about Zerona treatments, we are happy to answer them. Give us a call! If you're ready to start, you're in luck! We're offering a limited-time Groupon on six or 12 Zerona treatments!
Fall Special: Pumpkin-Infused Massage
Let the healing properties of pumpkin lull you into relaxation. Pumpkin-infused massages are coming to Nest the week of October 25 for a limited time in celebration of National Massage Therapy Week!
Jenny offers both relaxing and spa massages using pumpkin seed oil which is rich in vitamin E, zinc, omega 3- and 6- fatty acids as well as antioxidants. These properties spell tremendous benefits for the skin, helping skin retain moisture, fight free radicals and maintain a youthful appearance. Also, the high amounts of zinc and vitamin E improve skin tone, fight acne and help with skin renewal.
Pricing:
60 Minutes $100 | 90 Minutes $130
What are you waiting for? Give us a call to set up your pumpkin-infused massage with Jenny, today!
Therapeutic Massage vs. Spa Massage
Massage isn’t just for spa day with the girls. It can be part of your overall health and wellness plan and can help repair muscle damage, reduce pain and muscle tension, relieve stress, and more.
We recently welcomed Jenny Prince as our on-site massage therapist. Jenny offers both therapeutic and relaxing spa massages. You may be wondering what to expect from a therapeutic massage as opposed to a relaxing spa massage, so here’s some insight!
Differences between relaxation massages and therapeutic massages:
There will be less discussion of your health and health goals in a relaxing spa massage setting. In a therapeutic setting, your massage therapist will discuss your overall health.
Therapeutic massage may be appropriate in response to an injury, pain or after a strenuous workout.
A massage therapist might give you “homework” in the form of exercises to perform at home after a therapeutic massage, as part of your overall wellness plan.
Spa massages can be great for stress relief. Though you may feel relaxed at the end of a therapeutic massage, you could feel discomfort during the massage, as your therapist releases areas of chronic pain within your body.
A relaxing massage is an enjoyable way to occasionally spend an afternoon. Therapeutic massage, on the other hand, is often an ongoing process to treat a specific ailment. You may require a series of appointments to effectively treat symptoms.
Therapeutic massage can be part of your treatment/mitigation plan for headaches, back pain, arthritis, respiratory concerns, TMJ, tendonitis and more.
Whether you undergo a therapeutic or relaxation massage, be sure to communicate with your massage professional. Unfortunately, they can’t read minds, so they like it when you speak up and let them know when to apply more pressure and when to back off.
Are there any people who should stay away from therapeutic massage?
While massage is beneficial for most people, if you have a fracture, severe osteoporosis or thrombocytopenia, DVT, burns, bleeding disorders or open wounds, be sure to discuss with your doctor whether massage will help or hinder your healing process.
Treat yourself to the gift of health. Jenny Prince is here every Thursday, so give us a call if you’re ready to give massage a try.
Incorporate Wellness Into Your Back-To-School Routine With These 14 Tips
Back-to-school season is an opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start fresh. Remember, your kids model your behavior, so leave your bad habits in the past and incorporate these 14 wellness tips into your new back-to-school routine.
Healthy Morning Routine
1. Get up 30-45 minutes before the kids.
2. Drink a glass of water. Add lemon or cayenne for extra health benefits. As shared here, benefits of water with lemon include increasing our digestive juices and resetting our pH balance which cleanses the body and reduces disease risk.
3. Check in with yourself – whether it’s through meditation, journaling or going through your to do list. Write down the 3 most important things you have to do that day or ask yourself “what would make today great?” and use that vision to actualize that great day.
4. Go outside. Exposure to light early in the morning can result in a lower BMI.
5. Move around. Exercise may sound daunting early in the morning, but taking the dog for a walk or doing a few key stretches will set you up for success throughout the day.
End of Day Routine
1. Enjoy a cup of chamomile or warm milk. Chamomile contains glycine which can promote muscle relaxation and milk contains tryptophan, the same ingredient that makes us fall asleep after eating our Thanksgiving turkey. If you have small children you may want to give them a small protein snack before bed.
2. Lower the lights to signal to your body that it’s time for sleep. The light from electronic devices can be particularly counterproductive if you’re trying to wind down, so experts recommend shutting them off one hour before bedtime.
3. Incorporate a calming scent. Whether you light a candle, some incense, or use a scented lotion, these comforting smells can promote sleep. If you continue to make a particular scent a part of your bedtime routine, you will begin to associate that scent with relaxation.
4. Just one more! If there is anything your kids typically ask before they go to bed – just one more story, a goodnight kiss, using the bathroom, etc., make these part of the bedtime routine. Do the same for yourself. Read a book, take a hot bath or meditate as part of your normal routine.
Additional Health-Promoting Tips
1. Schedule your workouts. Actually write them down on your calendar!
2. Plan a food prep day. Kick soda and processed foods to the curb! Prepare proteins for healthy/hearty weekday lunches and put together healthy snacks for you and the kids. Good food choices can promote your kids’ mood, energy and ability to concentrate!
3. Designate a half hour of “no screen time” every day – which will give you 3.5 hours of time during the week pursue your favorite hobbies like reading, crafting, or music.
4. Take time to connect with family, free of distractions. This not only means the cell phones and tablets, but even snacking which can be a distraction.
5. Talk to your kids, especially teens, about healthy stress reduction tips like journaling, playing music or exercising.
Want to discuss your morning and nighttime routines with your health practitioner? Give us a call!
Additional resources:
http://wellnessmama.com/55187/healthy-morning-routine/
http://naturallysavvy.com/nest/back-to-school-family-health-routine-makeover
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/raising-fit-kids/recharge/bedtime-routine-tips?page=2
Inside The Nest - With Dr. Kristi Wrightson
Discover the one thing women can do every day to improve their overall health
Read moreInside The Nest - With Justin Holiwell
Find out what drew Justin to the medical field!
Read moreInside The Nest - With Dr. Kristin Castorino
A day in the life of Dr. Kristin Castorino
Read moreInside The Nest - With Jenny Prince
Learn more about Massage & Bodywork Therapist Jenny Prince! She's here at the Nest every Thursday.
Read moreWow Waters: Adding Oomph to your H2O
You know you need to drink a lot of water every day. Probably more than you think. The Institute of Medicine says the average man needs 13 cups of liquid a day and the average woman needs nine cups.
Read moreHow To Fight Sugar Cravings: Tips To Overcome The Addiction
It happens every year around the holidays. Okay. Maybe it really just happens all year. We start eating just one little bite or piece. Then it is two bites, then we JUST.CAN'T. STOP.
I am talking about the crazy hold that sugar can place on your mind and your appetite. It can take over an otherwise healthy diet and leave you feeling like you need a good daily dose of sugar to survive.
Need a little more guidance? Call (805) 770-2607 to learn about our Detox program.
Read moreGot Lunch?
If you are like most Americans, lunch is the most difficult meal of the day to eat healthfully. Whether it is speeding to a meeting in ½ an hour, picking the kids up from school or running too many errands, the mid-day meal is often when most people find themselves unable to maintain their healthy habits.
Our breakfasts are usually spent eating foods high in fiber and packed with nutrition to help us sustain our energy throughout the day. We make our smoothies, boil our eggs and even throw in some spinach to help increase that vegetable intake. There are those of us who heeded the call of the healthy effects of anti-oxidants and have turned in our coffee mugs in exchange for green tea cups. Long gone is the eating of simple carbohydrates without consideration to balancing them with good proteins and essential fats. We move into the day with a healthy start and hope to sustain it throughout the day.
Skip ahead to dinner and most of us are home, able to relax in our own atmosphere. Although we are often exhausted from work, we have the choice to continue our quest for wellness and make a simple, nutritious meal. There is the option of cooking from scratch, for a nutritious meal or to make something quick from healthy packaged foods. We are listening to the USDA’s recommendations of 5 vegetables per day and adding them to our evening’s dishes. Our fish and lean meat intake has increased to balance the macronutrients in our diet. We go to bed content with our decisions that will keep our health at its optimal level.
And then there was lunch. There are so many obstacles to eating a well-balanced nutritious meal during the mid-day that it is a wonder how any one person can preserve the practice. There are appointments to juggle, corporate ladders to climb and fast food joints to avoid. Fortunately, we have developed some great ideas to help you maintain your healthy routines, even in your busiest times.
Make it at night
Cooking for one or more? If you and your family usually have dinner at home, why not make enough dinner for just one more? You will have enough food left over to take to work the next day. If you don’t like the idea of taking meals from the night before because it would have to be eaten cold, there are some options. There are more uses for a hot pot than in your old college dorm room. Leave one at work and heat up your leftovers in 5 minutes or less. Or, if your office has a small microwave oven, put your lunch in a glass container to reheat easily.
In addition, you can make easy recipes with ingredients from dinner, changing them slightly to make them more lunch-friendly. For example, if your nightly nosh included black beans and veggies as a side dish, you could wrap these in a whole-wheat tortilla with some spinach. Pack it in aluminum foil, take some salsa on the side and have a delicious lunch.
The Wet Sock Treatment
As quoted in the Newspress November 20, 2012
Dr. Kristi Wrightson, a Santa Barbara naturopathic doctor and registered dietitian, recommends this to clients as a possible treatment for sore throat or inflammation or infection of the throat; neck pain; ear infections; headaches; migraines; nasal congestion; upper respiratory infections; coughs; bronchitis; and sinus infections. As always, check with your doctor to find what’s right for you.
1. Soak a pair of cotton socks completely with cold water. Be sure to wring the socks out thoroughly.
2. Warm your feet by soaking them in warm water or a warm bath for five to 10 minutes.
3. Dry off feet and body with a dry towel.
4. Place cold wet socks on feet. Cover with thick wool socks. Go directly to bed. Don’t get chilled.
5. Keep the socks on overnight. The wet cotton socks will be dry in the morning.
The treatment increases circulation and decreases congestion in the upper respiratory passages, head and throat, and it relieves pain and increases healing during acute infections, Dr. Wrightson said. She added it helps patients sleep better.
Does ONE Meal Matter?
As we look forward to the holidays many of us plan to indulge a bit from our regular diet, eating Mom’s amazing pecan pie, Aunt Betty’s delicious cobbler or Uncle Sam’s famous cheese ball. The holiday meals tend to be heavier in fat and calories then our typical meals but does that REALLY make a big difference?
In a recent small study it was found that one meal high in fats such as eggs, sausage and potatoes significantly changed the function of the cells lining the blood vessels. The comparison was made with an ultrasound of a main artery to obtain baseline function after 12 hours of fasting, and then compared it with results after eating the greasy meal and a meal of fish, vegetables and nuts.
‘The Mediterranean-style meal with vegetables and fish did not change how the artery operated from baseline, however, after the high fat meal the artery dilated 24% less than from the original test. The lack of function of these cells is not an indicator of disease but can be a predecessor to atherosclerosis, the accumulation of fat in the arterial walls.
So as you go through the holidays keep in mind that, YES, every meal does count. Making food choices to keep our blood vessels healthy is not as hard as it seems. Remember to eat lean proteins like chicken, turkey or fish that have been baked or grilled rather than fried, using oils such as olive or coconut. Choose whole grains like brown rice or quinoa instead of processed, refined grains. Add loads of lightly cooked vegetables or raw fruits to round out the meal and avoid highly processed sugars. This plan will keep your heart healthy in the short and long term and may just keep you from packing on those extra 5 pounds this year too!
J. Cantin, S. Lacroix, J. Tardif, A. Nigam. 390 Does the Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet Influence Baseline and Postprandial Endothelial Function? Canadian Journal of Cardiology, 2012; 28 (5): S245 DOI:10.1016/j.cjca.2012.07.367
Why Buy Organic?
There has been much in the news as of late on the advantages to eating organic produced meats. National sales of organics have risen about 20% every year for the last few years. There are advantages for the animals as they are raised as well as the environment that they are grown in. In addition, there have been several studies that have proven the health benefits to eating foods produced without pesticides or hormones. Here are some quick facts to guide you in knowing the reasons behind purchasing organically produced meats.
Standards
There are certain guidelines that a farmer must adhere to in order to certify an animal as organic. Unlike conventionally raised livestock, organic herds must be kept in an environment that accommodates the natural behavior of the animal. For example, animals such as pigs, goats and cows have to have access to the pasture. Healthy animals may be given vaccinations against disease, but may not be given any hormones or antibiotics in the absence of illness. If an animal becomes ill they will be given medication, but then may not carry the label of organic once slaughtered. As well, these animals must be fed with feed that is produced without the use of pesticides.
Environmental Benefits
Raising animals organically allows for a decrease in overall detrimental environmental effects of growing practices. Feeding the animals organic foods allows for a decrease in pollution from pesticide run-off into the water system. Organic crops are produced through sustainable means, using measures such as crop rotation, natural soil enrichment and pest predators, which assist in maintaining the integrity of the land and soil. In addition, certified organic foods cannot contain any genetic modified organisms, which promote biodiversity in agriculture and livestock.
Health Benefits
Conventionally produced meats contain antibiotics and growth hormones as a consequence of normal farming practices to grow healthy, large animals. In contrast, organically farmed animals are not given any hormones or antibiotics unless they become sick. These medications are found in the meats of the animals and passed along to the consumer. Although there has not been any research that has directly correlated eating conventional meats with disease, there has been much speculation to the effects that these drugs have on the consumer of the meats. The growth hormone that is typically given to cows during conventional farming has been linked to higher rates of hormone-based cancers, such as breast, prostate, ovarian and testicular. It is not surprising that the bovine growth hormone (that which is given to cows in the United States) is banned in Europe due to these possible health risks. In addition, the antibiotics given to cattle have been linked to the high rates of resistant strains of bacteria in this country.
While there have been many studies that show organically produced fruits and vegetables have more nutrients than their conventional counterparts, there are not a lot of studies that show the same for organically produced meats. One study did show, however, that the meat of an organically produced chicken to have higher amount of antioxidants and essential fatty acids.[1]
Cost versus benefits
There is no question that organically raised animals will have less pesticides, hormones and antibiotics than their conventionally raised counterparts. The farming practices will be gentler to the animals and the environment that they are grown on. However, is there any benefit to outweigh the cost of these food items?
Organic foods are typically 10-40% higher in cost to the consumer than conventionally produced items. This fact is due to the lower demand compared to production, higher labor input and increased marketing/distribution costs of organic foods. However, when you take into account the health of the environment and individual it seems that organic foods can weight out considerably. If you don’t want to spend the extra money up front on organic foods, here are some tips to buying organic more economically:
Buy in bulk. Most organic farmers will sell a whole animal to individuals. Buy in conjunction with family, friends or neighbors who can also benefit from these wholesome purchases
Buy from the source. Most organic meats and vegetables are cheaper when purchased directly from the farmer. Find a community shared agriculture farm in your area by following this link: http://www.localharvest.org/
Purchase the majority of foods organically. If you choose to only purchase some items organically, choose wisely. Organic meats have fewer pesticides, hormones and antibiotics, which accumulate in children at a higher rate then adults. Buying these items organic if you have children will be a great benefit to their health in the long-term. If you are going to pick certain foods to eat organically these should always be on your list of organics.
The bottom line is that there IS a difference between organic and conventionally grown meat. There has been proof that there is a health advantage to buying organically. The more people that choose their meat based on health the lower the cost will be due to demand. Wouldn’t you want to offer your family healthier meats if you could?
[1] Lahan, K, et al. Relationships between flavour, lipid composition and antioxidants in organic, free-range and conventional chicken breasts from modelling. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2006 May-Jun;57(3-4):229-43.
Sneaking Those 7-9 Vegetables Everyday
Vegetables are good for us. We need them to stay strong, healthy and at an optimal weight. There are components in vegetables that have been proven to help give us energy, keep our heart healthy and even prevent cancer.[1][2] The USDA is now recommending 7-9 vegetables to get all of these proven benefits.[3] The question before us now is how to fit all of these veggies into a daily diet. Starting the day with greens, mixing them into well-known dishes and spicing up traditional cooking methods are just a start to the tips provided below to start getting those 7-9.
Vegetables for breakfast?
Absolutely. Start the day off right with a balanced meal that begins with a little protein, a bit of whole grain and a dash of the green stuff. Beginning the day with vegetables allows a jump-start on achieving that goal of 7-9 per day. If a morning bagel is a typical craving then why not replace it with a piece of whole grain toast topped with fresh tomato, spinach, red onion and smoked salmon. Or, if eggs are a usual, add in some fresh spinach or arugula, red pepper and onion to get a whole serving of veggies. Have leftover beans? Heat them up, mix with avocado, fresh salsa and greens, wrap them in a whole grain tortilla and make it breakfast to go. Need something a little bit warm to start the morning? Try some soup to ease you into the day. Miso soup is a quick fix with some chard, vegetable soup or creamy squash soup.
Mix it up
We all have those regular meals that make it onto our plates each week. Why not add some veggies to routine dishes so that they are more nutritious? Lasagna is a delicious treat that makes it to the table quite often. Making the conventional with some spinach, red pepper and zucchini will up your vegetable count typically by 1-2 servings. As well, it will add fiber and reduce the calories in this traditional dish. Also, try adding different veggies to sandwiches, such as thinly sliced cucumbers, red or green bell peppers and radishes to increase the flavor as well as the nutritional value. Add carrots and celery to soups or chili that won’t alter the flavor much of this customary meal. Below are some other easy alternatives to the mainstays on your plate:
Add even more veggies to a salad; try roasted tomatoes, snap peas, jicima or pickled asparagus
Make that traditional pasta sauce with zucchini to add fiber and flavor
Pizza is even more delicious with less cheese (or try feta, a naturally lower fat cheese) and loads of vegetables like onion, bell pepper, eggplant, spinach and garlic. Try using a portabella mushroom for a delightful alternative to the usual wheat-based crust for a pizza.
Reduce the amount of chicken in your stir-fry and add more veggies, such as spring peas, asparagus and zucchini. Top with sprouts and raw water chestnuts for additional crunch and nutrition.
Wrap up plenty of vegetables with burritos. Adding avocado, chard, peppers, cauliflower and broccoli with increase overall veggies consumed for the day
Cook your way to 7-9 per day
The majority of us have one or two tried and true methods for cooking our vegetables for each meal. Changing the way of cooking can add a completely new flavor and feel to dishes. Typical meals are made using a basic steaming or stir-frying approach to preparing veggies. To change the often-bland flavor of steamed veggies use wine or balsamic vinegar in the bottom of the steamer to add pizzazz to the meal. When stir-frying, use less oil and rely on lemon juice or soy sauce for additional moisture.
Also, try roasting vegetables in a small amount of olive oil, salt and pepper for a great flavor. Making them at the beginning of the week will ensure plenty of veggies to top salads, sandwiches, pasta and soups. Bake at 425 degrees for about 25 minutes, turning once, until browned on both sides for the perfect way to increase your intake of veggies. Baking vegetables in casseroles or quiches adds a new dimension to a healthy diet.
Research shows us that increasing vegetables can help reduce weight, heart disease and chronic illness. By using some of these simple tricks and easy tips you can easily get in all your veggies for the day and reap all the benefits to your health!
[1] Hung HC, Joshipura KJ, Jiang R, et al. Fruit and vegetable intake and risk of major chronic disease. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2004; 96:1577–84.
[2] He FJ, Nowson CA, Lucas M, MacGregor GA. Increased consumption of fruit and vegetables is related to a reduced risk of coronary heart disease: meta-analysis of cohort studies. J Hum Hypertens. 2007; 21:717–28.
[3] 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Managing Holiday Stress
With the holidays right around the corner there are parties to attend, meals to cook, gifts to buy and halls to deck. All of these wonderful details can lead to an abundance of stress during November and December, which, without proper management, can lead to an increase in colds, sleep deprivation and fatigue.
The body is made to handle short bursts of stress, such as Cavemen who ran from a dinosaur or had to kill their dinner. The longer, sustained stress that is very common in our face-paced society has a tendency to wear out the small adrenal glands that supply the body with the necessary hormones to manage stress appropriately.
When the adrenals are working during high stress they make an increased amount of cortisol which, over time, can produce symptoms of anxiety, difficulty sleeping and weight gain. After longer periods of stress the adrenal glands become weak and have difficulty keeping up with the demand of higher amounts of cortisol. In this case the body can have signs of decrease in energy, depressed moods and hair loss or thinning.
There are simple ways to prevent stress from having an adverse effect on your body. Here are some tips to help manage stress:
Do NOT change your exercise routine. Moderate (not too intense) exercise helps relieve stress and is often what falls by the way side with stress. Exercise 5 days per week for 30 minutes for optimal stress release
Eat 7-9 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. These foods are anti-inflammatory and will help decrease the overall amount of stress that on your body
Breathe. Simple, but amazingly effective. Breathe in 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, and breathe out 4 seconds. Repeat 4 times in one setting, 4 times per day
Take time to rest. Get at least 8 hours of sleep per night. If you have difficult falling or staying asleep talk to your health care provider for natural remedies to help with these symptoms.
Set limits to how much you can take on in your life, creating boundaries around what would cause too much stress
Decrease the amount of alcohol and caffeine in your diet as these can contribute to internal stress
What's In Your Water?
Most of us are a least a little bit concerned with the quality of the water we’re drinking every day. There are so many questions we don’t really have great answers for.
Is our regular drinking water dangerous to drink?
Is the chlorine and fluoride in my drinking water really that bad for me?
How do know if the plastic water bottles are leeching chemicals in the water I’m buying?
Is reverse-osmosis water that’s missing the minerals good for me or not?
As you can see…drinking a good old fashioned glass of great water is becoming a little complicated. It used to be that we just grabbed a glass out of the cupboard, turned on the faucet, filled up the glass and savored the water.
Not so simple anymore. Now we grab a glass, open a bottle of water and pour it in the glass. Or we put it under our filter spigot on our sink and fill it up. Or we turn on our alkaline water machine (the jury is still out on this ‘special’ water by the way) and fill up a glass. Or do we take reusable gallon or multigallon jugs to that machine down the street where we really don’t know what kind of filter our water is going through or when it really was checked last.
And heaven forbid you’re traveling! Do you take water in a glass jar as we’re being told to do or risk buying yet another bottle of water in a plastic bottle from a store.
Introducing the Puritii™ Water Bottle.
Their slogan is Pure. Simple. Water.
We like it…and we think you will, too!
While we aren’t selling the bottle ourselves, we love sharing tools we think will help you live healthier lives and this water bottle is one of the greatest inventions involving clean water since, well, clean water! This is the reference guide for this cool new water bottle. We ordered ours a couple of weeks ago and love them!
Want more information? Visit the Purittii website for more information or watch the following video. We bet you order one before the video is over!
Your happy water guzzling days are closer than you think!
Dry Brushing For Lymphatic Health
In order to understand the incredible health benefits of Dry Brushing, we need to talk a bit about the lymphatic system itself.
Here is some basic information from Wikipedia…
The lymphatic system is part of the circulatory system, comprising a network of lymphatic vessels that carry a clear fluid called lymph directionally towards the heart. Unlike the cardiovascular system, the lymphatic system is not a closed system. The circulatory system processes an average of 20 litres of blood per day through capillary filtration which removes plasma while leaving the blood cells. Roughly 17 litres of the filtered plasma actually get reabsorbed directly into the blood vessels, while the remaining 3 litres are left behind in the interstitial fluid. The primary function of the lymph system is to provide an accessory route for these excess 3 litres per day to get returned to the blood.
The lymphatic system is an important part of the immune system but unlike the circulatory system, isn’t circulated through the body the pumping of a heart. It depends on movement and other mechanics to be moved and drained correctly.
This is where dry brushing comes into play. Dry brushing stimulates the body’s circulation and lymphatic systems. One of the immediate effects of dry brushing is smoother skin, but it can also help improve immune function, digestion, kidney function, and more.
Here’s a short (approx. 11 minutes) video with specific dry brushing techniques that are easy to understand and follow. Please download my dry brushing technique for a visual reminder of how to perform this effective technique each day.