BEAUTY: lovely legs

Whether it’s a little daily TLC, a beauty tip or even a medical treatment, there’s more ways than ever for your legs to feel great, says Vicki Bramley.

At one time or another, you’ve probably stretched your legs up a wall. Perhaps to quell puffy ankles after a flight, or ease achy calves after a long day. In yoga, this pose is called Viparita Karani – Inverted Lake Pose or Legs Up The Wall (of course). It was believed to be a fountain of youth, and not just for the legs.

It feels so good because, as the pressure of gravity disappears, muscles soften and relax. Veins no longer bulge as blood flows back to the heart, and the fluid build-up between tissues drains.. It’s a beautifully simple way to relieve your legs and boost wellbeing. And there are lots of other ways to give your legs some love, too.

Feeling swell

“You know you have a lymph problem when you lose shape in your ankles, whereas hormonal fluid retention appears more evenly all over,” says lymphatic drainage therapist Michael Alcott, from Sydney Complementary Health.

The lymphatic system takes rubbish and recycling from our legs up to the subclavian vein in the neck, where it’s delivered back to the blood. Essentially it fights gravity and when it’s overwhelmed, lymph can pool.

“Lymphatic problems can appear around menopause. As your hormones shift, your shape can change and put pressure on structures,” says Michael. “Also, scar tissue from tears, sprains, abdominal surgery, cancer, endometriosis and Crohn’s disease can block the lymph’s journey.”

To keep lymph flowing, keep your muscles moving with a little walk every half hour. Hydration also helps, while intermittent fasting can hinder. “By eating a little bit of protein with every meal, you draw water out of the tissues and into the blood, preventing fluid build-up,” explains Michael. You’ll also minimise the load by avoiding inflammation (from sunburn, gardening cuts etc) and keeping cool.

As well as slashing salt and staying hydrated, vitamin B6, found in shiitake mushrooms, salmon, avocado and red meat, is thought to ease fluid retention.