HEAL YOUR LYMPH SYSTEM AND JIGGLY FAT DISSOLVES
Clogs in the body’s detox system stall fat burn, leading to cellulite, jelly belly and wobbly fat. Feel-great strategies clear blockages for fast slimming!
Call to mind the last time you stopped to smell the roses: You admired their beautiful color, soft petals and sweet scent. But you may not have thought about why the flowers looked and smelled so good. And that is thanks to the flower’s nutrient-delivering root system, which requires careful tending so the plant will flourish.
Science shows that our own internal
“root system”—called the lymphatic system—is similarly responsible for our health and well-being. “When the lymphatic system is functioning, lymph f luid flows through the body, detoxifying tissues, filtering out fat and toxins and maintaining a healthy immune system,” explains
Bruno Chikly, M.D., D.O., director of the Lymph Drainage Therapy & Brain Therapy Programs in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The problem: “When lymph flow becomes stagnant, waste builds up, and this can lead to stubborn weight gain, cellulite and bloat,” asserts women’s health expert Jennifer Weinberg, M.D., author of The Whole Cure. Why this happens: Over time, stress hormones and toxins collect in the system, making the lymph fluid thick and sludgy. “When your lymph system is congested, it cannot properly transport fat where it needs to go,” says Dr. Chikly. So extra fat is deposited in fat cells—leading to lumpy, bumpy cellulite and jiggly fat around the belly, hips and thighs. In fact, Stanford University researchers report that a lymphatic slowdown causes fat storage to double. And slowdowns get worse with each passing decade: According to researchers in Japan, lymph flow decreases by 39% between age 20 and 50 and drops another 20% between 50 and 70.
Fortunately, it’s easy to get lymph moving and flush fat fast. Studies show that combining pampering strategies, like self-massage, with some easy diet tweaks, like drinking more water, can quickly thin out congested lymph and stimulate flow. It’s that simple, Dr. Chikly assures: “Once the lymphatic fluid is moving freely, fat can be transported to be burned for fuel, and toxins can be flushed from the body.” Just ask Marie Collins, 59, who lost 20 pounds after incorporating self-massage and deep breathing into her daily routine: “My whole body changed. I feel better and look better,” she cheers. Natalie Kikkenborg experienced similar benefits when she began stimulating her sluggish lymphatic system with low-impact exercise and gentle massage. “I never took inch measurements, but oh gosh! You could see the difference,” cheers Natalie, who ultimately dropped an impressive 172 pounds. “I can’t believe how much my life has changed.”
And weight loss is just the beginning. “Improving the function and flow of your lymphatic system can help clear up your skin, improve your energy and boost your metabolism,” says Dr. Weinberg. Women FIRST spoke to also credit a healthy lymphatic system with thicker hair, better focus, improved sleep and sunnier moods, as well as less breast tenderness and fewer menopause symptoms.
Read on for the revitalizing plan that will turn back the clock and transform your health!
“Freely flowing lymph fluid detoxes tissues, filters out fat and boosts immunity” —Bruno Chikly, M.D., D.O.