By Dr. Linda J. Dobberstein, DC, Board Certified in Clinical Nutrition
- The lymph system plays a vital role in fluid balance, detoxification, and immune defense.
- Nutrients like arabinogalactan enhance lymph flow, immune cell activity, and overall vitality.
- Arabinogalactan also strengthens the intestinal barrier, promotes gut health, and activates key immune pathways for better digestion and germ defense.
Your lymph system is a remarkable network that performs numerous tasks to keep you healthy throughout your life. When it struggles to keep up with its “housekeeping,” you may feel sluggish, experience fluid retention, ear or sinus congestion, bloating, or experience increased mucous. Healthy lymph function is also a critical part of detoxification and metabolism. Is your lymph system keeping up with the needs of your body?
What Is the Lymph System?
The lymphatic system is part of both the circulatory and immune systems. Its primary roles include collecting excess fluid from your body’s tissues and returning it to your bloodstream, protecting your body against germs, and helping your body absorb fats.
Fluid Management
Every day, about 17 liters of blood flow through your circulatory system. As blood and plasma travel through your vessels into tiny capillaries, a small amount of fluid seeps out, becoming lymph fluid. This fluid travels between cells and tissues, delivering oxygen, proteins, and nutrients to all your tissues.
Furthermore, fluid in intercellular spaces filled with metabolic debris, immune trash, and rogue cells are funneled into lymphatic capillaries and transported into larger vessels. These fluids travel through over 600 lymph nodes for recycling or removal filtration and is ultimately returned into the circulatory system. About 3 liters of lymph fluid is processed daily. Remarkably, 80% of lymph fluid originates in the digestive tract and liver.
Lymph-Immune Protection
The lymph system is also a vital part of your immune system. It produces and releases key immune cells called lymphocytes, which include T cells, B cells, and Natural Killer (NK) cells.
These cells recognize, defend, kill, and remove invaders and infected cells, while producing antibodies, cytokines, memory cells, and more. They help you fight germs, remember them, clean-up, and more. Key components of the lymph system include the spleen, thymus, tonsils, adenoids, and bone marrow.
Fat Absorption
Another essential function of the lymph system is to help with the absorption of various fats, such as in dairy products. Certain fats and compounds in your diet are too large absorb in the gut and are transported via the gut-lymph system to the liver for processing.
Your Intestinal Lymph System: GALT
Most of your immune system and a large portion of the lymph tissue is found inside the intestinal tract containing numerous lymph nodes and a system called Gut Associated Lymphoid Tissue (GALT). Running the length of intestines, GALT contains numerous lymph nodes and specialized cells, as well as the appendix.
GALT helps your immune system, lymph, and intestinal microbiome manage germs from things you ingest. It produces numerous immune compounds, filter out substances, and supports nutrient absorption and works in the immune system to protect your body from invasion in the gut.
GALT accounts for 70% of your immune system by weight, playing a critical role in maintaining the gut mucosal barrier and immune tolerance.
Supporting Lymph Health
Movement of lymph fluid is fundamentally important for your overall health, detoxification, and immune resiliency. Lymph circulation relies primarily on your muscles and physical activity.
Other means of promoting lymph drainage include body positioning, such as lying down with your feet up above your heart and techniques such as massage, stretching, chiropractic care, skin brushing, and using compression garments. Additionally, minimizing exposure to toxins, food intolerances and allergens, alcohol, and other substances that stress the immune system is crucial for optimal lymph function. Combining these strategies helps support lymph flow, detoxification, and overall well-being.
Arabinogalactan and Lymph Function
Mechanical support is crucial, but nutritional support is also essential. A standout nutrient in this regard is arabinogalactan.
Arabinogalactan is a prebiotic carbohydrate that feeds beneficial bacteria in the gut, but it does much more than this! It provides important functional support for the mechanics of lymph fluid movement and the GALT system.
Lymph Movement Support
Arabinogalactan supports important features of lymph movement as proven in a recent animal study. Research demonstrated that arabinogalactan promotes lymphangiogenesis (the formation of lymphatic vessels). It also supports lymphatic vessel remodeling by activating important signaling pathways. These actions enhance lymph fluid movement and support homeostasis.
Arabinogalactan and Intestinal Barrier Protection
Arabinogalactan aid in supporting the GALT and intestinal barrier by activating the anti-aging AMPK/SIRTI pathways and inhibiting the inflammatory NF Kappa-B pathways in the face of LPS bacterial toxin induced oxidative stress.
NK Cell Activation
Arabinogalactan is a prebiotic, but what happens when it is combined with probiotics? A recent human study evaluated this effect with combining arabinogalactan with Lactobacillus (probiotic) and the immune supporting compound - colostrum.
Results showed increased production of NK cells, with reduced IL-6 and other inflammatory compounds in the gut. In addition, this combination improved immune tolerance and competency in germ surveillance while improving digestive tract function.
Metabolism
Gut-lymph absorption of fats can lead to lipid deposits in the liver. Animal studies demonstrate that arabinogalactan supports lipid and glucose metabolism by activation of PPAR-alpha and other signaling mechanisms in the liver, revealing metabolic support.
Nutritional Support
If you’re looking for immune system, lymph flow, or gut-metabolic support, we’ve got you covered! We offer arabinogalactan in three customer favorites – Immune Plus, Super Immune Booster, and Fiber Helper.
Immune Plus, available in both powder or capsules, is great for all ages, from the very young to the elderly. The powder is mixed easily with water, juice, applesauce or yogurt. It may be used daily or as desired.
Super Immune Booster packs a punch, combining arabinogalactan with colostrum, beta-glucan (a mushroom extract), and olive leaf extract. This powerful blend is a great go-to product when extra immune support is needed.
For those seeking digestive support, Fiber Helper offers a unique combination of oat bran, psyllium and arabinogalactan in a light oat-tasting powder. It mixes well in water, juice, or with your Daily Protein, without any gritty texture or bad taste!
Whether incorporated into your daily routine or used during times of increased need, arabinogalactan is an important pre-biotic nutrient for supporting lymphatic-immune health and overall well-being. It’s multifaceted benefits, including promoting lymph fluid movement, enhancing immune system function, strengthening the intestinal barrier, and supporting metabolic processes make it an essential addition to any wellness regimen.
