What to Eat after Lymphatic Drainage Massage​

What to eat after lymphatic drainage massage​. People often ask this, and since food is our best medicine I believe it is a wise question to ask. When we are embarking on a disciplined health journey every improvement of our wellness routine will positively influence all other facets of our existence. With this in mind here are a few suggestions to follow after your lymphatic drainage massage to potentially improve the function of your lymphatic system.

  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks.

What to Eat after Lymphatic Drainage Massage​

There are a wide array of nutrients that have demonstrated an important role in the efficiency of the immune system, these include essential amino acids, the essential fatty acid linoleic acid, vitamin A, folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin E, Zn, Cu, Fe and Se. In fact, having deficiencies in one or more of these nutrients results in adverse effects on immune function. Due to the intermingled role of the lymphatic system and the immune system, having an adequate intake of these nutrients may positively affect the results of your lymphatic drainage treatments. [1]

  • Amino acids: Foods that contain all nine essential amino acids are called complete proteins. These foods include beef, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, soy, quinoa and buckwheat. Foods that contain some but not all the essential amino acids are called incomplete proteins. These foods include nuts, seeds, beans and some grains. [4]
  • Linoleic acid: The major dietary sources of linoleic acid are vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, meats, and eggs. [5]
  • Vitamin A: Many breakfast cereals, juices, dairy products, and other foods are fortified with retinol (preformed vitamin A). Leafy green vegetables (kale, spinach, broccoli), orange and yellow vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin and other winter squash, summer squash). Tomatoes, red bell peppers, cantaloupe, mangos, beef liver, fish oils, milk, eggs, and fortified foods. [6]
  • Folic acid: Dark green leafy vegetables (turnip greens, spinach, romaine lettuce, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, broccoli), beans, peanuts, sunflower seeds, fresh fruit, fruit juices. whole grains, liver, aquatic foods, eggs, fortified foods and supplements. [7]
  • B6: Beef liver, tuna, salmon, fortified cereals, chickpeas, poultry, dark leafy greens, bananas, papayas, oranges, and cantaloupe. [8]
  • Vitamin B12: Fish, shellfish, liver, red meat, eggs, poultry, dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt, fortified nutritional yeast, fortified breakfast cereals, enriched soy or rice milk. [9]
  • Vitamin C: citrus like oranges, lemon, and grapefruit, bell peppers, strawberries, kiwi, tomatoes, cruciferous vegetables, and white potatoes. [10]
  • Vitamin E: Wheat germ oil, sunflower, safflower, and soybean oil, sunflower seeds, almonds, peanuts, peanut butter, beet greens, collard greens, spinach, pumpkin, red bell peppers, asparagus, mangoes and avocados. [11]
  • Zinc: meat, fish, and seafood. [12]
  • Copper: Beef liver, oysters, crab, salmon, dark unsweetened chocolate, cashews, sunflower, sesame seeds, chickpeas, millet, whole wheat pasta, potatoes, and spinach. [13]
  • Iron: meat, poultry, seafood, organ meats, nuts and seeds, dried fruit, wholemeal pasta and bread, legumes, dark leafy greens, and tofu.
  • Selenium: Brazil nuts, seafood, meat, poultry, and organ meats. [14]

Citations

[1] Calder, P. C., & Kew, S. (2002). The immune system: A target for functional foods? British Journal of Nutrition, 88(Suppl. 2), S165–S177. https://doi.org/10.1079/BJN2002682

[2] Tourkochristou, E., Triantos, C., & Mouzaki, A. (2021). The influence of nutritional factors on immunological outcomes. Frontiers in Immunology, 12, Article 665968. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.665968

[3] Castorena-Gonzalez, J. A. (2022). Lymphatic valve dysfunction in Western diet-fed mice: New insights into obesity-induced lymphedema. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 13, Article 823266. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.823266

[4] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22243-amino-acids

[5] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3650500/

[6] https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/vitamin-a/

[7] https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/folic-acid/

[8] https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/vitamin-b6/

[9]  https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/vitamin-b12/

[10] https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/vitamin-c/

[11] https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/vitamin-e/

[12] https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/

[13] https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/copper/

[14] https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Selenium-HealthProfessional/