Lymphatic Flow & Detoxification
When most people hear the phrase “circulatory system,” they think of the heart, veins and arteries . . . but actually, our bodies have two circulatory systems.
Unlike the cardiovascular system which is powered by the heart, our lymphatic system is a passive circulatory system that relies on muscle contractions to “pump” immune cells throughout the body while removing pathogens, toxins, and abnormal cells (detoxification).
In the past, it was normal to walk five(ish) miles per day, which is enough to adequately stimulate the passive pump system. However, few of us actually do that these days, which may lead to poor lymph flow. Although I do take daily walks they’re definitely not five miles long, which is why a doctor-friend suggested I look into whole body vibration.
[7:11 AM, 2/24/2021] +49 171 4920347: According to Dr. Thomas F. Wright, MD, FACPh, who specializes in the lymphatic system, “There have been multiple studies showing that vibration in the range of 10 to 30 Hertz it is likely the most effective for changing blood flow and indirectly lymphatic flow.”
Hormone Production & Stress Relief ^
In studies like this one, participants who did whole body vibration and resistance-based exercise had higher testosterone and lower cortisol levels than participants who just did exercise.
In this study, healthy young men experienced a 7% increase in testosterone, a 27% decrease in cortisol (often called the stress hormone), and a 460% increase in growth hormone after doing a series of ten sessions (each one-minute long) on a vibration plate with rests in-between.
In another study done with young women who had a high BMI, an increase in growth hormone was also noted. (6)
Let’s take a look at what some of the hormones I just mentioned do:
Testosterone – Has “powerful anti-aging effects. It turns fat into muscle, keeps skin supple, increases bone mineral density, gives us a positive mood, and boosts our ability to handle stress.” (1)
Cortisol – Though it often gets a lot of negative attention as the “stress hormone,” cortisol can be beneficial when it motivates us to respond to a specific event, like a bear chasing us. Unfortunately, our bodies aren’t wired to tell the difference between serious emergencies (like a hungry bear) and the constant, low-grade stresses of everyday life like email, traffic, or a pile of dirty dishes in the sink when you’re feeling exhausted. These low level stresses can cause us to get stuck in stress mode, which directs our hormonal system to redirect nutrients toward making cortisol instead of the other hormones we need in order to feel relaxed, calm, vibrant, and focused.
Growth Hormone – Helps build and repair healthy tissue in the brain and other organs, including our skin.
