Why the Lymphatic System is Important

If you are not familiar with basic anatomy orfighters.
physiology, you've likely not heard much about theCertain white blood cells will produce special
lymphatic system. It's important to know what this isdisease-fighting proteins- which will actually kill off
and how it affects your body.diseased and infected cells. They also help to "trap"
The lymph system is a network of vessels and filtersgerms in the body and kill them before they have a
(also known as "nodes") that act as a complex "toxinchance to spread further infection or disease
removal system" for the body- this network isthroughout the body. This is why any type of
actually a drainage system for all of the various partsdisorder of the lymphatic system will prevent the
of the body help to drain excess fluids from differentbody from being able to fight off infection and
parts of the body. If this fluid is not removed, thendisease and lowers one's immune system.
toxins will build up in the body and cause swelling inWhile not actually a direct part of the entire "waste
areas where the fluid has been concentrated.management lymph system" of the body, the spleen
If the body is not properly drained of its toxins andis also a major player in helping to keep a person's
they are allowed to build up, this prevents the bodyimmune system in optimum condition and it also helps
from fighting infection and disease. As a matter ofthe body fight infection and disease. The spleen also
fact, any type of malfunction in the lymphaticholds white blood cells that make disease-fighting
system will cause serious illness and wreak havoc onproteins (known as antibodies) that kill germs,
a person's body. This is because this system also is inviruses, bacteria's and any other types of cells which
place to help prevent lymph fluid from flowing backcause infection.
into body tissues and organs, which would beThe spleen is important in one other aspect, and
tantamount to throwing sewage into drinking wateralthough it works much like the lymphatic system- it
and then consuming it.also will kill any damaged cells that pass through and
Nature's own little waste-management system forget them out of the blood stream and bodily
the body is also the body's primary defense againstsystems. However, this is also why cancer is spread
diseases caused by viruses, bacteria's and evenso easily and why lymph nodes that are very close
fungus. These disease causing things are removedto any type of cancerous tumors are usually also
from the body's bloodstream by the lymph nodes-removed along with the cancerous tumor- to help
this is because lymph nodes contain white blood cells,prevent the spread of cancer into other parts of the
which are the body's main disease and infectionbody.