What is Lymph? Let's learn about this super cleansing system in our body!

Have you ever had a cold or flu and small lumps on your neck, armpits, or groin? We often call these "flukes." Some people get a little scared when they see them, thinking, "Do I have something wrong?" But they are actually a very important part of our body's defense system. They are like the security checkpoints in our country. In order for these checkpoints to work properly, there must be vehicles passing through them. Similarly, the 'vehicle' that is essential for these flukes to work properly is lymph , or what we call it in English . This is an amazing cleansing and protective system inside our body. So, let's talk about this in detail and very simply today.

So, what actually happens to this lymph fluid?

To understand this, let's compare our body to a big, busy city. Every house in this city (that is, the cells in our body) needs a good transportation system to bring things like food, drink, and oxygen to those houses, and to remove the waste that accumulates from those houses.

That main transportation system is our circulatory system . The main roads in this are called arteries and veins. Blood travels along these roads. You know, the liquid part of this blood is called plasma .

Now imagine that from these main roads, there must be small side roads leading to every house (cell). That's what our capillaries are like. As blood flows through these tiny tubes called capillaries, some of the plasma in that blood leaks out of the walls of the capillaries, like water droplets escaping through a tea strainer.

Okay, now this lymph fluid goes into the spaces between our cells. There, it does two very important things.

1. Delivery Service: It delivers oxygen, proteins, and other nutrients to cells, much like delivering food parcels to homes.

2. Garbage Collection Service: At the same time, it collects all the 'garbage' such as waste products excreted by cells, damaged cell fragments, and dangerous bacteria and viruses that have entered the body. It's like a garbage truck going from house to house collecting garbage.

This lymph, loaded with waste and extra fluid, then enters a separate system of tiny tubes. We call them lymphatic capillaries . This system is like a separate network of streets designed to remove waste from a city.

Now is the most important part. These garbage-laden 'trucks' don't go straight. They go to 'security checkpoints' along the way. Those checkpoints are the lymph nodes or 'kuddatti' that we talked about earlier.

Inside these lymph nodes are special forces soldiers of our body's defenses. They are a type of white blood cell called lymphocytes . These soldiers identify and destroy enemies such as dangerous bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells in the lymph fluid.

This completely purified and filtered lymph fluid eventually returns to our circulatory system. This cycle continues throughout our body.

Where is this lymph fluid located in our body?

Simply put, lymph fluid is found wherever there are lymphatic capillaries. This system of lymphatic vessels is spread throughout the tissues of every organ in our body, except for a few places like the brain and spinal cord.

But did you know that 80% of the total lymph fluid produced in our body, that is, a large amount, is produced in our liver and digestive system . The lymph fluid produced in the digestive system in particular has a special name - chyle .

This lymph fluid (Chyle) is not as clear as normal lymph. It is milky white in color. The reason for this is that the fat (oil, butter, etc.) in the food we eat is absorbed into the body through this lymphatic system. So, when these fat particles and white blood cells combine, it becomes milky in color.

Normally, lymph fluid is a clear, colorless liquid, like water. Sometimes it can have a slight yellow tint.

What are the common diseases that affect the lymphatic system?

The most important thing about lymph is that it doesn't get stuck in one place, but rather flows continuously. Just like the drainage system in our homes, if it gets stuck, problems will arise. There are several situations that can interfere with the flow of lymph. Let's look at this table.

What are the symptoms of a lymph problem?

The main and most common symptom indicating a problem with the lymphatic system is swelling .

When lymph fluid cannot flow normally, it accumulates in the surrounding soft tissues. This is called lymphedema. This swelling is most often seen in the arms and legs.

How do we keep our lymphatic system healthy?

There are a few simple things we can do to help maintain this wonderful cleansing service in our body.

1. Stay away from toxic chemicals

Pesticides, herbicides, and household cleaning products can contain toxic chemicals. When these enter our bodies, they put an extra burden on the lymphatic system to filter and remove them. Just as putting plastic in a garbage filter can clog it, these toxins can reduce the efficiency of the lymphatic system.

2. Drink plenty of water.

This is a very simple, but very important thing. 95% of our lymph fluid is water. If we don't drink enough water, lymph fluid thickens. It's difficult for a thick fluid to flow. Therefore, drinking plenty of water throughout the day helps to thin the lymph fluid and make it flow more easily.

3. Maintain a healthy lifestyle

There are two reasons for this.

• Exercise: Did you know that unlike our heart, our body doesn't have a separate pump to pump lymph fluid? So how does this fluid move throughout the body? The main thing that helps is the contraction and relaxation of our muscles . When we walk, run, or exercise, our muscles are activated. That action pushes the lymph vessels and pumps the lymph fluid up. Therefore, doing a little bit of exercise every day, like walking or swimming, is very good for the lymphatic system.
• A balanced diet: Eating a nutritious, balanced diet can help reduce the accumulation of unwanted toxins in the body. It also reduces the burden on the lymphatic system.

Are lymph and lymphocytes the same thing?

No. These two are not the same, but they are related.

Think of lymph as a river. Lymphocytes are like the guards in that river.

• Lymph: means liquid. It means the medium of transport. This is the 'vehicle' that carries nutrients and waste products.
• Lymphocyte: A type of cell. These are a type of white blood cell that fights infection. These cells live in lymph fluid and lymph nodes. These 'soldiers' called lymphocytes destroy enemies (bacteria, viruses) that are caught in the lymph fluid.

Therefore, lymph is the liquid medium in which cells called lymphocytes move and live.

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