The Lesser Known Key to Breast & Hormone Health
- mariekesteen
- Oct 17
- 4 min read
#breasthealth #healthylymphflow #keepyourlymphflowing #lymphaticsystem #wastesystem #immunehealth #cellularwaste #waterretention #puffyness #weightgain #inflammation
While most of the conversation focuses on screenings and genetics, I want to share a part of the story we don’t often hear about: your lymphatic system.
Your lymph is a powerful network - think of it as your body’s inner waste highway that helps your body drain toxins, hormones, and cellular waste - including excess estrogen. When it’s moving well, your body is better equipped to protect breast tissue and support hormone balance. When it stagnates, it can make your body work harder to metabolize hormones and clear inflammation.
Unlike your heart, your lymph has no pump. It relies entirely on your movement, breath, and hydration to keep flowing. When that flow slows down, toxins, cellular debris, and inflammatory molecules can build up - especially in areas rich in lymph nodes like your breasts, armpits, and groin.
Supporting your lymph isn’t complicated - it’s about gentle, consistent daily habits that keep your body’s natural detox and repair systems active.
While going through my healing journey with fungal overgrowth, high inflammation and parasite infections, I’ve had several episodes of lymph stagnation - one even resulted in an awful migraine. So I learned to support my lymph flow with daily habits to prevent this from happening again.
Why the Lymph Matters for Breast Health
Hormone clearance: Lymph moves estrogen metabolites and inflammatory molecules out of your tissues.
Immune support: A flowing lymphatic system helps your body detect and respond to cellular changes.
Inflammation control: Stagnant lymph can create a microenvironment where inflammation lingers, which may contribute to tissue stress.
It’s part of your immune and detox systems. The lymphatic system carries immune cells, filters out pathogens, and supports your liver and kidneys in clearing waste.
It’s affected by modern lifestyle. Sitting for long periods, tight clothing or bras, dehydration, and chronic stress can all slow lymph flow.
You can feel when it’s stagnant. Puffy eyes, cellulite, fluid retention, fatigue, or “heaviness” in your body can all be subtle signs of lymph sluggishness.
How Do You Know? - Signs Your Lymph May Be Sluggish
Sometimes the body gives subtle clues that lymph flow isn’t optimal:
Puffy or swollen areas: particularly under the eyes, in hands, or feet
Fluid retention or bloating
“Heaviness” in the body or breasts
Cellulite or dimpling in the skin
Frequent fatigue or low energy
Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
Slow recovery from illness or inflammation
How to Keep Your Lymph Flowing - Daily Detox Rituals
Skin Dry Brushing (2–3 minutes before showering): Use a natural-bristle brush and gently brush upward toward your heart, starting from your feet and hands. This stimulates lymph flow, removes dead skin cells, and supports gentle detoxification through the skin - your largest detox organ. Tip: Always use light pressure - lymph vessels are just beneath the surface.
Gentle Movement: Lymph flow depends on your muscles and diaphragm.
Morning walks, yoga, or rebounding (mini-trampoline) are ideal.
Try “arm swings” to open the chest and underarm area - rich in lymph nodes.
Practice deep belly breathing for 5 minutes a day; your diaphragm is your lymph pump!
Stay Hydrated: Lymph is about 95% water - without enough, it thickens and moves slowly.
Aim for filtered or mineral-rich water throughout the day.
Add a pinch of sea salt or a squeeze of lemon to enhance cellular hydration.
Lymph Massage & Essential Oils: A few minutes of gentle self-massage can do wonders.
Use upward, sweeping motions along your neck, underarms, and chest.
Combine this with essential oils like frankincense, cypress, grapefruit, or geranium - all known to support lymph flow and reduce inflammation.
Mix 2–3 drops of essential oil in a carrier oil (like jojoba or fractionated coconut) before applying. Frankincense, in particular, supports healthy cell turnover and tissue repair - a beautiful addition to a breast and chest self-care ritual.
Lymph Leggings: these fancy pants can help enhance circulation and lymph flow especially when sitting by applying gentle pressure. You may have used them already for long distance flights or running as socks, but they also exist for the whole leg.
Lymph & Detox Supporting Highlight Recipes from My Cookbook:
Ginger detox infusion page 69
Citrus avocado dressing page 56
Bone broth page 38
Supercharged green soup page 37
These are hormone- and lymph-friendly bowl from my Hormone & Blood Sugar Balance Cookbook combines:
Cruciferous veggies to boost estrogen metabolism
Fiber to bind and remove toxins via the gut
Tahini and olive oil for healthy fats that reduce inflammation
It’s cozy, deeply nourishing, and a delicious way to support your body’s natural detox pathways.
Your lymphatic system is your body’s built-in cleansing network - a gentle, continuous detox that keeps you balanced, clear, and vibrant.
This month, show your body some love through movement, hydration, and mindful rituals that keep that inner river flowing. Because true prevention is about daily nourishment, not fear - and it starts with flow.
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