Do this every morning with coconut oil
You may have heard of it through a friend or your grandmother or the Internet. Whichever the case, it’s not a new thing but is gaining ground again. Oil pulling is, in fact, as old as Ayurveda itself. One amazing health ritual I try never to forget, is oil pulling. Simple, easy and clean, the benefits of oil pulling are extensive, making it one of nature’s most efficient ways to detox the body.
WHAT IS OIL PULLING?
An ancient Ayurvedic ritual dating back over 3,000 years, oil pulling involves placing a tablespoon of extra virgin organic cold pressed oil (I use coconut oil, but sesame or olive oil is fine too) into your mouth and then swishing it around for up to 20 minutes, minimum 5 minutes (pulling it between your teeth), before spitting it out. Whatever you do, do not swallow the oil as you will ingest the toxins you are trying to wipe out. Afterwards requires brushing your teeth with an all-natural fluoride-free toothpaste, and rinsing your mouth out. And you’re done! It really is that easy.
WHY OIL PULLING?
Oil pulling can really transform your health. With the mouth as the home to millions of bacteria, fungi, viruses and other toxins, the oil acts like a cleanser, pulling out the nasties before they get a chance to spread throughout the body. This frees up the immune system, reduces stress, curtails internal inflammation and aids well-being. I do it while preparing Hugo’s breakfast.
It has so many benefits that whole books have been written on the topic, but here are my Top 7 Benefits of oil pulling:
1. Teeth whitening:
Because oils have natural antibacterial properties, they help whiten and cleanse the teeth. Oil pulling is much better than chemical teeth whitening creams.
2. Detoxifies the body:
One of the entry points for germs in your body is through mouth. If you keep it clean and cleanse it every morning, it will keep your body clean in turn. Oil pulling can remove the toxins before they enter your body, thus avoiding them to cause infection.
3. Better teeth hygiene:
Oil pulling is very effective in eradicating the need of tooth cavities. It removes Streptococcus mutant bacteria, which is responsible for tooth decay. It also provides protection against plaque-induced gingivitis.
4. Reduces bad breath:
Oil pulling can help you with the problem of bad breath. This is because it flushes out the smell causing bacteria from your mouth.
5. Reduce Headaches:
When the body is under toxic stress, headaches and migraines occur. It is nature’s way of asking for some time out to recover. By eliminating bacteria from the body via oil pulling, headaches can be avoided.
6. Keeps the skin clean:
The benefits even extend to your skin! Removing toxins from the body that would otherwise make it into the bloodstream means the skin has a chance to shine. Rashes and skin issues often reduce dramatically, or even clear up completely, when oil pulling.
7. AIDS hormonal Changes:
Without having to compete with foreign substances, hormones can behave as they should, functioning to their best ability without being thrown off balance.
When you start oil pulling, you might experience some of the positive effects immediately, or it may take a few days or even weeks. It will very much depend on the state of your health to begin with, and how compromised your immune system is.
