Oil Pulling Benefits

Have you ever heard of oil pulling? Normally when I ask people this, the answer is no, and I would have definitely been one of those people before. I was googling natural ways to whiten teeth and discovered articles like this one, this one, and this one. I was immediately intrigued, read up on it more, and decided to give it a try once I learned about all of the oil pulling benefits. P.S. I also read that Gwyneth Paltrow is an oil pulling fan and then discovered this oil pulling kit that is sold on goop.com. I don't use this kit, although the information on the kit is very interesting and helpful; I simply use the coconut oil from Trader Joe's that is always in my pantry.As always, do research on your own before trying a new health practice (and even consult your doctor if you wish), but below are a few notes about oil pulling that I've learned. The gist of it is that you swish coconut oil (about a tablespoon) in your mouth first thing in the morning for about 15-20 minutes, then spit it out. It is supposed to rid your body of toxins by pulling the toxins out of your mouth via the gums. How fascinating is that? Oil pulling originated in India many, many years ago as a medicinal practice. It is especially good for oral health- promotes healthy gums, rids the mouth of bacteria, and also happens to whiten teeth! Not a bad bonus.A few things to note--*Very important NOT to swallow. You want to get the toxins out, not swallow them back in!*Doing it first thing in the AM before drinking or eating anything is key, because bacteria builds up in the mouth overnight.*The goal is 20 minutes, but just make it as long as you can. There are some days that I can only last 10 minutes, other days I make it to 20. Something is better than nothing!*When it is time to spit, make sure you spit out in the trash can-- coconut oil will clog up your sink drain and no one wants to mess with that.*After you spit out in the trash can, rinse with warm water (spit out) then follow up with normal brushing- preferably using clean and natural toothpaste.*I did read that you can use sesame oil or olive oil instead of coconut oil, but I have not tried it so I am not sure how those oils compare.*How often to oil pull? Up to you! I do it about 3 times a week. With anything though, it is better to start slow and not overdue it.Have you ever heard of oil pulling? Would you try it? Let us know in the comments below![show_shopthepost_widget id="2980099"]image via pinterest