The benefits of coconut oil seem limitless. From cooking to skin and hair care, your kitchen AND beauty cupboard should certainly contain a jar of this wonderful, natural and very gentle oil. There has also been a lot in the press about oil pulling using coconut oil, but what exactly is it and how do you do it? Here, Shine magazine’s health and fitness blogger Bridget Daniels explains what it is and how it works.
A guide to oil pulling and its benefits with Bridget Daniels
With the nights drawing in, summer a distant memory and the post summer glow that carries most of us into our autumnal days fading fast, it’s often the simplest self care routines that can benefit and brighten our appearance when winter’s in full swing.
It’s now generally accepted coconut oil can be classified as a “superfood” thanks to its numerous uses in promoting overall health and well being. Oil pulling, also known as “kavala” or “gundusha,” is an ancient ayurvedic dental technique that involves swishing a tablespoon of oil in your mouth on an empty stomach for around 20 minutes.
While oil pulling has been used within ancient ayurvedic cultures for centuries, more recently the practice has been gathering an increased following among beauty and health circles for promoting oral as well as overall health.
The reported benefits include: whiter teeth, more pleasant breath and better morning breath, improved quality of sleep and sinus issues, stronger teeth and gum health. Sounds good and certainly worth a try – so how do you do it?
The process:
Coconut oil is generally used due to its high anti bacterial properties and its somewhat pleasant and subtle taste.
I like to use Holland and Barrett’s Perfectly Pure 100 per cent raw coconut oil. Take one tablespoonful of coconut oil (organic, virgin is best) and swish it around your mouth for twenty minutes as this is long enough to break through plaque and bacteria yet not long enough for your body to reabsorb the toxins and bacteria expelled.
The oil should be white once spat out, follow this with a mouthful of warm water to wash your mouth out and the remaining oil. Finally, brush as usual with your preferred toothpaste.
Having ‘pulled’ for a few weeks now I have noticed a positive change in my overall oral health, namely less potent morning breath, less sensitivity and as far as I can tell a slightly brighter smile.
About the author: Bridget Daniels writes about health, nutrition, yoga and fitness. She is originally from Manchester (Salford) UK and lives by the sea in Brighton. She is passionate about natural health, organic farming, yoga and wellness.
