My friend, Pete, first turned me on to the notion of oil-pulling.  I had to admit, when I first heard about the concept, it really grossed me out, but I tried it, and now it’s a way of life.  

What is oil pulling?  If you’ve spent any time on Facebook or Pinterest, you’ve probably seen references to it.  It’s an ancient Ayurvedic practice of essentially swishing a tablespoon of oil around in your mouth for 15-20 minutes and receiving several potential, or reported, health benefits.

The majority of the proposed benefits are related to the oral cavity and include:

• Promotion of health of teeth and gums

• Prevention of bad breath

• Reduction of plaque build-up

Oil pulling has further been suggested to help some people with the following:

• Migraines

• Hormone imbalances

• Gastro-enteritis

• Eczema

• Bronchitis

• Kidney function

• Sinus congestion

• Vision impairment

• Insomnia

• Hangover reduction

• Allergy reduction

• Detox from heavy metals

While I have no idea if it affects any of the above health problems, I certainly am a fan of oil pulling, if only for the fact that it makes my teeth feel really clean, and they look whiter. Coconut oil is a natural anti-bacterial, fungal, and viral, and I find that when I start my day with a 15-20 minute oil pull, that my teeth look and feel awesome.

It took a few minutes to get used to it the first time.  You don’t want to swallow the oil.  By the way, it turns to liquid almost immediately after you start swishing it around.  Also, when your ritual is over, you definitely want to spit it out on the ground or in the trash.  Since coconut oil solidifies at 75 degrees, you don’t want to clog up your pipes.

Some people use sesame oil. In fact, I think most traditionalists used sesame oil, but coconut oil also works, and we always have a jar in the pantry.  I  suggest cooking with it, putting it in your shakes, or just taking a teaspoon of it every day.  Remember, eating good quality fat burns fat, it doesn’t make you fat.

So, give oil pulling a try.  I think you’ll like the way your teeth feel and look if you do it for 30 days consistently.  You may even experience another major health benefit.  If so, please let me know.