Oil Pulling

An ancient Ayurvedic remedy, oil pulling has become a widespread alternative for teeth brushing. Celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow swear by this method for oral health, teeth whitening, detoxification, weight loss, and pain relief. It is even said to relieve migraines, reduce inflammation, prevent insomnia, support kidney function, reduce allergies, correct hormone imbalances, reduce allergies and cure hangovers!

Oil pulling could theoretically reduce the fluid retention and bloating that contribute to feelings of puffiness and lead to a loss of a few extra pounds on the scale. Coconut oil contains medium-chain triglycerides, which, when included as part of your diet, may help diminish your appetite so you eat fewer calories and lose weight, reported a paper published in a 2013 issue of Nutrition Review. Supplementing a reduced-calorie diet with coconut oil helped reduce belly fat in premenopausal women, according to a small study published in Lipids in 2009.

How does it work?

The process involves swishing coconut oil (which is antibacterial) in the mouth for about 20 minutes, until it thickens, followed by spitting it out along with all of the toxins and bacteria it has collected. Oil pulling gets your mouth squeaky clean and kills the bad bacteria in your mouth. When your oral health is immaculate, your body can put its energy toward healing other things and thus making you look and feel better.

“When we improve our oral health, we improve so many other things in our body. Everything is connected” says Dr. Sanda Moldovan, a Beverly Hills periodontist and nutritionist. She also claims that “people with bad oral hygiene have a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease and strokes.”

If your body isn’t trying to constantly fight the bacteria in your mouth, it can function more efficiently and keep your organs in check. Not to mention, the bad bacteria in your mouth can migrate to your organs, causing a whole host of serious health issues.

What’s the downside?

Don’t expect to lose a lot of weight from oil pulling, unless you combine it with some of the other diets in this list. For best results, you must swish the oil in your mouth for 20 minutes every day, morning and night. This can be difficult to fit into your morning routine, and certainly isn’t the most convenient when you’re exhausted before bed. Additionally, doing it too vigorously can result in jaw soreness. If you can commit to 20 minutes of oil pulling a day, use it as a substitute for mouthwash (and remember that store-bought mouthwash can have detrimental health effects). Replacing teeth-brushing altogether with this isn’t a good idea though. 😉