What is Oil Pulling

Ive been seeing a lot of people on Facebook talking about oil pulling. I am a little late to the oil pulling party,

but when I saw that it could help whiten teeth and prevent bad breath, I decided I should probably look into it.

When I first started researching, I had no idea what oil pulling was and I had no idea how to do it. So thats where I started.

How to Oil Pull:

Oil pulling is done to promote oral healthy & detox the body. It is done by swishing organic oil such as coconut oil, sesame oil or another vegetable based oil in your mouth for 20 minutes. After the 20 minutes is up, you spit the oil in the trash and rinse your mouth out with warm water.

So what exactly does this swishing do exactly? Well, the lipids in the oil are said to pull bacteria out of your mouth and saliva. It also prevents bacteria from attaching to your teeth. This means that there is less bad breath and yellowing causing gunk in your mouth and more vitamin E. Say hello to stronger, whiter teeth.

Not only does it make teeth stronger and whiter, but a lot of the blogs I read from veteran oil pullers report that it helps headaches go away, it helps improve skin, and it helps people with insomnia and TMJ.

My Experience Oil Pulling:

Ive  tried some pretty odd things for the sake of trying them. Ive done the super glue black head removing mask (terrible freaking idea), Ive done It Works! Wraps, Ive tried dozens of creams, oils and balms, and Ive tried Cali Kickers, but trust me when I say that this is the weirdest thing I have ever done.

I picked up some Organic Coconut Oil (Im not fancy, I just got it from Wal-Mart for like seven bucks). I ran the bottle under hot water for a few minutes to soften the oil, then I scooped about tablespoon out. It was still pretty solid, but easy enough to scoop out with a measuring spoon.

I was super nervous. I held it in my hand for a second and and just kinda stared at it. Then I woman-ed up and went ahead got started. Since mine was kind of solid, it took a couple minutes before it melted completely in my mouth. Having some clumps in there made for a really weird experience texture wise. Then once everything was melted it took me a good 7 minutes before I was used to how t he oil felt and tasted. 

Swishing something for 20 minutes is a REALLY long time. One tablespoon isnt a lot, but as the 20 minutes

goes on the oil soaks up saliva and bacteria and before you know it your mouth is VERY full. I tried staying busy to keep my mind off of the fact that I was basically tasting all the germs in my mouth all at once but those 20 minutes went buy so slowly. 

Finally it was time to spit it out. The articles I have read say to spit it in the trash because the oil can cause problems in your sink. Then I rinsed with the warm water as instructed. I brushed and used mouth wash. My teeth instantly felt awesome. They felt smooth and looked wonderful. I cant really say if they were instantly white, but I know that my mouth felt great. I also didnt feel like I needed gum 10 minutes after brushing.

Despite how weird it was to try, I would definitely do oil pulling again. The benefits are there and I think the texture is something that you can get used to.

What crazy things have you done to whiten your teeth?

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5 Signs that you Need to Detox

Spring is slowly but surely approaching, and as you make plans for spring cleaning you house, you might also want to consider spring cleaning your body. OK, that sounds weird... let me clarify: Ladies, its time for a detox! Dont believe me? Here are 5 signs that you need a detox.

1. Sleeping beauty has an easier time getting out of bed than you.

If you press the snooze button more than 3 times each morning, youre obviously more tired than you should be. Doing a detox can help you have more energy to get up and greet the day with enthusiasm. Since detoxing helps flush out harmful toxins and chemicals that make you feel tired & groggy, getting up in the morning will feel less like waking the dead, and more like a fresh start.

2. Things have been rumbling and tumbling down under.
Theres is a reason this one is number two... ladies were going to talk for a second about number two. Bare with me. Youre not sure whats happening in your stomach, but everything is broken when it comes to bathroom time. Even when you feel like you need to, you just cant go. Once per day is the ideal frequency for number two, but if youre going a day or so with no movement, you need to detox. Sometimes when we arent getting enough fiber, our digestive system has a hard time moving things through. This happens when we eat too much junk foods that dont have much nutritional value. The great thing about detoxing is that you can get rid of some of the waste that is building up in your body. Getting rid of this waste will help ease a lot of the cramping that often accompanies constipation.

3. As bad as youve been breaking out, youd think that youve been washing your face in pizza grease.

When you eat junk, it affects your skin. It messes with your body chemistry and this can manifest in the form of breakouts. Me personally, I break out if I drink soda. My body doesnt react well with artificial sweeteners. Detoxing is great for your skin, a good detox will take your skin from dull and blemished to radiant and clear.

4. The button on your skinny jeans has more stress on it than an valedictorian during finals. 
Bloating is bad news. Water retention happens to everyone at some point or another. It can be caused by workout out and getting sore the next day, eating too much salt, and Aunt Flos monthly visit. Typically water retention sticks around for 3-4 days, but what most people dont know is that it doesnt need to be suffered through for so long. You can minimize water retention by regularly doing a detox. Most detoxes contain ingredients that help your body release excess water, such as lemon juice.

5. Youre thinking about checking yourself into rehab, because seriously.... Your eating habits lately, are an issue.

If you need to break an eating habit like snacking before bed, bored eating, or eating too much in single sitting, detoxing is one of the best ways to do it. It helps get rid of the chemicals in your body that are keeping you addicted to food. There are several detoxes out there that help curb your appetite, too.

Have you ever gone on Facebook and cleared off all the embarrassing pictures of you from your college days, then afterward felt like a new person? Doing a detox is kind of like that. Its like a total body reset. After you get rid of all of the toxins in your body, its easier to start fresh with healthier habits!

So what are your detox options?

Master Cleanse
The Master Cleanse has been around since the 1940s. It gives your body enough nutrients to function, and you basically just drink the drink and eat nothing else. The drink combines organic lemons, organic Grade A maple syrup, organic cayenne and filtered water. These ingredients help flush your system out. It is typically a seven day cleanse. While I personally havent tried it, I know that Beyonce used it to slim down for Dream Girls. For me, the reason I didnt choose Master Cleanse for a detox is because I dont have time to mix up the stuff through out the day. Its not very convenient for me, but like I said, thats just my take.

Dr. Oz Detox Diet
A couple weeks ago, my mom was looking in to doing the Dr. Oz Detox Diet. Its only a few days long which is a major plus. The program includes all of the recipes, and the smoothies look delicious. One draw back to this program is the cost. Because the ingredients on the Dr. Oz Detox Diet all have to be fresh and organic, its slightly pricey. Also you have to have access to a blender throughout the day or you have to prep all of your smoothies before hand and pack them with you throughout the day. If you have prep time, a blender, and a budget for organic fruits and veggies, it would be a great detox to try.

Lemonade Diet 

Learn More About Lemonade Diet By Clicking on the Image!

The Lemonade diet is actually a supplement and not so much a diet, but aside from the name, this has been Lemonade Diet is more convenient than most other detoxes Ive researched, which is a huge plus because Im always running errands or rushing out the door.  It contains the stuff that is in the Master Cleanse, but in powder form. The Lemonade is delicious and so I never feel like Im torturing or punishing myself by drinking a couple bottles of it each day. When I use Lemonade Diet, I notice that I dont feel hungry, I dont feel bloated after eating, and I have so much more energy than the days when I dont drink it. Out of the three, I would say that the Lemonade Diet is the most convenient and most cost effective. In fact, its less than a dollar per day to do it for a month!
my detox of choice. It comes in a capsule or powder form. The powder mixes with water. You just add it to your daily regimen, you dont need to totally stop eating food, and you can actually use it daily, its not just a two day thing.

Which detoxes have you tried? Are you planning on doing one again?

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