What Is Oil Pulling All About?

 Oil pulling is a traditional wellness practice that benefits oral health and overall well-being. Keep reading to discover the benefits of oil pulling. I will also share my personal experience with oil pulling.

 Every year, I attend a health and wellness event to learn about the latest trends and products in the natural market. For the past couple of years, I have stopped by a booth that offers samples of toothpaste and other oral care products. Each time I visit this booth, they always hand me a couple of samples of coconut pulling oil. 

When I get home, I always put the oil-pulling samples in my bathroom drawer with good intentions to try them. I admit that I have plenty of excuses for why I have not tried oil pulling. That all changed when GuruNanda sent me a box of several of their oral care products to feature on my holiday gift guide for health and fitness folks.

 I was experiencing gum issues on one side of my mouth, and I decided that I was going to invest more time into my oral health care routine. Poor oral health can affect the rest of your body and lead to health problems. There is a connection between oral health and wellness.

 I did some research and learned about how oil pulling can help with gum health. Regular practice of oil pulling reduces plaque buildup and symptoms of gingivitis, such as gum inflammation and bleeding. So I made a commitment to incorporate oil pulling into my oral care routine.

What is oil pulling?

 Oil pulling is a simple practice that involves swishing natural oils like coconut oil in your mouth. It’s a technique rooted in Ayurvedic holistic medicine that’s used to treat various oral health issues. Oil pulling is a more natural way to take care of your teeth.

How do you oil pull?

The first step to oil pulling is to purchase quality fractionated coconut oil. I like using GuruNanda's pulling oil as it has natural flavors in it to enhance the experince. Sure, you could use regular coconut oil, but the mint flavor in GuruNanda's pulling oil is more pleasant to taste and keeps me swishing longer. There are also additional essential oils in GuruNanda's pulling oil for additional mouth benefits.

Here is the short version of how to oil pull, which I found on GuruNanda's website.

 1. Start with 10 to 15 mL (1 tablespoon) of pulling oil in your mouth. 

 2. Swish the oil for 2 minutes if you're a beginner, and gradually work up to 10 minutes as you grow more comfortable. 

 3. Spit the oil into the trash, avoiding sinks to prevent plumbing issues.

 4. Brush your teeth immediately after oil pulling to help remove any impurities and debris. 

My oil pulling routine

To be successful with my oil pulling experience, to see results, I knew that I needed to establish a routine. So I decided to oil pull at night, after I detoxed in my home infrared sauna. I was using my infrared sauna nightly for the inflammation benefits. 

 When I was done spending time in my sauna, I put the coconut oil in my mouth and swished while I was in the shower. My shower time was around 10 minutes, so it worked well.

Benefits of Oil Pulling

One of the main benefits of practicing oil pulling is gum health, and it can especially help with bleeding gums. This was my reason to practice oil pulling, as one section of my mouth would bleed after I flossed my teeth. 

I am happy to report that after several days of using the pulling oil in my mouth, my gums stopped bleeding.

Oil Pulling Benefits

Here are some key benefits of oil pulling, supported by research and traditional practice:

   + May Help in Oral Bacteria Reduction: Oil pulling significantly reduces harmful bacteria like Streptococcus mutans, which is known for causing tooth decay

   + May Help in Enhancing Gum Health: Regular practice of oil pulling reduces plaque buildup and symptoms of gingivitis, such as gum inflammation and bleeding.

   + May Support Detoxification: Oil pulling may support the body's detoxification process by stimulating salivary enzymes that absorb toxins. This can reduce harmful bacteria in the mouth and contribute to overall health.

   + May Enhance Overall Health: Good oral hygiene is crucial for overall health, as poor dental care can lead to more serious conditions like heart inflammation. 

  + May Promote Fresher Breath: Oil pulling is equally effective as mouthwash in improving breath freshness. 

 + May Help in Cavity Prevention: Oil pulling may play a role in preventing cavities by reducing plaque and bacterial accumulation on tooth surfaces.

 + Teeth Whitening: Oil pulling is not a replacement for professional dental treatments, but studies have been conducted on products like GuruNanda that show teeth-whitening benefits.

References: https://gurunanda.com/blogs/oil-pulling/ultimate-guide-to-oil-pulling

FAQs

There are many questions about oil pulling. The above reference has the answers to many questions about oil pulling. I have decided to include several of the common ones here.

Q: How often can you oil pull?

A: Daily oil pulling is common and recommended. Consistency is key for noticeable results, but individual preferences and tolerances may vary.

Q: How long should you oil pull?

A: The typical recommended duration for oil pulling is 15 to 20 minutes, minutes per session. Start with shorter sessions and gradually increase the time as you're comfortable. With GuruNanda’s formula of fractionated coconut oil with essential oils like tea tree and clove, a 2 to 10-minute session can suffice. 

Q: How long does it take for oil pulling to work?

A: The timeline for noticeable benefits from oil pulling can vary. Some people may observe improvements in oral health within a few weeks, while others might take longer.

Q: Does oil pulling help bad breath?

A: Oil pulling may help reduce bad breath as it targets the bacteria that primarily cause it and decreases their presence in the mouth.

Q: Should you rinse after oil pulling?

A: It is recommended to rinse your mouth with water after oil pulling to remove any residual oil. Additionally, brushing your teeth after rinsing is advisable for comprehensive oral hygiene.

Q: Where to spit oil after oil pulling?

A: Dispose of the used oil in a trash can instead of spitting it into the sink to avoid plumbing issues.

Making Oil Pulling a Part of My Healthy Habits

After experiencing the benefits of oil pulling, I decided to make it a part of my healthy habits. Every time I use my infrared sauna, I follow up this habit with oil pulling in the shower. This has been helping me stay consistent.

 I have been using my infrared sauna around 5 days a week, as it has been helping reduce the inflammation in my body from my allergy-induced asthma. This, in turn, has been helping with my sleep.

I have been swishing my pulling oil in the shower. Once I get out of the shower, I spit out the oil and brush my teeth. I love using these flossing toothbrushes as they work better than an average toothbrush. Then I floss my teeth.

Try GuruNanda's Pulling Oil today and take a step toward becoming the guru of your own wellness.

Easy No Bake Dairy Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Granola Bars

Stop buying store-bought granola bars that are loaded with sugar! You will be amazed at how easy it is to make homemade granola bars. These delicious bars are perfect for breakfast and after-school snacks.

 

 Granola bars are delicious and make for great healthy snacks. Most people buy packaged granola bars at the store for convenience and think that they are healthy. Most store-bought granola bars are loaded with sugar and unhealthy ingredients so they can be similar to eating a candy bar. The granola bars that contain nutritious ingredients are usually expensive. 

 Homemade granola bars are easy to make and can save you money. Making granola bars at home allows you to custom-make them to fit your dietary needs. A few simple ingredients are all it takes to make delicious granola bars at home. When you make your own granola bars, you can control the amount of sugar. You can also mix in your favorite granola bar ingredients. If you have food allergies you can omit certain ingredients or use ingredient substitutions. These granola bars can be made for all types of diets, from gluten-free to dairy-free. If you use homemade sunflower butter they can be nut-free granola bars.

No Bake Dairy Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Granola Bars

+ Are Dairy-Free

+ Gluten-Free

+ Full of Fiber

+ Made with Healthier Ingredients

+ Made with Plant-Based ingredients

+ Can be made Nut-Free

+ Lower Sugar Content

 My family loves granola bars. My boys love to pack granola bars in their school lunches and also eat them for after-school snacks. So we buy a lot of granola bars and that can be costly. The store-bought granola bars can also be high in sugar and have dairy in them. I hate when we go shopping and my boys offer me a granola bar and after reading the ingredient list, I discover that I can not enjoy a granola bar. The trouble is dairy is in so many foods. So I now make a lot of my food at home since discovering that dairy was the cause of my severe allergy and asthma symptoms. 

Ingredients Needed For Homemade Granola Bars 

+ Oatmeal

+ Peanut Butter or Your Favorite Nut Butter

+ Coconut Oil

+ Maple Syrup 

+ Salt

+ Vanilla Extract

+ Chocolate Chips

+ Sunflower Seeds or Your Favorite Nut

+ Optional Add-In Ingredients

  

 With a few simple changes, most of my favorite recipes can be made dairy-free. My favorite allergy-friendly recipe was the amazing chocolate pretzel pie that I made for the holidays. These delicious granola bars are made with plant-based ingredients that are also vegan. The granola bars are also gluten-free and could be made nut-free by swapping out the peanut butter with a nut-free spread like homemade sunflower seed butter. Check out my recipe for no-nut butter cookies which are allergy-friendly cookies.

Homemade Granola Bars Are

+ Healthy

+ Plant-Based

+ Loaded With Fiber

+ Make Great Snacks

+ Perfect for School Lunches

+ A Grab-and-Go Breakfast Option

+ Dairy-Free

+ Gluten-Free

Homemade granola bars taste amazing

 I decided to make some homemade granola bars for my kids. I found an easy recipe and loved that it was lower in sugar than the store-bought granola bars. I also love that I could use Viva Natural Coconut Oil in my dairy-free granola bars. Since I am all about nutrition, I added sunflower seeds to my delicious DIY granola bars for some added protein. Of course, I added chocolate to my recipe as everything tastes better with chocolate. I am so glad that Enjoy Life, an allergy-friendly company, makes yummy dairy-free and vegan chocolate chips. Using oatmeal as an ingredient makes the granola bars gluten-free. For those who have kids with peanut allergies, just use sunflower seed butter instead of peanut butter.

Healthy granola bars are great for snacks

Coconut oil makes the granola bars so good and healthy!

 You could omit the coconut oil in this recipe but I do not recommend it. Coconut oil not only gives it a great taste but it really helps the ingredients bind together so the granola bars are not crumbly. You mix in the coconut oil while it is melted but then the coconut oil goes back to a solid form after you place it in the fridge and that keeps all the tasty ingredients together. Viva Natural Coconut oil is vegan, paleo, keto, gluten-free, soy-free, non-GMO, and 100% raw! I love using coconut oil in my homemade granola recipe. 

Tip: Place a sheet of wax paper over the granola bars for mess-free pressing

So easy to make

  These No-Bake Dairy-Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Granola Bars were so easy to make and are so easy to pack in a lunchbox. I just wrap them in wax paper and then store them in a container in the fridge. That way my boys can grab one for when they make their school lunch. These yummy granola bars will be perfect for my boys to bring to school for parties. I think the next batch that I make, I will add some chia seeds or flax meal so they are superfood meal bars. You could even add pumpkin seeds.

Different add-in ingredients
+ pumpkin seeds
+ flax seeds
+ dried cranberries
+ chia seeds
+ dried dates
+ sliced almonds

Check out these No-Bake High Fiber Breakfast Granola Bars

Pin this recipe on Pinterest so you can make it later.

Easy No Bake Dairy Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Granola Bars

Yield: 12

Author: Mom Knows Best

A delicious healthy after school snack

ingredients:

• 2 cups oatmeal
• 1 cup peanut butter or almond butter
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips
• 1 cup sunflower seeds, optional

instructions:

How to cook Easy No Bake Dairy Free Peanut butter Chocolate Granola Bars

1. Combine the oatmeal, peanut butter, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and melted coconut oil in a medium-size bowl. Stir until well combined. 
2. Stir in chocolate chips and sunflower seeds.
3. Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper, allowing the paper to fall over the edges. Press the oatmeal mixture into the pan.
4. Place in the refrigerator for1 hour, or until firm. Remove paper from pan and then cut the large square in half. Then cut each half into 6 rectangles. Wrap bars individually with plastic wrap or wax paper and store in the refrigerator.
5. Note: To make these granola bars healthier, add two tablespoons of chia seed, flaxseed, nuts, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds. Just add 1 tablespoon more honey for each addition.

Created using The Recipes Generator