Category: Beauty

We live in the world where there are toxins everywhere around us. It is coming from our environment, product we use, the water we drink and the food we eat.

I am doing this blog series on detoxification. Every week I will post small, simple steps you can take to detoxify your whole body. Last week, I posted about oil pulling. You can read about it here: http://nutri.guide/2018/03/31/ancient-practice-for-detoxification-oil-pulling/

Today’s topic is Dry brushing –

Most people take good care of their facial skin by regularly exfoliating, cleansing, and moisturizing. But the skin of the rest of the body is mostly ignored. Skin is our largest organ that helps protect our body from external factors like weather and germs. When dead skin and toxins build up on our skin, it could not do its job efficiently.

Dry brushing is a simple technique of running a dry, soft-bristle brush over your skin, starting with your limbs but always motioning toward your heart.

Here are some of the benefits of Dry Brushing:

• Stimulate the Lymphatic System: The lymphatic system is a major part of the body’s immune system. As we age, our lymphatic system becomes slow and sluggish, leading to low immunity in our bodies. Dry brushing stimulates the normal lymph flow within the body and helps the body detoxify itself naturally.
• Exfoliation: Dry skin brushing removes dead dry skin leaving a super soft baby skin behind.
• Increase Circulation: Dry brushing increases circulation to your skin, which encourages the elimination of metabolic waste.
• Reduce Cellulite: Dry brushing may help stimulate the cells and break down toxins from beneath the skin.
• Reduces dry skin itchiness – If you live in a cold climate like me and spending almost 7-8 months in a heated indoor environment, our skin becomes dry and itchy. Dry brushing eliminates that skin itchiness by removing the dry skin and opening the pores so our skin can breathe effortlessly.

There are many other benefits reported like it acts as a stress reliever, improves digestion and bloating. I dry brush once a week and have definitely experienced some of these benefits first hand.

Would you like to give it a try? All you need is a natural brush like this and 5 minutes of your time.

Here is the simple technique to dry brush – Gently stroke the brush in long circular motions towards your heart, starting from legs and moving your way upward.  It is most effective when done in morning before showering.

Try this simple technique to get a beautiful body both inside out!

Our body is constantly exposed to germs and toxins. Our mouth is the gateway for many germs, micro-organisms, and toxins to enter our system. Pathogens in our mouth can enter your bloodstream to circulate to other parts of the body. Therefore, it is very important to keep our mouths germ free for a healthy body.

Oil Pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic practice that has been used as a great tool for detoxification.  Oil pulling is the act of swishing oil (usually Sesame or Coconut) in the mouth for up to 20 minutes, preferably in the morning.

It is believed that this practice reduces bacterial growth in your mouth, strengthens your teeth and reduces inflammation in your gums.

Besides brushing and flossing twice a day, I have been doing oil pulling with Coconut oil for the last couple of years and have observed many health benefits like whiter teeth, better immunity and improved overall health.  Sometimes,  mucus is also eliminated from my system, as the coconut oil “pulls” the harmful bacteria from my body.

Oil pulling has been shown to reduce the number of Streptococcus Mutans bacteria in the mouth, especially when done with coconut oil. There are 17 different studies done on oil pulling with similar findings.

The process of oil pulling is very simple but it takes time, effort and commitment to make it a habit.

To get started, all you need is  Raw, organic coconut oil .

1. First thing in the morning before you brush your teeth or drink anything – take a tablespoon of coconut oil and put it in your mouth
2. Gently swish it in your mouth and between your teeth for 10–20 minutes
3. Spit out the oil in the trash (not the sink so it doesn’t clog up the plumbing)  and immediately rinse your mouth out with warm water
4. There – you are done.

Simple. Right!

Here are some of the strategies that might help to adopt this practice:

• In the morning when I am packing my kid lunches and preparing breakfast, that is the time when I oil pull. There are no distractions and I love the quiet me time.
• You can do it when you are in the shower – 10 minutes go by really fast
• You can also try doing it while driving to work. All you need to do is carry a plastic bag to dispose of the spit when done.
• Start doing it 3-5 times a week. I promise once you start doing it, you would want to do it every day. The squeaky, clean mouth feeling that you get after oil pulling is very pleasant.
• It will be hard at first so try with a small quantity of oil and increase the amount as you get more comfortable with the process.
• Most importantly – don’t spit it out in sink or toilet. It can clog the pipes. Always do it in a trash can.

Oil pulling is a common Ayurvedic practice that can help you get whiter teeth, treat tooth decay, kill bad breath, heal bleeding gums,  reduce inflammation, prevent cavities, heal cracked lips, boost the immune system and much more. You should start seeing the benefits in about a week of following the process.

I strongly recommend Coconut oil for oil pulling because of its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects.