The Benefits of Sesame Oil (Part 2): Breath So Fresh!

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I don't like going to the dentist. Who really does? But my problem lies in the fact that no matter how hard I work to keep my pearly whites sparkling, the dentist will always (without fail) tell me I could be doing a better job. At which point, I want to jump out of my chair, grab his shoulders and start shaking him violently (well, not violently... but sort of) screaming "I DO try! I brush twice, sometimes three times a day! I stay away from coffee and soda! You're driving me loco en la cabeza, Dentist Man!"

You see, years of this torture has worn me down. When I was little, my brother Cale and I would go to the dentist together for our cleanings. I would be scolded and he would pass with flying colors. This, by the way, didn't make a lick of sense. I was quite obsessive with my brushing, while he took less than 10 seconds to brush, flossed every blue moon and sometimes didn't EVEN brush his teeth before bed. Gross.

So... having allowed this bitterness to fester for the last two decades, I decided it was time to take matters into my own hands, and that's where sesame oil comes in. Many Ayurvedic practitioners recommend oil pulling. The more I read about it, the more I felt like this was the answer I had been seeking.

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Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic remedy that involves swishing for 10-15 minutes each day with 1 Tablespoon of organic, cold pressed sesame oil. You can do it any time of the day, but I recommend oil pulling in the morning, before you brush your teeth (cause why brush twice?). I've found that if I do it while putting my makeup on, I tend to concentrate less on the oily task at hand. You can even set your alarm so that you're not obsessed with constantly checking the clock (believe me, the first time will feel much longer than the following times).

And let me tell you... crazy things happen while all that swishing is going on! The sesame oil mixes with your saliva, giving it a lighter color and a more foamy texture. As you swish it around your teeth, gums and tongue, the lipids in the oil begin to absorb all the bacteria in your mouth and prevent toxins from sticking to the walls of your oral cavity. Once the timer goes off and the oil is now thick with bacteria, you spit it out, brush your teeth and go about your day.

I've been oil pulling for about two weeks now and I can already tell a difference. My mouth feels much fresher and my teeth are incredibly whiter (this is another added benefit)! But I knew the true test would be my trip to the dentist last week (after 5 days of oil pulling). Usually, I leave with a major jaw ache because I spent the last 45 minutes with my mouth wide open while the hygienist literally scraped the plaque off my teeth (I blame my genes) and asked me questions about my life (when will they stop with that? I CAN'T TALK WHEN YOUR HANDS ARE IN MY MOUTH)... But, I'm proud to report that this visit lasted all of 15 minutes. He was in, out, bada-bing, bada-boom.... with a resounding "Your teeth look great, ma'am!" at the end.

SHAZAM!

It's finally happened! I cracked the code! I now have teeth reflective of the tender love and care I put into them!

...and all it took was some sesame oil, dedication and a little swishy swishy!

Mind Over Mouth: Simple Tools for Controlling Cravings

I'm a self-professed nerd. My idea of fun is curling up on the couch with a good book, and by good book, I mean a self-help book or maybe a biography on a successful business owner. Not really the average person's idea of fun. This is nothing new. When I was in elementary school, I would come home on Friday nights and attack my homework the second I stepped in the door. After years of this type of behavior, my mother sat me down and actually said "Lauren, you need to have a little fun. Maybe even get into a little trouble. I'll allow it".

Even in the aftermath of total parental oversight, I still continued to do my homework on Friday nights. Wow, wasn't I a fun one?

Recently, I was contacted by an author named Linda Schneider, who just published an e-book called Mind Over Mouth: Fast Tricks to Stop Eating Automatically and Beat Food Cravings on Demand. She wanted to know if I would like to read her e-book and review it on my blog. I'm sure you can guess that my heart skipped a beat. Of course, Linda! I'm a sucker for a good self-help book! And now, I'm here to tell you what I learned in this very helpful, very concise e-book!

Linda writes from experience. She went through a stressful career change and began to look to food for relaxation (something we are all guilty of!). In the course of that year, she gained 22 pounds. Determined to change her eating patterns and take back control of her life, Linda went on a diet and was successful in losing the weight. Although the diet was the tool she used to get there, she attributes her success to learning to control the cravings. In essence, learning to control her mind.

In her e-book Linda shares 12 simple and practical techniques that will help you learn to master your mind and your cravings. Here's a sneak peak...

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Technique #1: SPICE IT UP

This technique addresses the 'snack attack'. The idea is that when you are experiencing a craving, you can trick your body into satiety. If you can take a second and an ounce of willpower to commit to put a pinch of pepper (or something equally spicy or pungent) on your tongue, the pepper 'acts as a trigger to your food sensors, telling them that you're eating something exciting and stimulating'. It works to distract your mind long enough for the craving to pass. Your body still satisfies the need to 'do' something about the craving, but you stay away from the actual source of the desire.

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Technique #8: CHEWBACCA ("CHEWIE")

This technique addresses healthy digestion. The act of chewing plays a major role in proper digestion. The fact of the matter is, if you 'force yourself to chew slowly and deliberately, you simply slow down and put less food in your mouth'. It takes your stomach almost 10 minutes to signal to your brain that you are full. When you eat too fast, you tend to eat much more than your body actually needs and you have the awful feeling of 'being stuffed' once your brain gets the message. Chewing slowly allows your body to digest food properly AND gives it the time to signal your brain before you overindulge.

There's something in this e-book for everyone! You may find some techniques easier than others, but I am confident that it will give you the tools you need to control your cravings by controlling your mind, rather than your mouth.

If you'd like to purchase Linda's e-book, Click Here. I might add that it's conveniently priced at $2.99 so no need to take out a loan or refinance the house!

Happy reading and kudos to Linda on a job well done!