Many people have been wondering why everyone has been going loco for Coco? For those of you that follow me on Twitter you know that I love Coco Chanel, but this time I am talking about a different Coco, unrefined Coconut Oil to be exact!  Lately I have seen several posts on Facebook talking about coconut oil. From the benefits of the oil itself and this strange term ‘oil pulling.’ Here is my take on this popular fad and why I have jumped on the bandwagon! 

Oil Pulling

Once I read the words ‘oil pulling’ I was instantly intrigued. Honestly, I had no idea what ‘oil pulling’ could possibly mean. If you have been wondering and contemplating what is oil pulling and why do I know nothing about it, do not fret because I am here to let you in on this current trend and other uses of coconut oil. Oil Pulling is where you take coconut oil, anywhere from a teaspoon to a tablespoon, and swish it around in your mouth for 20 minutes. Sounds simple enough, right? If you can gargle mouthwash around then how hard could it be? Coconut oil is indeed oil, but it is a thicker texture and is not pure liquid. Most people start out at 10 minutes and make their way up to 20 minutes. The moment I put the thick coconut oil in my mouth I thought I wouldn’t make it more than 1 minute. The first time doing it, however, I made it to 20 minutes because once you get past the first couple of minutes it turns into liquid and becomes easier to swish around.

Oil Pulling Tips

Oil pulling should be done in the morning before brushing your teeth and after you can continue with your normal routine and brush your teeth. Do NOT swallow the coconut oil! The reason is it has tons of unwanted bacteria that needs to leave your body, not re-enter. Be sure to continue to swish the oil around in your mouth the entire time, believe it or not it can be easy to forget 

Oil Pulling Benefits

These are the most common benefits that I have read while researching this topic 

• Coconut oil is an Antibacterial, Anti-fungal, Anti-inflammatory agent
• Whiter Teeth
• Fights Against Cavities and Gingivitis
• Better Night Sleep
• Detoxifies Mouth and Body
• Reduces TMJ pain 
• Helps with Allergies 
• Clearer Skin: Specifically Acne & Eczema 
• Migrane Relief 

My Results: After 1 Week

I am now a week into Oil Pulling and I am hooked! The most frequent benefit I have seen in various articles is that it whitens your teeth. In the morning right after I gargle the oil I do notice that my teeth look whiter, but not I am not yet seeing a permanent difference yet. I will have to get back to you about the fighting cavities benefit once I visit my dentist.   

After one week I have already noticed that I have better breath. This entire week I have not suffered from the dreadful ‘morning breath.’ On top of that, I have experienced the detoxifying of my body benefit. I live in a very warm place and workout at least 5 days a week and due to these factors I am constantly sweating. To be honest, I used to take 2 showers a day because I hated the body odor I would suffer from because of sweating. My ‘smell’ has completely gone! 

I actually suffer from TMJ but other than occasionally jaw pains I have not had severe symptoms such as my jaw locking shut. Having said that I have not had any pains from my jaw since I started oil pulling. 

Now that I reflect on this past week I have been having a better night sleep and more energy. Normally I take a nice mid-day siesta and for the last 7 days I have not felt the need to. 

When it comes to Clearer Skin I have seen a change in my complexion, but not only due to oil pulling. I also have another way I use coconut oil that I share in the next section. 

Beauty Uses for Coconut Oil 

There have been a handful of ways I have been using coconut oil, but there are articles that list over 100 ways to use this natural substance. Starting with my absolute favorite, Facial Wash. This past week I tucked away all the products I use in my normal face washing regimen. I went all in! I use about half a tablespoon of coconut oil and two pinches of baking soda. Mix it together in your hand and the baking soda acts as an exfoliant while the coconut oil moisturizes your skin. My face has never felt softer! This facial wash is specifically for those who suffer from acne and I am happy to report has helped eliminate most of my usual breakouts. Again, I have only been using it a week! (Morning & Night) 

Coconut oil is nourishing in many ways and I have been using it in addition with my facial wash as a Moisturizer. Also, when I tried applying a small amount all over my body as lotion. Seems to moisturize nicely, but I do not like it as a body lotion because it does feel too oily for me. I have dabbed some on my lips but surprisingly haven’t noticed them being softer.

Works as a great makeup remover! Not harsh on your skin and again makes it feel so soft! I did apply coconut oil to the ends of my hair and threw it up in a bun and did stuff around the house leaving the oil in for about a hour. I did notice my ends were shinier after I took a shower and washed it out. For better results I put oil throughout my hair then wore a shower cap and went to sleep then washed it out in the morning. One drawback I have experienced is that even once I wash my hair it never felt like I was able to wash it all out. That might be the point though? I am not too sure. 

Would love to hear your experience using coconut oil. What other ways do you use it? Feel free to leave your thoughts, questions and experiences in the comment section below.