Positive thoughts by Dr. Martin Luther king Jr

Today, as we honor the man who lead this country in pushing for equality let's remember some of his famous words of wisdom; that we should still reflect on daily.

"Let us fight passionately and unrelentingly for the goals of justice and peace. But let's be sure that our hands are clean in this struggle. Let us never fight with falsehood and violence and hate and malice, but always fight with love, so that when the day comes that the walls of segregation have completely crumbled..., that we will be able to live with people as their brothers and sisters." -Martin Luther king Jr  

  

ESSENTIALS FOR IMMUNE BUILDING

Both Honey & Turmeric Can Fight Cold Viruses

Both honey and turmeric have antiviral properties. And while they may not work against every virus that can cause a cold (there are more than 200 of them!), they can counter some. For instance, research indicates that curcumin in turmeric can stop the respiratory syncytial virus from multiplying. Honey, on the other hand, acts against certain adenoviruses. Use them together and you may be able to fight a whole gamut of cold viruses.

Honey-Turmeric Immunity Booster

Mix 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder in 2 teaspoons of honey and have every day on an empty stomach. If this is too strong for you, just mix with 1 cup of warm water and drink up.

You can also make a golden turmeric milk by boiling 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric powder paste with 1 cup of Almond milk. Stir in 2 teaspoons of honey and have twice a day.

Honey-Turmeric Cold Remedy

Mix 1 tablespoon of powdered turmeric and 5 ounces of honey. Take 1/2 teaspoon of this every hour if you’re suffering from a terribly bad cold.

The next day you can reduce the dosage and take 1/2 teaspoon every couple of hours. Reduce it further on the third day and go for 3 doses in a day. For added effect, round this routine off with steam inhalation using a few drops of turmeric oil 3 times a day.

Learning to walk in Peace

Learning to Walk in Peace

In the midst of all of our feelings is the truth of peace... Peace comes when we allow our true feelings to exist. If you are sad, mad, frustrated; acknowledge that feeling, then let it go, then you are free to walk in peace. 🌷

Don't let the problem become your problem.  When you become so engulfed in the challenges you face, it draws all of your attention.  Instead: know and trust that you can be fully aware of the situation, without being consumed by it. This is the power of positive thinking.  Keep your thoughts connected to the peace that lives inside of you.  That peace that lives at the heart of who you truly are. Do great things every moment you can, and as you do, you will feel a sense of inner peace, despcurrent situation. Frustrations and complications will surface, choose to rise above them with positivity and a willingness to overcome!

Free·dom

free·dom:

noun

The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.

Freedom stands for something greater than just the right to act however we choose—it stands for securing  an equal opportunity for life, liberty, & the pursuit of happiness.

So I ask the question: Will We Ever be Truly Free?...

To most reasonable people, freedom means Securing freedom from fear and freedom from want. Being Free from pre conceived feelings & bias based on skin color, race, religion, sex and or physical abilities.. Will we ever be truly free? 🙏

We can choose to be free in our own minds & live in peace.🌷

You can't please everyone nor should you try to. You can give someone an ocean and they'll still ask for water. You can give someone air and they'll still say they can't breathe. It's not your love that's empty or the ability to provide but rather the person's inability to accept and receive for whatever reason.

Creamy Garlic Butter Tuscan Shrimp coated in a light and creamy sauce filled with garlic, sun dried tomatoes and spinach! Incredible flavours!  I doubled the recipe end added pan seared salmon. And, instead of regular pasta, I used zucchini noodles made fresh with the spiralizer!

Oil pulling is an age-old remedy that uses natural substances to clean and detoxify teeth and gums. It has the added effect of whitening teeth naturally and evidence even shows that it is beneficial in improving gums and removing harmful bacteria!

The basic idea is that oil is swished in the mouth for a short time each day and that this action helps improve oral health. Just as with Oil Cleansing for the skin, the principle of “like dissolves like” applies, as oil is able to cut through plaque and remove toxins without disturbing the teeth or gums.

Essentially, oil pulling is just using a high quality organic oil as a mouthwash to help cleanse the mouth. Really, it could be called “oil-swishing” as the word “pulling” can be confusing but it refers to the idea that the oil is pulling bacteria out of the gums.

The oils that should be used for oil pulling are food grade and can also be eaten. Despite the fact that the oils can be consumed, some people get really upset about the idea of oil pulling and it has been a source of controversy in the media (isn’t everything a source of controversy in the media these days?)

Benefits of Coconut Oil Pulling?

When oil pulling, the oils (especially oils with naturally antibacterial properties) bind to the biofilm, or plaque, on the teeth and reduce the number of bacteria in the mouth. Streptococcus Mutans is one of the bacteria that is prominent in the mouth and it has been studied for its role in tooth decay and gum disease. Oil pulling has been shown to reduce the number of Streptococcus Mutans bacteria in the mouth, especially when done with coconut oil.

Some sources claim that coconut oil pulling can help everything from acne to sore throats and even heart disease, though I’ve never seen any scientific documentation of these claims. It is well known that good oral health practices can benefit the body in other ways, so it certainly may be beneficial as part of a good oral health routine. I certainly wouldn’t rely on oil pulling alone as a method to address any internal or serious medical problem, but I do find it helpful for keeping my mouth healthy and avoiding bad breath.

Coconut Oil Pulling Cautions

It is also important to use oil pulling as part of a comprehensive oral health regimen and not to use it as a replacement for normal oral hygiene and teeth brushing. My dentist was skeptical of many of the claims about coconut oil pulling being able to benefit the body internally, but said she considered it a safe alternative to mouthwash and didn’t see a problem with the practice when used in combination with other good dental hygiene methods.

Important Note: Some people report negative reactions to using coconut oil for oil pulling. Those with any type of topical or internal reaction to coconut in any form, should not use it for oil pulling or in any other way. In these cases, sesame oil would be a better alternative. As with this or any oral product, it is important to check with a dentist about any concerns or before using, especially if other dental conditions are present.

What Type of Oil?

Traditional cultures use sesame or sunflower oil for oil pulling but I personally prefer to use coconut oil for several reasons.

Coconut oil is effective in attacking Streptococcus Mutans bacteria which causes cavities. It is rich in medium chain triglycerides and high in lauric acid.

Coconut oil has dozens of uses, and we already have it in every room of the house since we use it in toothpaste, deodorant, in cooking and even as a coffee creamer.

In my personal experience, coconut oil pulling is more effective at removing plaque and whitening teeth than sesame oil, although I don’t have any scientific studies that prove the difference.

How to Use  Coconut Oil for Oil Pulling

• Put 1-2 teaspoons of coconut oilinto the mouth. I also pour a few drops of Brushing Blend or Essential Oil into the mix. (Just make sure any essential oil is safe to use in the mouth).
• Swish for 20 minutes. Apparently the timing is key, according to Dr. Bruce Fife, author of Oil Pulling Therapy, as this is long enough to break through plaque and bacteria but not long enough that the body starts re-absorbing the toxins and bacteria. The oil will get thicker and milky as it mixed with saliva during this time and it should be creamy-white when spit out.
• Spit oil into the trash can. Especially if you have a septic system like I do… don’t spit into the sink! Do not swallow the oil as it is hopefully full of bacteria and plaque that are now not in the mouth!
• Rinse well with warm water. Warm water seems to clean the mouth better (my opinion). Occasionally, I swish with salt water which seems more effective but is also more work.
• Brush well. I prefer to brush with Brushing Blend or homemade toothpaste to make sure any remaining bacteria is removed.

Note: At the suggestion of a friend, I’ve also experimented with using MCT oil in place of coconut oil. MCT oil is a great option for those who don’t like the taste of coconut oil but still want the benefits. It is more expensive but I really like the combination of MCT oil and essential oils for oil pulling.

For more information on how I use oil pulling and on my other natural oral health resources, check out my oral health page.

Try Coconut Oil Pulling Chews

Since writing this post, I’ve discovered a way to simplify oil pulling with coconut oil by making mini coconut oil chews that melt in the mouth. Pre-making these with essential oils and freezing them is an easy way to have pre-portioned bites for oil pulling and has also made it easier for me to get my husband and kids to try it.

This original coconut oil pulling chews recipe (and even the picture of them) has been copied by multiple other websites but the recipe and instructions can be found at the link above.

Have you ever used coconut oil for oil pulling? How did you like it? Share below!