Thanks to a host of celebrity endorsements, ‘oil pulling’ has become one of the latest health crazes to sweep the nation. Pulling involves swishing a mouthful of oil around your mouth for up to twenty minutes and then spitting it out.
A supposedly ancient holistic practice, pulling is claimed to have a range of health benefits and coconut oil is said to be one of the best oils to use because of its apparent anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial benefits. However, despite the growing popularity of the practice, there has been little or no scientific evidence to show that it works…until now that is.
A new study has been published looking at the effect of oil pulling in 60 people. The study was carried out over a 30 day period and measured how using coconut oil for pulling effects the levels of plaque and plaque induced gingivitis (gum disease) in the mouth.
The researchers found that by day 7 pulling with coconut oil had significantly reduced levels of plaque and gingivitis since the start of the study. They then observed that these levels continued to drop until the end of the study.
So it seems, on this occasion at least, celebrities have got it right!
If you’re going to swill a spoonful of oil around your mouth for 20 minutes you’ll want it to be both tasty and effective, one such product is Coconoil which makers claim is both of these.
With fans ranging from Olympic skeleton bobsleigher Amy Williams to Tinie Tempah, Coconoil is one of the highest quality virgin coconut oils available. Not only is the oil organic, ensuring there are no nasties in sight, but it is cold pressed, meaning coconut flesh effectively has the oil squeezed out of it – many other coconut oils are prepared using high heat, which can be detrimental to its taste and health benefits.
It’s also high in lauric acid, which is the main active component of coconut oil and the sign of a quality product.
Furthermore, Coconoil also helps more than just the health of those using it. The brand was set up after the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami as a way to help rebuild the livelihoods of Sri Lankan farmers and today helps keep over 200 Sri Lankans in employment. The brand has also just started a new project with 200 smallholders from five villages in Ghana, and hope throughout 2015 they can replicate some of the success they have seen in Sri Lanka and help to create new jobs and income streams for those involved.
