Dealing with the Dirtiest Place in Your Body in the Cleanest Way Possible

Afke Zonderland, Raw-Food Chef & Co-Founder, Okanagan Rawsome

Resident Raw Foodie,’ Afke Zonderland shares how easy it is to live a whole-food philosophy and make the healthiest choices for yourself and your family. Her strategies and recipes are sure to provide you with plenty of food for thought. A shining star within the gluten-free and health conscious community in British Columbia and beyond, Afke is a Raw-Food Chef and Co-Founder of Okanagan Rawsome.

The Dirtiest Place in Your Body
Inch per square inch this place provides a cozy home to more bacteria than anywhere else in the body. Are you surprised that the dirtiest place in your body is not located at the end of the digestive tract, but at the very beginning?

Research points the finger at oral health to be of primary importance to overall health. A recent study in Sweden concluded that those with the most dental plaque and gum disease were also at greater risk of cancer and heart disease. I secretly think that worthless food not only shifts the balance between good and bad bacteria in our mouths, but is carried down the pipes to do even more harm.

My favorite dentist commented recently on my good looking gums! I did not tell him that I have been practicing the ancient Ayurvedic practice of Oil Pulling. (It’s interesting isn’t it that we are shy to share our proactive health habits with even our most favorite doctors.) One teaspoon of coconut oil with a drop of clove oil takes care of bacteria on the tongue and teeth, while peppermint oil improves the quality of morning’s first kiss. Coconut oil has the added benefit of whitening your teeth. Just check out Dr. Google’s prescription for ‘oil pulling.’

While you are in front of your computer check out the ingredients used toothpaste. The abrasiveness of some of the popular brands will take the enamel right off your pearly whites and since 1997, the FDA requires all fluoride toothpaste sold in the U.S. to carry this, “WARNING: Keep out of reach of children under 6 years of age. If you accidentally swallow more than used for brushing, seek professional help or call a poison control center immediately.” (See “The Inconvenient Tooth” or check out the www.fluoridealert.org)

Afke’s All-Natural [Gluten-Free] Toothpaste Recipe

5 tbsp. coconut oil, melted
5 tbsp baking soda
1 or 2 drops of peppermint oil
1 or 2 drops of any citrus oil
1 drop of clove oil (optional)

Make sure that all of the oils are food grade and pure. Mix all the ingredients and place in glass jar.

Also by Afke:

Afke Zonderland and Co-Founder/daughter Anna, have turned Okanagan apples and carrots into a made-in-BC success story. They’ve mastered mixing what farmer’s grow in the Interior with carefully sourced spices and sprouted seeds, nuts and fruit. The tincture of time + low temperature results in convenient, portable power-packed crisps in four flavors! Great gluten-free fuel for the health conscious, celiacs and athletes alike! Watch the video!