“Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.”
Buddha
1. Oil pulling
I like to start my day with oil pulling – an old Ayurvedic detoxification practice which helps to cleanse your oral cavity, kill bad breath and strengthen your immune system. The best oils to use are cold pressed organic oils: coconut, olive or sesame oil. The first one has furthermore antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties, just to name a few. How do you do it? Simply take one table spoon of oil into your mouth, set the timer on your phone on 4 minutes and begin to pull (yes, JUST 4 minutes – not 15 or 20 minutes as you might have heard from various sources, as toxins begin to be reabsorbed after that time). After the beep spit it out into the toilet, rinse your mouth with warm water.
2. Brush your teeth with organic toothpaste
Always brush your teeth with an organic tooth paste (free from SLS, titanium dioxide, parabens). I use those without fluoride, despite my dentist rolling her eyes ????. Several studies have shown that fluoride toxicity can lead to a wide variety of health problems (e.g. thyroid disease, arthritis, dementia, bone fractures, bone cancer and others). Apart from that, it is a neurotoxin that damages your pineal gland. Fluoride can accumulate on the gland and block its effectiveness. By the way, it is illegal to dump fluoride into lakes and rivers, but it is perfectly fine to put in our drinking water and toothpaste…
3. Drink 1 glass of warm water
Once you have applied the Indian wisdom of oil pulling, it is now time to carry out an ancient and very simple Chinese practice. Drink slowly one glass of fairly warm water on an empty stomach or optionally with a dash of fresh, organic lemon juice. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine it helps to kick-start your digestive system and improves blood circulation. Personally, I boil the water on a gas stove an electric hob will also do as well. I DO NOT recommend boiling it in a plastic electric kettle though! (The chemical compounds of plastics – some found to be highly toxic – are released into the food about fifty times faster by exposure to high temperatures!). You can also use a glass kettle as it is the safest and healthiest option, although a stainless steel kettle may be used too.
4. Cook a warm breakfast
After having completed the procedures described above I am ready to cook breakfast. Some of you might say that cooking in the morning is too time consuming. Well, it definitely takes more effort than throwing ham or cheese on a slice of bread, but believe me, your body will thank you for investing that extra time ????. A warm, well-composed breakfast is nourishing and easy to digest. It will keep you full for a good few hours, prevent you from craving unhealthy snacks and improve your metabolism. Below you will find some healthy recipes for ideal first meals of the day!
My cooked breakfast recipes
Red quinoa with fried courgette, sunflower seeds and soft-boiled eggs