We have continued our lectin free diet (as outlined by Dr. Steven Gundry). Lectins are the plant’s way of protecting itself from predators (and yes, we are plant predators). The actual degree that lectins make people sick may be disputed, however it is the doctor’s contention that their cumulative effect over time, along with poor eating habits by many in combination with the frequent use of antibiotics combine to destroy gut health. The recovery of good gut health helps eliminate autoimmune disorders and disease.

With the health of the gut in mind we began the program: a three day cleanse followed by a six week less restrictive cleanse, then entering a third phase in which we could add one food a week; eat it a few times and observe if there are any autoimmune reactions. If not, then we can add that food to the yes list, and if there is a noticeable reaction then it stays on the no list. My baseline started with already following a gluten (gluten is a lectin) and diary free diet, something I had learned I needed to do over the past twenty years to avoid the kind of autoimmune reactions we are talking about: painful joints and excess mucus in the sinuses. Even though I was following a gluten/dairy free diet, I had developed joint pain once again, as well as sinus headaches when waking up in the morning (I was starting to think my body was feeling old, especially in the a.m.!)

I had reported to you in an earlier posting the results after the first six weeks; we first started the beginning of June. Fast forward four months, and now here are the results: Joint pain is gone. Sinus headaches are gone. Physical energy is smoother throughout the day. Food cravings are non-existent—this is an interesting area. According to the good doctor the bad bacteria in the gut (stomach, large and small intestines and colon) communicate directly with the brain through the vagus nerve system. Bad bacteria want foods they like: sugar, fats, cheap carbs etc. Eliminate the bad bacteria, eliminate their cravings! I have to say, that is born out in our experiments. Desired weight loss has also been a result. Carla lost some stubborn last few pounds she was working on for some time before, and I have lost 10 percent of total body weight, and I am in clear sight of where I would like to be weight-wise. Note: nuts and nut butter are part of the plan, and when I hit a weight loss plateau I eliminated nuts and nut butter and then my weight continued to drop. In addition, not only have food cravings disappeared, but my desire for greens has gone up; the good bacteria are asking for what they like. In fact, we have liked the foods so well, not missing any of the old items, literally not missing them at all, that we have not really looked into adding foods to the basic program post six weeks. So, I have to say that the experiment has gone very well; these are all positives and there are no negatives except for the fact that when traveling eating out is a challenge—Thai food is a pretty good source for staying on the plan (Mediterranean food would also present good possibilities). Also, Carla has had to put a fair amount of effort into finding and learning to prepare food items. There are some online sources that have helped, as well as exploring local sources. So, thumbs up for Gundry’s lectin-free food program to this point. My body is definitely feeling younger!

Supplemental: There are dietary supplements that Gundry recommends, in a few cases he tells you about other companies who also provide these supplements. Supplements are not mandatory for being on the program, but we have added a few. I was already taking probiotics from my oncological naturopath, but we have been using Gundry’s prebiotics and his Vital Reds product. We like them both; the Vital Reds are especially satisfying. This said, Gundry has turned into a supplement machine—his ads can be a turn off. But, as I say, there is nothing in the program that demands these products. One additional note, we have purchased his cookbook—all the recipes have been from good to really good. We have purchased an Instantpot and have enjoyed foods made by this method. If you are interested, Gundry has online videos showing him cooking, and there is https://lectinfreemama.com/ website with recipes etc. I offer this review simply as our experiment. As Sri Yukteswarji advised, follow any simple diet which proves suited to one’s constitution.

Here is a link to Medical News Today that outlines what lectins are, there is good news as well as bad when it comes to lectins, a little bit about Gundry’s plan, and a wait and see approach and more studies are needed before they would recommend it.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319593.php

I have completed the health tests for this current round, and they have come out with positive results. Yesterday I had consultation with my oncological naturopath; he has played a central role in my healthcare these past two years and contributed to the clean health reports with his recommendations for supplements based on blood tests and his knowledge about how cancer cells proliferate. These plant-based prescriptions have been targeted for the support of the body by strengthening the immune system, robbing tumors of what they need to grow (i.e. zinc interferes with the delivery of copper which cancer cells require), and supplements that have shown cancer fighting ability (specifically for melanoma that, in the past, grew in my internal organs). Cause and effect is not always easy to determine, however his is the only medical treatment I have been receiving–allopathic doctors have had nothing to offer without tumors being present.

There are things I can do on my own as well. For instance I have had weight gain, and that is not only hard on my overall system, but can be an aid to tumor growth. Being overweight affects cancer risk factors such as insulin growth factor 1, it can result in chronic low-level inflammation, fat cells produce estrogen and affect cell regulation which are additional risk factors; of course being overweight can affect general health and quality of life as well.

With that in mind I have set some goals for myself–if this is an issue for you this is a time we can all join together to attain our ideal weight. The doctor suggested I set a goal of losing 2 lbs a month–seems extremely doable. I will see him in six months and I will have trimmed 10% weight off and look to increase lean muscle. With good intentions only and no specific goals it is too easy to continue on as I have, so I will check in weekly with the scale for feedback on how I am doing.

My method will be to take advantage of “low hanging fruit” for commonsense weight loss: no desserts, baked goods or chips. Eat healthy vegetables, easy on fruit and grains. For me, limit or eliminate snacking. When traveling my biggest offense was snacking on chips; those days are over. I have a good sense of what foods trigger cravings, no more of those. I have been successful in the past losing weight when I set my mind to it, however I know others who have greatly benefited from programs such as Weight Watchers, which offers good structure and support.

At the end of six months I will asses how I feel with 10% loss to see if it should be more. When I am happy with the results I will spend the next six months maintaining my weight without gaining any back. After that I will regularly check in with the scale, the truth teller for trends, to maintain what I have set out to weigh. This longterm followup is essential, for in the past I have lost the weight, but the slippery slope leads to gaining it back over time.

If this a goal for you as well I would love for you to join me in this journey. Weight is a big issue in our prosperous times, learning how to manage our eating and activities to produce the maximum health benefits is one of our great challenges as machines do more work for us and high calorie foods are so easily and cheaply available. Bon appetit and good health to you at your right weight!

Picture: Stained glass in the entry to the chapel at Providence Hospital–Gratitude to this greatest of Masters.  

We went in for my four month CT/PET scan. When I told Carla I appreciated her coming (as she has been to every appointment and stayed in the room after each operation), she said, “Where else would I be!”

 I am now familiar with the procedure for the PET/CT scan, a restrictive diet the day before, nothing to eat six hours before, all to make the body hungry for sugar. A concoction of a radium marker (which they assure me is mostly gone in a few hours) and sugar is injected and lights up areas of the body that absorb the sugar; and tumors love sugar, so if they are present they light up during the scan.

 The tech took three different pokes to get access to the blood system, I am told I am most difficult (having wiggly veins). He always talks for a good twenty minutes about his life (including pictures from his phone, as he is a special Ram edition!) before he gives me the radium, but eventually we get there. For about an hour I rest (not even reading) as the marker circulates through my system; wonderful meditation time.

 Then a short walk into a room with a large machine in it. I lie down on a narrow platform, strapped in and asked not to move, and then conveyored into a four foot deep tunnel with a few inches above me. Fortunately, I do not mind caves and enclosed spaces, in fact I rather like them. Asked beforehand if I want music played, I decline, again, an excellent time to meditate, besides, my mind can reproduce any music I know with stunning quality. The machine whirs as I am shuffled forward and back, slowly scanning up and down this body. After about an hour I am taken out and then I reverse my direction on the platform and once again I am enter the tube and more sound from the multimillion dollar PET/CT machine, as it does what it does. Twenty minutes or so later apparently I am fully baked and am given a hand up as I emerge from the procedure.

 Meanwhile Carla went to the beautiful little chapel that is provided by the Providence Hospital; a hospital founded years before by nuns, it continues to sport religious icons and prayers on walls throughout their buildings. Carla felt a wonderful support and presence of Mother and the Masters while meditating there. She then had the inspiration to call the doctor’s office; I was not able to get an appointment until the end of December, a long time to wait for results of the scans; as they tend not to give you the results until they see you in person.  The weather out has been turning cold and apparently some cautious souls decided not to keep their appointments out of concern it might snow—we could see the doctor later that afternoon! Carla said to me that this was only the outward reason given for their cancellations, she knew it was God who made all the arrangements.

 Normally it takes 24 hours to have a specialist read the results of the scan, but the nurse put in a call and we met with the doctor that very afternoon, he had the results in hand. After waiting for the doctor, he usually runs generously behind schedule, he came in to say that the scan was clear, no evidence of tumors; a very happy outcome (the second scan now that has come back clean). One reason he is so far behind scheduled time is that once he is with us, it seems he has no other place to be and we met with him for nearly an hour.

 We reviewed the scans, looking at the body as if from above the head, and with a movement of a mouse we view the spine and internal organs up and down at various layers, as well seeing the whole body from the front, and many other different windows to the internal workings of the body. The brain, kidneys, colon and liver all light up, as they readily absorb sugar. We could see the staples left by a previous surgery, a fascinating view of the internal body.  My original surgeon, who seems to have taken over my case, is a saint–he has a positive, healing presence and brims with intelligence as well as perpetual curiosity. I think it unusual that a surgeon would continue as a primary doctor with me now, but Carla has the thought it is because he finds something in us he likes (presumably more than my small intestines, liver and gallbladder resections and removals!).

 Afterwards we visit the chapel to give thanks and to be absorbed in His Presence. I tell God that I hope it is not due to attachment to the body that I feel this great joy, but He is bubbling up with blissfulness as we sit before His altar. I also thank so many of you who have sent prayers and notes of support and love. Science may have difficulty in quantifying the effects of prayer, but I have no doubt whatsoever that you have been essential in this time of physical challenges and that my smooth recoveries from major surgeries and multiple procedures have been made possible by your loving support—Thank You. And, for the grace and love I feel from God and the Masters, there is no end to my gratitude. Surely, and not just for this, my life has been blessed and my soul melts in gratitude.

 The only difficulty in what turned out to be a long day at the hospital is that the hours wore away and it became clear I would not be back in time for our Skype Service with the Ashland Group; I only hope they will forgive me for missing our time together, for what, I think, is for a good reason and a most excellent result.

Picture: Birthday Cake made by Judy based on the recipe From the Master’s Kitchen, a recipe from Master, adapted & described by Angela in the latest C & L Journal. We substituded Grape Seed Oil and used 70% chocolate. It was delicious.

Carla and I attended a nutrition class at the hospital and a nutritionist came to my room to talk to me about supporting this body in recovery. I have also been reading about ways to help the body maintain optimum health. There are some take away lessons that I think everyone can benefit from.

Of course it is good when you have a pithy saying that sticks with you and actually leads to a positive change of behavior. One of those was what the nutritionist said when she came to my hosptital room. She said that most people only chew their food just enough to keep themselves from choking to death! That is quite an image. The fact is that an important part of digestion occurs from mastication (chewing) and the mixing saliva with the food.

Some years ago I started to discipline myself to chew completely what I had in my mouth and swallow before taking another bite. I actually laid my fork down between bites to support my doing this. I was amazed at how difficult this was in the beginning. I was used to taking another load full of food before I had chewed and swallowed the previous mouthful. Amazing! I found several benefits from eating this way: I enjoyed the flavor of food and noticed subtlties as never before, it slowed my eating and improved digestion, and I was more tuned into when I was actually full and therefore could choose to stop eating, even if I had more food on my plate.

In the class the nutritionist made a point; eat food that looks like it comes from a farm. “You do not see poptarts growing on stalks in the fields,” she said. Eat whole grained foods, eat foods that you can recognize from the farm, not overly processed foods that adds loads of sugar and unpronouncable named ingrediants (if you cannot pronounce it you probably should not be eating it).

There are a lot of foods that have sepecific effects on the body, some fight free radicals that can cause cancer, some are anti-inflammatory and so on. However simply eating more fruits and a rainbow color of vegetables (fresh or frozen) would cover a lot of healthy territory. One source said that if you eliminate french fries, potato chips, and the lettuce and tomatoe from a hambuger, over 50 percent of Americans would not even have one serving (usually a half  cup or a cup) of vegetables  and fruit a day. Isn’t that astounding, not even one serving! Remember, food is not only the fuel your body needs, but it is also the original pharmacy for healing and keeping your body well.

It is amazing how much abuse this body can take. Perhaps that is not always to our benefit, because we start to think it doesn’t make any difference how we treat it. However, unhealthy patterns tend to have a cumlative effect and when our body gives us trouble we feel betrayed; the real betrayal usually occured many years before by how we fed and treated the body.

No discussion on natural health can be complete without mentioning exercise being a vital component. Getting up from your chair and going for a good walk everyday would be huge step in the right direction for most people. Practice the yoga postures Briana describes so well; I have asked her to adapt some of the poses so that you can do them at your desk and she has started this in the most recent C & L Journal. You will find you will feel better, have more energy and sleep better, plus if you can walk in a nice environment, you will enjoy yourself immensely; chanting is a wonderful occupation for the mind while you walk, think of Papa walking from one end of India to the other!

I know that none of these principles are new to you. However, as I said in the beginning, if something sticks with you and actually changes your behavior, then it will truly have value. Perhaps reading these words will get you refocused and really treating your body as the magnificent bio-organism it is. Chew your food thoroughly, eat foods that look like they come from a farm, and go for a good walk everyday.

When you investigate the marvelous ways the body has been constructed, I mean truly amazing intelligence that has gone into its design, and then how little thought you give to feeding it high quality fuel and providing what it needs for optimum living, it is really the height of ingratitude you show your Creator for the miraculous gift He has bestowed upon you. If you are not doing so now, then it is high time to show that appreciation, starting today, by living with healthy habits and honoring this amazing Temple.

Picture: Quiet determination to bring about the transformation of Man

A devotee was telling me about her sister who had had cancer. After her treatment was over the staff wanted to leave her port in, just in case the cancer returned and they would need its use again. The sister said absolutely not, the cancer was not going to come back!

She then turned to me and said, “I have not heard that kind of statement from you.” I told her that I had that as a mental attitude, but that God had not confirmed that there would be no new cancerous growths. However, her statement has made me consider the subject about making a bold declaration that cancer would not return.

I thought about my mindset; the way I have felt guided in making decisions about treatment and ways to focus my mind. I made note that my whole orientation has been to remove the tumors, and now that is done to research, inwardly and outwardly, into what I can do to keep this body tumor free.

I have not had a port, nor has there been occasion that required me to make a bold decision that would proclaim an absolute faith in being cancer free into the future. So what do I say?

As I thought this over, I came to realize that my attitude, and how I have felt guided by Divine Will, is a quiet determination to remain cancer free. Tumors do not belong in this body, they are destructive to this body, and I reject their presence!

One of my mantras has been, “I have a clear mind (memory and concentration were affected by the anemia), I have clear vision (also affected by the anemia), and I have a clear abdominal cavity (past location of tumors).” My memory, concentration and vision have all vastly improved and the tumors are gone. When I say the word “clear” I experience Light and life-force sweeping through, making all clean, clear and operating at its highest caliber.

Since childhood I have had the sense my life would really begin when I turned fifty, and I would live until my eighties. It is true that my life took on new dimensions that made me live in a completely new way when I started my sixth decade, and it continues to resonate that living into my eighties seems right.

It is not in my nature to make bold proclamations, but this quiet determination has been more of my style in life, and continues to be so now. There is no part of me that feels that life is over; I will love astonishing my oncologist by having a long life! Without a hint of defeatism, I am at peace, surrendering the results to God.

For many people surrender means defeat, but not for the devotee of God. For the devotee surrender means being in the loving care of a most beneficent God who will see to it that every part of life is fulfilled for the highest good of all. I stand in that Light and rejoice over the opportunity to live life to its fullest, to be His servant every moment of every day, and surrender my life at His sacred feet.

Post Note: I do hope you are not tired of reading about my journey to perfect health. I do not see it as my journey alone, but that this is a description of all journeys in life, encapsulated in the clothing of this narrative. The choice of attitude we face life’s challenges with is what is common to all of us. I have heard from many of you that you have valued my descriptions and have received benefit from them. I will only say that my intention is not to focus undue attention upon this body, but to see it as a paradigm for inner attunement to the one living God and the spiritual Masters we have been blessed by who have walked this earth.

P.P.S. Carla and I leave for Boulder City Nevada early Sunday morning where we will once again begin our southern pilgrimage. We will return March 15 in time for the first vaccine injection and for Easter celebration here on Camano Isl.

Decision making is a fascinating field of study. How we make decisions both large and small determines the kind and quality of life we live. Do you have one more bite to eat or push the plate away? Do you seek out new opportunities in life or do you stay in hiding? Do you strive for Self-realization or are you unconsciously and blindly stumbling through your days?

I have been in a transitional time in these past few weeks. My recovery from a small intestine resection that removed three tumors has gone extremely well. As of today I have no cancerous tumors as has been confirmed by a recent MRI of the brain and full body CAT and PET scans; very happy news.

Now I am faced with decisions about after-care; according to medical doctors it is a very high likelihood that new tumors will grow. There are several allopathic drugs that may be partially or fully successful in keeping cancer from recurring, each with their unwanted side effects; I am also looking into a leading Naturopathic physician for supportive care as well as the ongoing treatment my marvelous chiropractic/neuro-link doctor provides. Each doctor gives his educated guess as to what the right course of action should be, plus I have had input from many of you on standard and alternative care as well.

How do I go about deciding what to do next? The first thing I do is I go inside and commune with God. I still the mind, turn the whole matter over to Him. I feel peace and quiet in the inner Presence; that is my starting point. I know with a certainty that God is in charge of this whole play. There is a mighty purpose behind all that He does, and I am content to play my role as He so chooses.

Being connected, I then gather information. What this and that doctor and care provider are saying, what friends and research tell me, assimilating all I can from external resources. I then take this accumulated knowledge and seek wisdom by mindfully surrendering all at the feet of God. “Oh Lord, here is the situation as You well know. What is the right thing for me to do at this time?” Then I open myself to His prompting. What do I feel right about doing in connection with Him? What thoughts come to me in that Light and with clarity? What brings me peace and a sense of ‘right action’?

Sometimes the message is to simply rest in Him. When the time is right some thought, a sense of direction comes out of the peaceful silence that makes me know what to do next. Over the years this process of decision making has never failed me. I can directly compare it to times when I have not used this process; it correlates closely with making bad decisions when I ignored God.

It is amazing at the amount of energy we expend in taking false steps and burn up in anxious energy, all to no avail. A favorite image comes from the blacksmith. He heats the metal to the right temperature before he shapes and bends the metal to good effect. The blacksmith knows he can pound away forever if the metal is not hot enough and he will get nowhere. When the metal is ready, a few well-placed blows may be all that is needed.

Even so God may have us in the fires of purification; we desperately would like to jump out of those flames! However, by staying still and centered throughout it all we take His cue as to when the hammer blows should come in order to bring it about correctly. This all-important timing is critical to fulfilling His will.

If, in your silence, you have no answer, that is a red light. You may get a yellow light to proceed with caution, or the green light comes for an all-out go! This knowingness requires your trust and your willingness to be still before you act. Decision making like this becomes clear from practice and patience. When you get the knack of it, it will be very obvious to you when it is divine will that is operating through you and when you are being governed by the dictator-ego.

As you can easily apprehend decision making is a fascinating field of study, and when you take the time and make the effort to go deeper it brings you into harmony with your true Self and with God. In this way the world you live in is a great teacher, and the large and small challenges you face provide the very means to achieve the greatest goal in life, your oneness with God.

Health Note: As mentioned above, I have completed a series of tests: an MRI of the brain, and CAT and PET scans of the rest of the body. There are no signs of any tumors in this body. Blood tests and all other metrics have come back positive. This is all great news! Now, the focus is on keeping this body in perfect health. There are several options on the table and it will be interesting to see what God decides. All is in His keeping. Jai Gurus, Victory to God!

Picture: Dhanvantari: received Ayurveda from Brahma

Ever since I have started using the ancient science of oil pulling, taking some oil in the mouth and swishing it about for recommended time of 20 minutes (I have seen recommendations that span three and a half to twenty minutes) I noticed reduced tooth pain and bleeding in the gums, whiter teeth and an overall good feeling in the mouth. Dr. Fife, a naturopath, has written a good deal on the subject and the importance of oral health and how it relates to the health of the entire body.

Dr. Fife specifically recommended the use of coconut oil for its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral punch. Two different people who recently started oil pulling have reported back that when they went to see their dentist they were told they had the healthiest gums the dentist had seen. Good confirmation for the continued use of oil pulling. Twenty minutes may sound like a long time, but when you combine it with taking a shower, or as I do walking/running on the re-bounder, it easily becomes part of your morning routine. Be sure to spit it out in a trash can and not down the sink as it becomes a solid when less than 76 (24 C) degrees F.

I have also been experimenting with the use of turmeric. Turmeric is also used in India’s traditional healing arts Ayurveda (life-knowledge).  There has been evidence of Ayurveda being used in the Indus Valley dating back 5,000 years. Today Turmeric is being investigated in Western medicine for its many wonderful qualities.

Turmeric, with curcumin its active ingredient,  is known for its anti-inflammatory (read joint pain among other things), is an anti-oxidant,  leads to better brain health by boosting brain derived neurotrophic factor, may lower heart disease, help prevent cancer, and helps against depression. Turmeric only has about 3% curcumin and it is difficult for the body to absorb it (pepper increases its absorbency by 2,000%).

I am not good about taking supplements but for the past couple of months I have been using a concentrated dose of turmeric and ginger, adding a couple of pepper corns for absorbency.  The results of more joint flexibility and less pain have been significant.  There are many websites that talk about the benefits of turmeric, but one is http://authoritynutrition.com/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-turmeric/. One warning is that it is a blood thinner and should not be used if going in for an operation. It also must be taken with food or it gives an unpleasant taste when burped up.

One of the many uses for turmeric is as a teeth whitener. It helps to produce good oral health (commercial whiteners can actually cause gum inflammation and receding gums), besides whitening teeth it is good for sensitive teeth, toothaches and gingivitis due to its anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antibiotic properties (one website to look on is http://naturalcuresnotmedicine.com/diy-homemade-natural-teeth-whitener/).  This website includes baking soda in the recipe which I have not tried as of yet.

A simple recipe is to take 1/8 teaspoon of coconut oil melted, and ¼ tsp. turmeric powder in a small cup and mix with your toothbrush (which will be stained yellow), brush onto your teeth and leave for 3 ½ minutes and rinse.  You may or may not notice a difference the first day, but by the third day you will definitely notice whiter teeth; it will also remove stubborn stains over weeks of use.

It is wonderful to find safe, inexpensive and effective aids for health and well-being and when I have experimented with them and found them effective I love passing them on to you. There is much news about the cost of healthcare today, and Western medicine has developed many wonderful treatments. However, I think there are many, many things we can do for our health that are not expensive, that does not require a lawyer or chemist to decipher the warning labels (which sometimes includes death), and that add value to the time that we are in the body.

One of the greats in medicinal history was Hippocrates (400 B.C) who is referred to as the “Father of Western Medicine.” He is famous today for the oath that all M.D.s take. He wrote, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”  He also wrote that “Walking is man’s best medicine,” Western Medicine would be well served to recall these words, as would we all.

I have incorporated a few Ayurvedic Traditions into my morning routine for some time now (a few for many years) , all with good results; I thought I would share these methods with you. Ayurveda (Life-knowledge) is an ancient Hindu medical system that has some easy to apply practices.These practices I describe below are supported by many modern studies to be health enhancing.

• Tongue Scraping. There are small u-shaped instruments sold for tongue scraping, however you can use a small stainless steel spoon as well. Lightly scrape the tongue from the back to the front of the mouth. You will get a white/gray substance (brown or green are possible) that contains oral bacteria. Its removal reduces bad breath, increases flavors of foods, can boost the immune system by removing harmful toxins, removes bacteria and toxins that lead to periodontal problems, and is said to activate agni (fire element) that will aid digestion.
• 
• Neti Pot: I use a ceramic neti pot (that looks a bit like Aladdin’s Lamp) filled with salt water (I like the Himalayan Institute neti pot design). The neti pot fits into one nostril, while you tilt your head at a 45 degree angle and the water pours from the top nostril through the nasal passage and out the lower nostril. If you tip your head too far back it will run down your throat and make you cough. A little practice and you will find the right angle to pour. After pouring the water through the nostrils blow out the excess water. Mainstream medicine has adopted its use for those who have had operation on the nose, and studies have shown those who suffer allergies get relief by this method. This method loosens mucus and allows the cilia to work more efficiently. I buy a premixed saline solution and add water. You can make your own solution by boiling 1 pint of water and when it is lukewarm add 1 teaspoon of salt. Some people add ½ teaspoon of baking soda and finds that makes it gentler.
• 
• Oil Pulling: Oil pulling is swishing oil in your mouth for some minutes and then spitting it out into the garbage (not down the sink). Studies have shown that oil pulling helps prevents gingivitis and bad breath by binding microorganisms in the mouth and removing them. I use coconut oil (sesame and sunflower oils are ok too), as coconut oil has lauric acid which is an anti-microbial; it also tastes better than the other oils (even though you are not swallowing it). There are various times for swishing recommended, anywhere from 5 minutes to 20 minutes. I have a routine where I am swishing and jogging on the rebounder, the result is I keep the oil in for about 15 minutes. An added benefit may be that you notice your teeth are whiter. A Kriyaban reported their dentist said that the people he sees with the best oral hygiene are those who do oil pulling.
• Walking/jogging/running: While not Ayurvedic, part of my morning routine fits in well with Master’s recommendation for walking for five minutes and then running for five minutes. I spend ten minutes on the rebounder (a small trampoline). The additional benefit of the rebounder is its healthy effect on the lymphatic system and getting rid of toxins from the body.

You may like to try one or all the above methods for enhancing your health. I would like to hear from you regarding your own results with such methods. It is always interesting to me to find healthy, low cost ways to maintain optimum health and well-being.

Om Namaste Om, I bow to the good and compassionate Creator.