The Ultimate Natural Oral Care

A healthy gut starts in your mouth, and Ayurveda has been talking about oral care for millennia! In the days of the old, oral care primarily involved chewing twigs from a neem tree. Neem is an exceptional anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory, even the NIH is talking about it. These days, we have moved into elaborate routines using pastes and powders, flossing, brushing, and more. I am a huge fan of flossing and brushing (obviously!) but I am very careful to look for natural products when it comes to what’s in my mouth. That’s how I found Dr. Tung’s. 

Their unique Activated Charcoal VEGAN Floss is made with plant-based wax, activated charcoal for deep cleaning, and a burst of lemongrass flavor, it’s the perfect blend of natural, effective, and eco-friendly. I first started using activated charcoal when I got a funky tummy hiking in the backcountry in college, and I’ve always thought of it as an anti-bacterial, anti-pathogen that goes into my suitcase for India trips, as well as into my oral care products. I love the idea of natural floss that absorbs pathogens.

If you’re interested, you can Shop it here and use code KATE15 for 15% OFF your first purchase. Enjoy!

Winter Foods: Build, Warm, Moisturize

Winter Foods: Build, Warm, Moisturize
1. Build the body with heirloom wheat and oats, meat if you eat it, root vegetables, bananas, dates, and sugar cane.
2. Warm the body with small amounts of ferments, warming, spices, pickles, citrus, fruits, and olives.
3. Moisturize the body with sesame, dairy, almonds, ghee, and olive oil.

For more on winter diet and routine, check out my Deep Winter workshop.

Top four Winter Self-care tips

I promise you I do these 4 things in winter:

I eat homemade soup. I sip warm water, nothing cold. I take walks outside and am slightly obsessed with sunshine! I have hats that cover my ears, and I never forget to wear one.

For a deep dive into winter self-care, including the whys and the hows, check out the Deep Winter Self-Care Workshop.

Announcement!

Hey! Running a special over here, when you join the Ayurvedic Living Community Membership this month, you get the Anytime Cleanse for free! Get yourself in gear for 2025 with an on-demand 4-day program you can do at home.

Rock on into the rest of the year with a huge library of seasonal and cooking resources, and monthly meetings with me and a vibrant crew of seekers. We will keep you on track with your routines, and you don’t have to go it alone. This is the most comprehensive and affordable offer at the Institute- don’t sleep on this deal!

January Only

Are you feeling like doing something short, sweet, and simple to get back on track after the holidays? The Anytime Home Cleanse is a 4-Day program that you can do at your own pace. Get recipes, shopping list, and questionnaire to help you choose the best path.

Find it in my bio and get going anytime! January only, Ayurvedic Living Community Members get access for FREE, so it’s a great time to join the membership if you’ve been looking for more ongoing support. Monthly meetings with me and the crew, an epic library of seasonal resources. Message me MEMBER and I’ll send you the deets!

Reminder!

If family holidays are in store, wellness practices that support may feel like they’re going to go out the window! Discipline, of which a little can go an along way, isn’t about beating oneself up, its actually about nurturing true desires.

Remembering what you want means, take a moment to consider what kind of results an action is likely to have later…sometimes having more cookies or wine feels good in the moment, but how will sever you later. Is it in support of your big picture?

Sometimes indulgence is in order, and feeling a little crappy for a day may be worth it. Get back on the horse tomorrow and do that healthy routine that has proved itself to you.

Holiday tips

It took me some time and practice but now I can feel the difference when I hydrate away from meals. Especially big ones.

Ayurveda texts describe hydrating before meals to make a person emaciated (dousing the digestive fire before food); and hydrating right after meals is said to make a person “stout” (water-logged).

Cooking AlerT!

Cooking weekend and dravya guna studies with @kripalucenter school of Ayurveda.

- Shown here
- Mineral gomasio
- Cumin rice
- Warming tomato dal

All recipes from The Everyday Ayurveda Cookbook 🍛

When I Feel….

You’re never sorry you got out for that walk, are you?

The opposite of cloudy and slow is fast and sharp, and movement is the medicine, for both body and mind.

A Journey Back to the Kitchen

Been making a move towards more hands-on medicine making. Each meal for me is a medicinal preparation. Soaking, stirring, seasoning, and finally, enjoying.

When did we learn that making food for ourselves is secondary to work?

Enjoy the journey in the kitchen my friends, and make a meal today.