Gwyneth Paltrow And Shailene Woodley Talk Ayurvedic Detox, Paleo Diet, And Oil-Pulling [Video]

It might not seem that cool, calm Gwyneth Paltrow and energetic Shailene Woodley have much in common. But the two actresses rely on similar diet practices for weight loss and health, from following Paleo principles to borrowing from the Ayurvedic way of eating, reports Yahoo.

The ancient Eastern practice known as the Ayrveda diet has become increasingly popular in the West thanks to these and other celebrities. But what does it involve?

“Ayurveda eating is an ancient system of healing that includes medical science and philosophy,” explained Jennifer Ayres, a practitioner and faculty member at the Ayurvedic Institute. “The purpose is to create balance on all levels; physical, spiritual, mental and emotional.”

Following an Ayurvedic diet requires understanding your own body type and balancing your food accordingly, says Ayres. For example, vata involves movement, while pitta emphasizes digestion. Kapha revolves around structure.

“Disease and poor health are caused by having an excess or deficient amount of these energies and out-of-sync digestion,” said Ayres.

She advises those who want to try an Ayurvedic diet to consult an expert, who can customize an eating plan based on those energies.

Paltrow and Woodley also both use the Ayurvedic practice of oil-pulling, according to Us Weekly. It supposedly whitens teeth and strengthens gums.

“I just started ‘oil pulling,’ which is when you swish coconut oil around [in your mouth] for 20 minutes, and it’s supposed to be great for oral health and making your teeth white,” said Gwyneth.

Shailene agrees.

“It really makes your teeth whiter, because the plaque on your teeth is not water soluble, it’s fat-soluble. So the lipids have to dissolve in fats, which is why oil works in your mouth. I prefer sesame oil, but they’re both good.”

Gwyneth reflects on oil-pulling in the video below.

Before Gwyneth Paltrow changed her diet to include Ayurvedic elements, she had health problems, she told Self magazine.

“A couple of years ago, I got really run down. I had to sing at awards shows, which was fun but stressful. I’d have a Guinness and a beta-blocker every time. I also was constantly getting on airplanes, trying to knock myself out with sleeping pills and wine, waking up, trying to sweat it out with exercise and a steam, and then working really hard all day. Eventually, I had a panic attack.”

So Paltrow visited a physician, who recommended that she follow the Paleo diet principles of eliminating all processed foods, dairy, and sugar. She went on a detox diet, which she now repeats at intervals throughout the year.

“I probably eat this way two or three times a year for three weeks at a time. Past that, I’m not willing to make the sacrifice. Life is about balance.”

As the Inquisitr reported, Adriana Lima also follows a Paleo low carb diet. She feels that it boosts her health, as well as helps her maintain her weight for her role as an Angel in Victoria’s Secret fashion shows. The diet requires eliminating grains as well as dairy and sugar.

Agreeing with Paltrow and Lima that it’s important to avoid unprocessed foods is Shailene Woodley.

Shailene believes that listening to her own needs can help her tweak her diet. She also sips Bulletproof coffee, which contains coconut oil that reportedly curbs cravings and helps overall health and energy.

Woodley told Natural Health that she follows the Paleo diet principle of eating unprocessed foods. However, she sometimes follows a high protein diet, while other times emphasizing vegetables.

“I listen to my body. I’ve gotten to the point where I’m really tuned in to what it needs. Sometimes I can go weeks at a time without eating meat because all my body wants is vegetables and rice and not much protein. Then I’ll go through other times where for months on end I just need red meat or chicken or eggs right now. Our bodies are constantly changing, so if you were to eat a certain way forever, I don’t see how that could possibly be right for you.”

[Photo By Chris Jackson/Getty Images]