After a possibly overzealous dentist told me I need a gum graft, my husband encouraged me to start taking flax seed oil. A few people online have reported that flax seed oil dramatically improved their gum health, and we figured it was worth a shot.
My initial dose of flax seed oil was two tablespoons a day, and my gums stopped bleeding and hurting within three days. This is pretty huge for me, because my gums have been bleeding since I was in junior high. At the same time, I added using a Sonicare toothbrush and flossing a little more vigorously. Considering that I had tried these things in the past without the flax seed oil and they only made me bleed more, I feel like the flax seed oil is the difference maker.
I have subsequently reduced my flax seed oil dose to one tablespoon, which I feel is more appropriate for a woman my size. I haven’t gained any weight from the flax seed oil, which was a bit of a surprise. Taking it in the morning seems to help curb my appetite by at least the 130 calories it consumes.
I recently learned through 23andme that I have an increased risk for stomach cancer. It’s probably not a big deal, because stomach cancer is pretty rare. My chances are still under 1%. However, I am moderately lactose intolerant, and that means I put non-dairy milk in my tea and coffee. Many of the cheaper non-dairy milks have an additive called carrageenan that is linked to stomach cancer. And while stomach cancer may be rare, it has a terrible survival rate. Aside from these serious concerns, I have also wondered if the gums and additives in soy milk are difficult to digest.
I have been experimenting with using a more expensive, purer soy milk that only has soy beans, water, and vanilla. So far I really like the results. I think it’s a bit gentler on my system, and it’s more satisfying to have the additional protein, fat, and fiber of a soy milk that isn’t watered down. I consider this to be another example of how easy it is to substitute fat for sugar and come out ahead in taste and health.
The only disadvantages of this new soy milk is that it’s twice as much as expensive soy milk and less available. I can imagine that I might start making my own soy milk in order to have a cheaper alternative. I’ve also considered drinking raw milk instead of soy milk, and that may be a future project of mine. I have my hands full trying to figure out how to digest cheese and yogurt these days, so I’m not eager to add an additional dairy product. I can imagine it would taste better than soy milk though.
