I have been oil pulling w/ sunflower oil for 4 days. I feel so healthy! My energy is amazing. i am taking a slow approach w/ the KP. My teeth are a little whiter.
I have a couple of questions...Is it ok to OP w/ braces on the teeth? I get braces next month and wonder if this would matter. Also,I so love my coffee and soda. But am I defeating the purpose of detox If I dont completely cut these out of the diet? I figure I am flushing the ill effects of the habits with daily oil pulling? Thank you Kepod and Molly Bloom for all your help. Nicky

Nicky,

Congratulations on this step. You are definitely experiencing a side effect that many do, if I'm going to try to do all these healthy practices, why am I still doing these other bad things....I did this too. A year ago I drank tons of coffee, ate red meat constantly, rarely ate veggies, unless I forced myself, loved fast food...you name it.

Now I am a totally changed person. I really think about what I put in my body, even though I am far from perfect.

I had terrible acid reflux. I am positive that was the coffee. My husband and I started replacing our coffee with green tea, and eventually stopped that too. Now we drink a health drink in the morning that includes Vit C. We are more awake than when we drank that coffee. (By the way, occasionally I'll have a cup because I love the smell and the taste, but then it's a treat).

And soda....well...would you believe me if I tell you that sugar is the leading problem with colon health? If acts like cement in your colon and prevents proper absorption of food. Each soda is like eating, I forgot how much...1/2 cup of sugar, or something like that. And if it's diet soda you're drinking, those man-made chemical sweeteners... Ok, you got me on my soapbox.

But you totally have the right idea. I wonder if part of the reason my husband's KP went away was from the very healthy diet we've been on for 8 months. It's a mindset. Read all you can about the foods that you crave the most, and you won't eat them anymore eventually. I have a website that totally put me off pork, for the rest of my life.

Thank you for listening to me Nicky.

Molly

Molly, thanks for the quick response. I just sat my cold can of Dr Pepper aside...Half a cup of sugar? that is sickening. I do love Green Tea. I am determined to get healthier. It a total lifestyle change. I must be commited to it. Oil Pulling is a winner! thanks again. Nicky

Hi Molly!

I have copied & pasted my message onto the curezone forum. Happy to contribute the info!

One question I meant to ask before - My husband & I are getting toward the end of the sesame oil bottle. I think it would be good to try a different oil next time. I was thinking either sunflower or coconut oil. In reference to sunflower oil though - the hains sunflower oil I found also contains vitamin E. I'm assuming this is ok but wanted to check first. I'm not sure if it has to be completely PURE in order for it to work.

The coconut oil does look rather thick in the jar. I've never used this kind of oil for anything before. Any particular brands that are more or less oil swishing friendly? I'll just "eeny meeny miney mo" it if they are all relatively the same - no big deal.

NICKY......I'm not sure if you should continue the oil pulling while you have braces (I had my braces taken off this year). I know you're not supposed to use whitening toothpastes & such while wearing braces. Oil pulling does have the reputation of whitening teeth. You could potentially end up with little yellowish squares in the middle of each tooth when you get your braces off. I can't say for sure, but I would get other opinions & think about it. Good luck!

Ok... so I've been doing this for about a week, and I have yet to see any changes... I'm using Safflower Oil, since I wasn't able to find Sunflower oil at Whole Foods that wasn't in a gigantic bottle. I also wasn't too keen on the idea of using Sesame Oil. I do a tablespoon in the morning, for about 10-15 minutes. (I rarely have the time for the full 20). Rise, brush my teeth, etc.

My arms are still just as bumpy as they were before. I'm getting a bit discouraged, after hearing how fast this seemed to work for everyone else. The only thing that I DID notice, was my gums started feeling sore. I don't know it's normal for them to hurt a little before they heal, but whatever the reason, it sort of put me off oil pulling.

Should I be trying a different oil, perhaps? Or just give it more time? Do the full 20 each morning?

Also, are there any other Asian people here who are oil pulling? I'd like to hear about your experiences, specifically.

Also.....for all my fellow nutrition nuts.....thought you might like to read this short article. It's related to food & skin. We're all trying to improve our skin here on the KP forum so I thought some might find it interesting =) We probably know most of this stuff but I for one like to get reminders like this! Have a great day...

"The U.S. cosmetics industry raked in more than $32 billion in 2004, with sales of skin care products bringing in the largest share -- more than $8 billion. Americans are shelling out big bucks for expensive cosmetics to treat skin problems such as acne, wrinkles and dryness, but most consumers are overlooking the cheapest, safest and most effective remedies: healing foods.
A host of healthy, natural foods offer potent healing and preventative powers to remedy a wide range of skin troubles. These foods can dramatically improve skin for a fraction of the price of costly cosmetics or dermatologist visits:

Green Tea
-- Green tea is rich in antioxidants that reduce inflammation and protect cell membranes. It has been proven to reduce the damage of sunburns and overexposure to ultraviolet light, which in turn reduces the risk of skin cancer. Green tea is also high in polyphenols -- compounds that eliminate cancer-causing free radicals.
Recent research by scientists at the Medical College of Georgia shows that the polyphenol most abundant in green tea -- EGCG -- also acts as a "fountain of youth" of sorts for skin by reactivating dying skin cells. In addition to its skin-healthy properties, green tea is also high in vitamins C, D and K, as well as riboflavin, zinc, calcium, magnesium and iron.

Salmon
-- Salmon -- along with other fatty fish, walnuts and flaxseed -- is high in healthy fatty acids that are key for achieving healthy skin. Essential fatty acids such as omega-3s help keep cell membranes healthy by keeping out harmful substances as well as allowing nutrients to enter cells and exit with waste products. Omega-3s also reduce the body's production of inflammatory agents that can damage the skin.
Increasing consumption of omega-3 fatty acid-rich foods such as salmon will help keep the skin supple and youthful. A 1:1 ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3s is ideal, but the ratio in the typical American diet is more like 20:1, so boosting consumption of salmon and other oily fish can help bring that ratio closer to 1:1. Salmon is also rich in protein, potassium, selenium and vitamin B12.

Blueberries
-- Blueberries are considered by many experts to be the highest food source of antioxidants, which target free radicals that can wreak havoc on skin cells. The antioxidants and phytochemicals (plant sources of nutrition) in blueberries neutralize DNA-damaging free radicals, reducing cell damage. When skin cells are protected from damage and disintegration, the skin looks younger for longer. Blueberries are also an excellent source of soluble and insoluble fiber, vitamin C, manganese, vitamin E and riboflavin.

Carrots
-- Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A, which is a required nutrient for healthy skin. They also contain high levels of antioxidants, which prevent free radical damage of skin cells. Vitamin A is required for developing and maintaining skin cells, and a deficiency of the vitamin can cause dry skin. Carrots are also a superior source of fiber, biotin, vitamins K, C and B6, potassium and thiamine.

Water
-- Drinking plenty of water -- at least your individual minimum intake -- will help keep your skin young and healthy-looking. Water in caffeinated or sugary beverages does not count; water intake must be from pure, clean water, which rejuvenates skin cells. Water both hydrates cells and helps them move toxins out and nutrients in. Nutrition expert Liz Lipski, PhD, CCN, says when the body is properly hydrated, it sweats more efficiently, which helps keep the skin clean and clear.

In addition to consuming therapeutic quantities of green tea, salmon, blueberries, carrots and water, consumers should avoid certain foods that trigger bad skin reactions. Such ingredients include sugar, white flour, saturated fats and fried foods, which are especially bad for the skin, since they can trap oil and bacteria beneath the skin, causing acne and other skin ailments.

The skin is considered the outside indicator of inside health, and putting expensive creams, lotions and treatments on the outside of the skin can't alleviate problems that stem from inner nutritional deficiencies. Consuming the right foods and avoiding the wrong ones can reveal beautiful, youthful-looking skin without the high price tag of expensive cosmetics.

Note from Mike Adams: An important "overlay" factor on all this concerns raw foods versus cooked foods. Raw food juicing is the surest way to healthy skin, and I recommend juicing fruits, vegetables and nuts (soak them first) in a Vitamix to create superfood smoothies. People who drink raw juices on a daily basis have skin that absolutely glows. On the other hand, those who eat mostly processed, refined or cooked foods have skin that ages rapidly. So be sure to include raw food smoothies in your diet on a daily basis if you want great looking skin!"

Hi Inhyung!

I would definitely try either sunflower or sesame oil. Safflower isn't listed as one of the recommended oils. Not saying it WON'T work, but I would not do an experiment like this without using one of the 2 recommended oils - at least to start with. After you've tried either or both of them, you can explore other oils. Good luck!! (& sorry, I am not Asian so can't help you there)

Actually, the untoasted organic Sesame is very light in flavor. After my initial horrifying experience with toasted sesame (when I first started, I didn't know any better) I was reluctant to try sesame again. But using the good stuff at whole foods was exceptional. It is almost a light as the sunflower oil. But really, you can use any nut or seed oil at all. Different people experience different result with different oil. We are all unique, and our needs widely vary.

Thanks Dee Dee....you are definitely a boon to this forum. It is so true about handling our skin issues from the inside out. Topical rarely works. Having a clean system with good elimination is the key. Trapped toxins are our killers, and those trapped toxins are what cause all our disease, cancers, etc. Better out than in!!

I'm sure there are many KP sufferers with healthy lifestyles, however. So I believe that while all these health measure can only do good, they still don't address the issue of KP totally. Do you agree?

Molly

Hmm... well I need to make a run to the grocery store today anyway. Maybe I'll pick up a bottle of sesame oil and see if that makes a difference.

I'll keep you guys posted. I want so much for this to work, after spending ridiculous amounts of money of expensive topicals and prescriptions.

Just a thought on oil pulling if wearing braces. Perhaps dental whitening isn't recommended with braces, because if done by a dentist, it is a chemical procedure, whereas oil pulling is non-chemical. I would ask your dentist, and see if oil is OK. Explain to him what you are doing. If you are lucky, he will be as open minded as DeeDee's dentist.

DeeDee,
Coconut oil is always thick below 74 degrees. I live in the tropics so this is not a problem. Perhaps you will want to try Sesame oil as Molly suggests, if the thickness of coconut oil is off-putting. If you decide to go with coconut oil, you could gently melt it in a dish set in warm water.
I love the flavor or coconut oil -- it's sort of like pulling with a coconut macaroon flavor.
kebod

Gigglychick,

I've enjoyed reading your progress reports, and look forward to your next one.

Did someone say they were going to give us a recipe for body lotion?

kebod

Dee Dee - they gave you a BSA for your post at Curezone (bright star award) ...heck, they don't give those out often.

Thanks so much for your post, it was awesome.

Keep swishing!!

Molly

Another progress report...
DAY 5 -
For the first 3 days I was pulling strictly with organic sunflower oil, but then the sesame oil I ordered from the mail came on day 4 (yesterday) so I did the morning with sunflower and later that night with sesame. I am doing sesame right now as I am typing this! I think I prefer the sesame oil, I kind of like the taste and smell, and I have intuition that it's working better and faster.
Today seems to be another good KP day! There is a lot less redness, and even my boyfriend (who thinks I'm crazy for swishing oil around in my mouth for 20 minutes and is a total skeptic) said that my arms did feel smoother.
I think it's working!! I am optimistic, but again I don't want to get my hopes up until I see some major results. I would say my arms look about 15-20% better than they normally do, and that's definitely something for 5 days worth of oil pulling!
I have noticed stronger gums, cleaner feeling teeth during the day, and when I go to the gym (I go every day), I have been running longer and harder and working out better - could be related?
I'll continue to keep everyone posted - good luck!!

One of the things OP does is increase metabolism. We don't know why (possibly from blood detox?) That is why many people who have tried to swish too close to bedtime end up with insomnia. At first that seemed like a coincidence, until too many people were complaining about it. There has to be a link there.

When I pull first thing in the morning, I feel much more awake. I've notice when I don't pull first thing, I fall asleep on the bus on the way to work.

Happy sssswwwishing!!
Molly