If you do a quick Google search for "healing cavities naturally," you will surprisingly discover dozens of health and wellness blogs boasting about the exact same study and doctor. And while the doctor in question (from a very long time ago) had some brilliant nutrition studies, these bloggers are clearly being paid by somebody to promote the Paleo diet and natural healing. 

And while I am a proponent of healing everything naturally, and in fact have healed a cavity without dental intervention, I am calling bullshit on these bloggers. How is it that all of these folks stumbled upon the same treatment, which promotes cod liver oil and butter oil supplements along with fat soluble vitamins, and a diet that very much looks like the Paleo diet to heal their teeth?

Bullshit. 

And more bullshit surfaces when not a single one of these folks have photographic evidence of said miracles. Even the blogger who states that the photos prove that the cavity disappeared is clearly not showing healing.

And oftentimes, along with this miracle treatment, the writer talk about a study (which I couldn't find) in the British Medical Journal about kids who ate oatmeal and kids who didn't. Supposedly, kids who ate oatmeal increased the amount of cavities they ate even when following a very healthy "Paleoesque" lifestyle. 

Oatmeal? Seriously? I'm here to set some things straight. It isn't good ole fashioned oatmeal giving people cavities; I've been eating oatmeal for years and I don't have a mouthful of cavities. And so has my child. No fucking cavities. But do you know what we don't eat? Processed sugary oatmeal. I'll bet money that oatmeal is getting a bed reputation here because most Americans aren't eating oatmeal cooked in a pot.

They are eating oatmeal from a teeny tiny package loaded with sugar. Did you know that a small package of instant oatmeal (Strawberries and Cream, or whatever) has roughly 10 grams of sugar! What the fuck. Who the fuck wants to eat that much sugar for breakfast? Oh yeah, that's right, kids. Because kids love sugar.

But regardless, I'd still argue that even that isn't causing cavities. Most likely it is all of the other stuff that comprises Americans' diets.

Okay, I should get back on track. I wanted to save oatmeal from catastrophe by giving you my two favorite ways to make oatmeal, all of which use good old fashioned oats that must be cooked on the stove. 

If you are worried about phytates or other mineral-binding chemicals in this relatively innocent grain, I suggest soaking them overnight in water and a tablespoon of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar.

I love dessert. Actually, if I weren't dedicated to being a reasonably good role model for my family, I'd eat a candy bar every day of the week. And it would always be between: Almond Joy and York Peppermint Patty. Always. No doubt about it. But, I do have self control and I am committed to eating right.

And you know what else I love? Bloggers. Bloggers who have taken the Paleo+Vegan lifestyle and promoted it everywhere. The recipes these days are darling and so super helpful. I can get a new recipe for just about anything. Although, I've always eaten "clean" and "whole", I do love the current propulsion toward getting a wider audience to subscribe to healthy eating.

(Yes, my rant is coming...hold on)

But, I just gotta say one thing: dessert is dessert no matter how you swing it. Plenty of these "clean eating" or paleo+vegan websites tout their recipes as healthy or good for you because they don't use table sugar, or perhaps they pour coconut oil/sugar/flour/flakes on everything. And the main proponent behind most of these "healthy" desserts is the use of agave or maple syrup or honey or dates in lieu of sugar.

Let's get one thing straight: all of these substances contain sugar...glucose is glucose no matter what product it comes from. I'm pretty sure all of these blogs are getting paid to say how much they despise sugar and love "healthier alternatives", but I can't prove it. I know they do it, and it annoys me, which is why I am dedicated to providing a website that doesn't sell out to the grand scheme of corporate marketing (see, rant...). Do I use affiliate marketing or ads? Sometimes...but I never ever ever ever flood my website with ads, and I would never link to something that I haven't used or doesn't fit my philosophy (or scientific education) on life. Anyways, sugar is sugar; we've established that.

I promise, there is a recipe attached to this rant, but my point must be made first. The latest recipe that is flooding the Paleo+Vegan blogosphere (521,000 in a Google search) is "Almond Joy Bars" and every blogger screams about how healthy they are for you. Yes, almonds are good for you. Coconut in moderation is also good for you. So is dark chocolate (scholarly article link). But taking those good-for-you foods and swirling them with cups of dates, honey, maple syrup,  blah blah blah...adds unnecessary quantities of sugary substances to your diet*.

*Diet= Food you eat every day and not that thing where people try to lose weight.