Who To Believe About Nutrition

added 08/07/10

Keep an open mind, but not so open that your brain falls out… Unknown

by Mary Saucier Choate, M.S., R.D., L.D.

Nutrition messages in the news, on products, and from friends, can be confusing and conflicting.

It can be very bewildering to try and figure out what is hype and what is real science-based information. Lots of “science-y” sounding ads and news stories can mislead us either intentionally or because the writer isn’t well-informed.

The best question you can ask about anything you read regarding nutrition is “I wonder if that’s really true?” and then check with a reputable resource.

Here are some tools that can be handy when trying to sift through the mountain of nutrition information we hear every day.

The Big Picture

One study or result cannot be taken alone; it must be put into perspective with how it relates to the rest of what we know. Each piece of evidence is a stepping-stone to a more complete picture of the problem and of the solution.

For example, early research into the role of fat in the diet led to our understanding that too much fat was related to heart disease. Looking deeper into this relationship, researchers found that the type of fat was as important as the amount of fat: trans fats were as harmful as saturated fats and monounsaturated fats in the diet had a positive effect on blood cholesterol.

Credible organizations base their recommendations on this kind of “totality” of grounded evidence, not on a single study.

Commercial Interests and Your Health

Manufacturers or popular diet book writers can supply useful information, but don’t look to them for the complete story. For example, they will be very interested in showing their product in the best light, quoting studies that support its consumption. It may however, neglect to explain that the studies were only done on rats, and not on humans, or that they were poorly designed, resulting in conclusions that would not stand up to professional scientific scrutiny.

Is it Too Good (or Bad) to be True?

Claims of a revolutionary product, miracle cure, new discovery, or magical remedy are highly suspect. If a product were a cure for a serious disease, it would be widely reported in medical journals and the national news media and regularly prescribed by health professionals. It would not be debuted on a dubious website where the marketers are of unknown, questionable, or nonscientific backgrounds.

Credible researchers and writers do not present nutrition information in a way that enthusiastically promotes fear and panic. Their goal is to foster improved understanding based on factual knowledge.

Conspiracy Sells

Warnings about what “They” don’t want you to know are used to convince unsuspecting consumers to use or not use certain products or foods. But think about this: would the vast number of people in the health-care field block treatments that could help millions of sick, suffering patients, many of whom could be family and friends? It doesn’t make sense. Conspiracy statements should not be accepted at face value from any source. They must be accompanied by strong, supportive, impartial documentation and dismissed if the person or group making the accusation does not make this documentation available.

Caution: Celebrity Endorsements Ahead!

Celebrity or athlete endorsements and anecdotes from friends or in advertisements may be persuasive, but should not be the bottom line when it comes to making decisions about your health or diet.

Paid spokespeople may not even use the product they are promoting. Testimonials and endorsements may not actually be related to the use of the product. It could be that something else actually worked, the problem cleared up on its own, or any number of variables. Because of all of the circumstances that can interfere, this kind of proof that a product works is actually not very reliable proof at all.

Jargon

Legitimate information intended for non-scientist consumers is presented in plain, everyday language. Complex scientific terms and explanations may sound impressive and may have an element of truth to them, but in materials intended for the general public this should be a red flag.

So Whom do You Believe?

You are not alone when it comes to finding out what is reliable about the latest nutrition information. Use the following resources and the links they provide to learn “the rest of the story” and become a fully informed consumer.

  • Health Insight, a Project of the Center for Risk Analysis, Harvard School of Public Health. Learn questions to ask about the research studies you may read or hear about www.health-insight.harvard.edu

Non-profit health organizations such as these have their credibility at stake, so are not likely to risk it by publishing false or far-fetched information.

For newer strategies and medicines such as herbal remedies, look to organizations dedicated to reporting on the latest research such as:

To double-check outrageous website or email claims, try looking them up at this urban legends and folklore “de-bunking” site:

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