One of the reasons I became a dietitian is to navigate the often-contradictory nutritional information and science in the media. Distinguishing reliable information from sensationalized headlines can be challenging. From newspaper headlines to blogs, nutrition articles abound. The media is constantly flooded with nutrition messages, many of them mixed. Fats are bad, fats are good, sugar-free is key, avoid chemicals in sugar-free foods, low carb, high protein, no sugar, paleo, keto…it’s enough to make you tune out altogether! In addition, with the natural products boon, there has been a focus on individual nutrients or supplements purporting to offer certain outcomes.
Here are five simple steps to equip yourself to evaluate new studies, products or health information from the media.
1. Show me the science. Show me good science rather. New studies gain attention and are circulated through the media like wildfire. While new science is good, replication is better. How does the study fit into the body of science on the topic? Some factors to determine if it is reliable science include:
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- Who is producing the science? Was the study conducted by someone who has a product to sell, book, diet or pharmaceutical to promote? This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but something to take into consideration.
- Is it an internal or external study? For example, was a particular formula studied internally by the company that produces it, or was the research done externally at a university or hospital setting. Again, both have value, but there is likely more weight on the study if it was done by a broad spectrum of researchers off-site.
- Is it borrowed science? Were studies done on a particular ingredient in a supplement, or on the actual supplement itself? For example, if a study was done on the cardiovascular benefits of CoQ10, is the product on same form used in the formula you are considering? Or are they generalizing the results to apply to another form of CoQ10?
- How large is the sample size in the study? In general, the bigger the sample size, the more reliable the results.
- Which type of study was used? Meta-analysis, cohort, randomized control trial, animal or human study? Each type has different benefits, depending on what you are evaluating.
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There is not a right or wrong with the above considerations, but rather these factors help shape the lens through which you view the information.
2. What is the History? The absence of science doesn’t necessarily rule out the benefit of certain methods. For example, much of the science on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) looks at a single component of treatment such as acupuncture or certain herbal remedies. Usually, these treatments are used as a component of the whole TCM approach, so evaluating studies on single components aren’t as useful. Even though there may not be numerous studies on the complete approach, TCM has thousands of years of observational studies that shouldn’t be discounted and should be part of your evaluation.
3. What is the Story? If neither science or history are present, what is the story? Does it logically make sense? Is the story reasonable?
4. Can it do no harm? This is a no-brainer. If it has a logical application and has science, history or a compelling story, with a potential benefit and not much risk, it is easier to make your decision.
5. Don’t make decisions out of fear. Some stories intentionally create fear to sell a product or push a message or have a compelling headline. Even if you are facing health challenges and do have a real fear, go through the above steps in conjunction with your health care provider to evaluate if it is appropriate for you before trying a new method or changing diet or behavior.
Utilizing your critical thinking skills to guide you through the process will help you determine which choices are best for you and your family. If the process is too confusing, conflicting or overwhelming, reach out to a knowledgeable health care provider who will be able to help you navigate further.
