How to spot lies in health and fitness advice – 06/28/2023 – Balance
[ad_1]
Risky health claims and wellness programs have been around for centuries. In her new book, “The Wellness Trap” (The Wellness Trap, in Portuguese, not yet available in Brazil), nutritionist Christy Harrison compiled nine years of research on the wellness industry, which embraces marketing and often avoids science.
She offers some strategies for evaluating health guidelines.
GET AWAY FROM TRENDY WORDS
Social media has allowed harmful advice to proliferate, says Harrison. Statements can be difficult to parse, but certain words are immediate red flags:
“Miraculous”, “pioneer” and “secret”. Those terms should be met with skepticism, says Harrison, along with any “conspiratorial language that it’s hidden information that ‘they’ don’t want you to know.”
“Biohack.” “The idea that we can hack ourselves like machines or computers” is a myth, she points out.
“Detox.” The wellness industry tends to see the liver and kidneys as clogged filters of “toxins” that need cleaning, “but the body is designed to detoxify itself.”
“Natural.” Not only is that word vague, but “natural” remedies can have side effects that rival or even exceed those of standard medical treatments.
USE A METHOD
While researching his book, Harrison came across the “Sift” method for evaluating information online, developed by Michael Caulfield, a researcher at the University of Washington. The acronym means in English “stop, investigate the source, find better coverage and track the claims”.
Before making any changes to your diet or lifestyle, take a moment. Then investigate the source by asking, “How can the person sharing the content benefit? What are their credentials? What is their agenda?” says the author. Verify the claim by finding reputable sources.
TAKE YOUR CONCERNS TO A DOCTOR
Harrison points out that many people seek out wellness information online because they’ve had negative experiences with doctors or don’t have access to quality medical care.
“As far as people can go to a doctor they trust, I recommend asking them about wellness guidelines,” she says.
Translated by Luiz Roberto M. Gonçalves
[ad_2]
Source link
