Nutrition and Health Red Flags
These days there is an abundance of nutrition and health information available online. However, much of it is not evidence-based and supported by robust science. Sadly, there are also some people deliberately spreading misinformation for personal gain and to deceive others (disinformation).
Being confronted with so much conflicting information can lead to feelings of overwhelm and confusion which can prevent us from taking effective action to improve our health.
Here are some of my top red flags to watch out for when you are online so you can avoid confusion and reduce the spread and perpetuation of misinformation and disinformation.
- Anyone claiming that a food, supplement or protocol alone can treat or reverse certain ailments without providing supporting scientific evidence.
- Anyone promoting a diet that does not feature whole plant foods including fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds e.g., carnivore, keto, Paleo.
- Anyone who is providing nutritional advice but is not a registered Dietician or qualified Nutritionist i.e., being a Biochemist or Chiropractor doesn’t cut it!
- Anyone making a radical statement that’s hard to believe. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.
- Anyone selling a product if they don’t have a medical degree and who claim to know better than everyone else.
- Anyone selling a product with their name on it – this could be a conflict of interest. Remember dietary supplements are unregulated.
- Anyone stating that incorrect information is a different viewpoint or perspective. When something is not correct it is simply wrong. When something is not scientific it is likely pseudoscience.
- Anyone urging you to abandon evidence-based interventions in favour of natural options e.g., drinking watermelon juice for sun protection vs using sunscreen.
- Use of marketing buzzwords e.g., natural, organic, hormone balancing, Dr approved, expert recommended etc.
- Use of emotional narratives e.g., anger, shock, disgust, fear or conspiratorial narratives.
- Anyone claiming vaccines cause autism.
- Anyone urging you not to vaccinate your children.
Take action to minimise exposure to and spread of misinformation:
- Develop critical thinking. Avoid letting personal beliefs cloud your judgment and think about other points of view when reading information.
- Unfollow anyone who is displaying the above red flags and choose to follow reputable, evidence-based pages only. Support real experts who are distinguished in their field.
- Avoid sharing images, information or videos that seem fake or misleading.
