The last weight control diet you will ever need! Show Lose pounds while you sleep! Contains rare elements your body must have! Removes waste products from your body! Supplementation is vital in today’s world! Revolutionizes nutrition science! Claims such as these are everywhere! Everyone - your hairdresser, grocery clerk, next-door neighbor - has some nutrition breakthrough to share. You find these “breakthroughs” in the latest news release from a research institution, this month’s men’s and women’s magazines, talk shows, infomercials and a multitude of websites. What’s the truth and what’s not? Each year, billions of dollars are spent on worthless and sometimes potentially harmful nutrition and health advice. It comes in the form of magazines, books, treatments, supplements, gadgets, programs and special diets. Keeping up with each new study, fad, fraud, cure, exposé, warning or hope that is being promoted or reported by someone is impossible. However, we can build a box of tools to help us analyze these claims. Our best plan is to have a plan for looking at information before it confronts us because all of us can be fooled some of the time. A preplan can give us a head start in making a rational decision. We can’t count on others to protect us. Each of us needs to determine what makes sense and what doesn’t. Consider these points before making a decision or choice: Yes or No?1. Does the advice or product promise a quick fix? 2. Does the advice cast doubts about current food or lifestyle practices? 3. Does it sound too good to be true? 4. Does the advice draw simple conclusions from complex studies? 5. Are recommendations based on a single study? 6. Does the advice cast doubts about reputable scientific organizations? 7. Does the advice provide lists of bad and good foods? 8. Is a product being sold as the solution to the problem? 9. Does the advice refer to studies reported in nonscientific sources? 10. Does the advice include recommendations drawn from studies that ignore differences among individuals or groups? Each Yes answer raises a red flag. Dig a little deeper and look a little farther when the flags go up. What is a Good Study?You can recognize a good study by asking yourself the following questions and considering these points: How many studies have produced these results? Why was the study performed? Did the study show an association between two factors or actually show a causal relationship? Did the study include a control or comparison group? How long was the study and how many subjects were included in it? Was the study a double-blind design? What’s the Harm?Misinformation and product scams can be harmful to people in a number of ways. Some of the more likely harmful results are: Failure to seek needed medical care Failure to continue essential treatment Nutrient toxicities Potentially toxic components in foods or products Undesirable nutrient-drug interactions Interference with sound nutrition practices Economic loss Adverse effect on public policy The WordsA seller or promoter may shower you with all kinds of scientific-sounding terms, phrases and explanations that mean nothing to you. Many of them may have little meaning but can be intimidating and sound convincing. These should not make you buy the product or idea. Discuss claims made with trained professionals who can help you understand the message.
Breakthrough:happens only now and then. The word is overworked today and has little meaning. Doubles the risk or triples the risk: Do you know what the risk was in the first place? If the risk was one in a million and you double it, that’s still only one in 500,000. If the risk was one in 100 and doubles, that’s a big increase. Significant: A result is “statistically significant” when the association between two factors is greater than would occur at random (this is worked out by a mathematical formula). It does not necessarily mean major or important. How Can You Find Reliable Information?Each person will make decisions in his or her own way. How do you do it? Compare how you make decisions about your food, nutrition and health to how you’d buy a car. Do you get all the information you need from one salesperson? Do you visit with people who have no training or experience? Do you look at magazines with a history of reporting on automobiles? Do you buy a special luggage rack when you don’t need it? What else do you do to prepare yourself for making a wise car choice? Treat yourself to the same assurance when making food, nutrition and health choices. Many reliable sources of information are available to you. These include scientific and professional associations, government agencies, the Extension Service, nutrition departments at accredited colleges and universities, nutrition departments at local hospital/medical centers and clinics, reputable consumer organizations and reliable industry groups. Check to be certain that the people you consider as experts are indeed credible sources. People may claim credentials that may not be legitimate, are overrated or are from some dubious field of science. Registered dietitians, licensed nutritionists and Extension agents are good sources of reliable information on food and nutrition topics. The old adage still holds true: “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Visit These Websites for More InformationHealth and Nutrition-related Websites to Explore These websites offer free evidence-based information about health and wellness. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: provides information on nutrition and health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: provides health information on diseases, health risks and prevention guidelines. eXtension: a research-based online learning network with several resource areas . Food and Drug Administration: regulates food and drugs, and oversees dietary supplements. Federal Citizen Information Center: provides consumer information on topics ranging from food/health to computers and cars Healthfinder: a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services gateway site that provides links to reviewed resources on consumer health U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans: Tips about healthful eating, which are updated based on current research every five years NDSU Extension: has many online publications and links to reliable information sources Reviewed February 2019 |