AUTHOR: Ayesha Mohammad
About the Author: Ayesha Mohammad is a dietetic student and intern currently earning her BS degree in nutrition science at the University of Chicago in Illinois. She has a passion for public health and is currently working on research linking nutrition to cancer risk in urban populations. She hopes to help address health disparities across the globe.
Finding information in the digital era has become ridiculously simple: you log onto a search engine, type a question or a key word, and you’re instantly met with a plethora of various links. At first, this process makes it seems easy to search for health advice—but you may have come to realize that not all the information you find is useful. In fact, most of the voices online or on social media are simply personal opinion or marketing strategies, with no scientific basis. The digital world is buzzing with all kinds of diet recommendations, superfoods, health fads, and nutrition trends—but how can you determine if something is valid and trustworthy?
Check if the information is evidence-based. When we say “evidence-based”, we mean information that has been tested through scientific research. You can determine if something is evidence-based by checking where the information was published: is it a university or hospital website? Is it a blog run by a credentialed or experienced team? Is the post trying to sell you something (like a new supplement)? You can determine the source of a website by checking the URL, which is the website address. The end of the web address can show who publishes or owns the website.
- .gov is used by government agencies
- .edu is used by educational institutions (medical or other schools, colleges, universities, etc.)
- .org is used by nonprofit organizations (professional groups, research institutions, advocacy groups, etc.)
- .com is used by commercial websites
Experts recommend starting your search at specific websites instead of searching the entire web. You may consider looking through the following sites first:
- MedlinePlus
National Library of Medicine
www.medlineplus.gov - healthfinder.gov
www.healthfinder.gov - Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
cdcinfo@cdc.gov
www.cdc.gov
Identify the source of the information. In the event that you’re browsing a commercial website (.com), you can look into who’s running and writing the website. The website or author’s “About” page, if there is one, is a good place to learn more about who’s writing the information and why. Does the author or blogger have legitimate credentials? Note that not all “nutritionists” may have a proper license! Registered dietitians, on the other hand, are licensed to practice and to give nutritional advice.
- RD or RDN – registered dietitian
- MD or DO – physician
- RN – registered nurse
- MPH or DPH – Master or Doctor of public health
Understand that nutrition emphasizes overall wellness, not just one or two foods. Websites or articles that claim that a specific food is the key to perfect health may be misleading. Examples of misleading headings or social media posts might sound like:
“Eat 3 cups of blueberries per day for quick weight loss!”
“All you need to be healthy is kale!”
While “superfoods” like blueberries and kale can be great for the body, it’s more important to focus on eating an overall balanced diet than on specific foods. It’s important to remember that there is no scientific basis behind the term “superfood”—it’s usually just a marketing strategy. Avoid websites that promote quick fixes and cures. Credible sources will include ways to incorporate food items into your regular diet and will emphasize eating all food groups along with the food item that they are raising awareness for. In some cases, celebrities or social media influencers will market products or special diets for a percentage of the profit. These products rarely have science backing them. Diets that cut out entire food groups can be harmful and are usually ineffective (except for individuals with medical conditions that require a special diet). Credible figures will note a disclaimer when they post products or ads and are upfront about sponsors.
Exercise caution online. Social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, are online communities where people may share health information or nutritional advice. Keep in mind that the same rules apply—choose information that is from a credible source with reliable credentials. If you’re unsure, you can always go back to a trusted website to double-check if the information is evidence-based. Health is personal and individual, and testimonies about what worked for one person are not sufficient evidence for a treatment.
In short, remember the 10 Red Flags of “Junk Science” from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics:
- Recommendations that promise a quick fix
- Dire warnings of danger from single product or regimen
- Claims that sound too good to be true
- Simplistic conclusions drawn from a complex study
- Recommendations based on a single study
- Statements refuted by reputable scientific organizations
- Lists of “good” and “bad” foods
- Recommendations made to help sell a product
- Recommendations based on studies not peer reviewed
- Recommendations from studies that ignore differences among individuals or groups
Interested in reading more about nutrition trends and health information?
Guide to Reliable Health Information National Institute on Aging (available in Spanish)
Evaluating Health Information MedlinePlus
Superfoods or Superhype? Harvard School of Public Health
Food Trends John Hopkins Medicine
Preventing Heart Disease Harvard School of Public Health
Diet and Lifestyle for Heart Health American Heart Association
Diabetes & Lifestyle National Institute of Health
