These days there’s an endless amount of diet, “wellness” and health information online and it can be confusing, misleading and even do more harm than good in some cases. Some claims that seem to be too good to be true are just that, including “detox cleanses” and so-called “miracle cures.” So how can we avoid scams or falling for misinformation? Registered dietitian Christy Harrison has some pointers on how to to avoid the next health fad.
She says you can steer clear of sketchy health and wellness information by following six simple steps based on the SIFT method for assessing online information. The acronym stands for Stop, Investigate the source, Find better coverage and Trace the claims. This is her guide to knowing if a wellness claim is legit.
- Pause before acting on claims you find online - Online wellness influencers count on your impulsive reactions, according to Harrison, so step one is to take a beat before responding, clicking share or like, and noticing how the claim makes you feel.
- Think about who shared the information - Consider the source’s motives and background, and be especially skeptical if they’re trying to sell you something or the online influencers aren’t from a reputable organization.
- Get a second or third opinion - Harrison says one good way to tell if a claim is accurate is to compare it to other trusted sources. Does it back-up what experts and reliable media outlets are saying? When it comes to health decisions, it can be helpful to talk directly to your doctor or multiple medical professionals about what’s best.
- Consider the context of certain health claims - If someone’s making an argument based on a study, read through the research yourself to see if it really says what they claim it does. Misinformation often contains a kernel of truth, but makes claims broader than what the evidence supports.
- Take a step back from social media - Remember, algorithms are designed to keep you engaged and sharing personal information makes it easier for sites to target you with content. Being off social media can help and practicing good digital security can, too.
- Allow yourself to change your mind - Don’t be hard on yourself if you buy into an idea and then realize it’s not working or is misinformation. There’s no need to try to stick it out once you know the truth.
Source: Insider
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