Practicing discernment
How many times each day do you see some article or advice about health while scrolling through social media? When was the last time you saw a commercial promising fast and efficient weight loss that will leave your friends miserably jealous? Or, how about all those frightening articles telling you to stop eating some such thing or other because it has been linked to (insert dreadful condition here).
We all know, at least on some level, that we can’t trust everything we are told. However, people are still easily influenced when it comes to things they read, especially with articles or advice regarding health. Fortunately, there are ways to tell if you are being led astray.
Firstly, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Diets or supplements claiming quick and easy weight loss usually fit into this category. It is neither healthy nor lasting to lose weight rapidly, and it probably won’t work. People may lose weight fast on certain diets, but unless it is a lifelong commitment, they are gaining that weight (and possibly more) back.
Next, the advice uses scare tactics to get you to stop thinking rationally. Many “health advocates” out there like to use scary terms or make outrageous claims to get you to listen. When people are in a state of fear, they are not using logic and are more easily persuaded. Ask yourself if what you are being told makes sense or if it’s just unfounded balderdash to get your attention.
Lastly, there is no supporting evidence. If there is not sufficient research to back up the claim, then it isn’t likely legitimate. If the evidence presented isn’t very good, such as simply correlating two things because they happened at the same time or consecutively, it’s also not legitimate. Consider other possible factors that may have contributed to the results or findings.
It’s so easy for all of us to get caught up in hype when it comes to our health. Many of us care about staying healthy, but we are also busy and don’t always slow down and assess our options. The true key to staying healthy isn’t going to be found in unfounded claims or extreme changes, it comes from the small, conscious choices you make every day.
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Lenna Ahlers, RDN, LD, is a WIC dietitian at Panhandle Health District and a graduate of the University of Idaho Dietetic program.