• LaughAtSky (edited 10 years ago)
    +2

    Generally, it is best to be a little bit skeptical of whatever the latest study shows. If someone is genuinely interested in improving their health, there are 3 really good things that they can do:

    1. Read books written by respected authors. Preferably ones that don't have anything else to sell other than the books.

    2. Try things out for yourself. Change your diet and see if you feel better or worse.

    3. Discuss with other people who are interested in health and nutrition, see what works for them.

    There is a lot of misinformation out there. For example, drug companies will release scare stories about nutritional supplements because they want everyone taking their drugs instead. But supplement companies may be biased too because they want you buying their supplements. Someone claiming that a certain wonder food will solve all your problems, will probably want to sell you it. The dairy industry will tell you that you need milk for calcium (not true), because they want to sell you milk.

    The best experts are the ones who have no products to sell you. For example, take Andrew W. Saul, the editor of the Orthomolecular Medicine News Service. He's a nutritional expert, but he refuses to ever recommend any specific products. He'll tell you which nutrients are good to supplement, and will back it up with research. But he doesn't have his own range of supplements to sell, and never pushes any particular brand onto you.