Fact vs. fiction
Which claims about food and health can you trust? Don’t count on celebrities, the latest headlines, industry-funded research studies, supplements, food labels, and ads. We separate the facts from fiction on health, food, weight loss, supplements, and more.
Stirring up confusion
How celebrities shape our views about health
How do food fads and other evidence-free claims get their start? In some cases, celebrity influence helps stir up confusion. Celeb-endorsed, science-free bunk therapies run the gamut from fad diets and supplements to colonics, intravenous vitamin therapies, and homeopathy.
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The latest
Be wary of drug ads
Misleading food ads abound. Here are 7 of the latest.
Peter's Memo: Cashing in on Covid
A look at the evidence for collagen, CBD gumdrops, and 5 other pointless products
6 healthy-sounding gimmicks to watch out for
Have you heard these common food claims?
Should you eat only low-glycemic carbs? Quit worrying about salt? Toss your cooking oil? Go back to full-fat dairy? Not so fast.
A cranberry a day...to keep a UTI away?
Can high-fat dairy help keep a lid on your blood sugar?
Does beef—or extra protein from any food—boost your strength?
Are beans and whole grains making us sick?
Are low-glycemic carbs healthier?
Should you avoid "antinutrient"-rich foods?
Five dairy & meat myths
Does canola oil cause dementia?
Does cooking make your oil dangerous?
Why we need to eat less salt...but haven't
Examining the evidence on weight loss
If you’re trying to lose—or not gain—weight, you’re probably suffering from advice overload. Should you cut carbs or fat? Eat more protein? Drink more water? Eat more often? Eat less often?
Supplement facts vs. fiction
Tricks of the trade: Are supplement companies playing you for a fool?
Are you wasting your money on this memory supplement?
Can supplements help prevent or fight off a cold or the flu?
Does your liver need a cleanse?
Can adaptogens help you adapt to stress?
In the headlines
Newsflash! It’s no secret that surprising headlines sell…especially the latest food study. But maybe the news story fails to mention that the finding comes from a study in test tubes or one that can’t prove cause and effect. Or maybe the study is unpublished, inconsistent with better research, or industry funded. Or maybe the story simply repeats a press release’s mistakes.
See 2021 headlines
News you can lose
See 2020 headlines
How news can confuse
See 2019 headlines
Surprise! The backstory behind the headlines
See 2018 headlines
Half-baked news bites
PROCESSED FOOD WATCH
Food ads & labels: Fact or fiction?
Why do some processed foods get all the attention instead of whole fruits, vegetables, and other healthy staples? Marketing.
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Got a gimmick?
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Fool us once? Not these ads
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A sampling of tricky food & supplement pitches
True or false
The pitfalls of online health advice
The landscape of online health advice knows no bounds. But just because you found an answer to your health question from a quick Google search, doesn't mean you found the right one.
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Don't believe everything you read online
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Can you trust online health advice?
