“10 ways to boost your metabolism.” “9 foods that lift your mood.” ”15 supplements to boost your immune system.” People love lists. So do websites eager to grab eyeballs. Only one problem: Much of the advice isn’t based on solid science. Here are some examples.
Covid is—and should be—the front-page health news. Yet new studies about diet and health still make headlines. Some reporters weed out the sketchy studies. Others can’t resist a juicy headline, especially when it’s about trendy topics like chocolate, full-fat dairy, diet drinks, or meat. Here’s how to see through a few of the latest.
Cereals. Snack bars. Muffins. Juices. Trail Mixes. Teas. Cheeses. “Wellness” shots. Walk down just about any aisle in the supermarket, and you can’t miss the growing number of foods sprouting “probiotics” claims.
Why? Companies want you to believe that a chocolate bar or sausage link or whatever that contains “beneficial” bacteria is healthier than one that doesn’t. Spoiler: It isn’t.
“Demand better for your body,” says Everlywell, which offers “easy, affordable, & private lab testing without leaving home.”
“You’re already doing so much to track your health,” says gene-testing giant 23andMe. “Add personalized DNA insights for a more complete picture of your health.”
Are direct-to-consumer health tests worth it?
Everyone eats. So news outlets know that the latest food study is likely to grab eyeballs. But sometimes the media doesn’t get it quite right. Sometimes they neglect to mention that the headline shocker comes from a study in test tubes or from a study that can’t prove cause and effect. Sometimes the study itself is at fault. Often, the media simply repeats a press release’s mistakes. Here are a few “Oops!” stories that confused many.
“You wouldn’t swallow a spoonful of toxic cosmetic ingredients,” wrote Time.com in 2016. “But in some ways, smearing them under your arms in the form of deodorant or antiperspirant may be worse.” Really?
Antinutrients “can be a source of severe food cravings that distract you from whatever you’re trying to accomplish, or they can rob you of nutrients and interfere with your hormone function, wearing down different systems in your body and causing slow performance declines over time,” claims Dave Asprey in his book The Bulletproof Diet.
Are you being robbed?
Dozens of supplement makers are targeting women who are trying to become pregnant. We asked 27 companies for the evidence behind their claims.
Many never responded or cited no evidence on their websites. Among them: Conflam-Forte (“improve your pregnancy chances”), Fertility Health (“specifically formulated to aid conception”), and FertilMax for Women (“the most complete and advanced fertility support”).
Others responded, but had no good evidence. So Nutrition Action’s publisher, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, has asked the FDA and the Federal Trade Commission to take action.
Here’s a sampling of what the companies told us.
Your liver doesn’t need supplements, juices, or coffee enemas to stay in shape.
“The liver is the metabolic powerhouse of the body,” says Monica Tincopa, director of the Michigan Medicine Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Clinic. “It processes nutrients and metabolizes medications. It also plays a vital role in clearing toxins.”
Are “antinutrients” robbing your body of vitamins and minerals? Is celery juice a miracle healing tonic? Does your liver need a boost from supplements and coffee enemas? What’s behind gluten sensitivity? Here’s what to know about the nutrition trends du jour.
